The southern press., 1850-09-03

Guilty is one which is not properly appreciated
the inadequacy at this time of the supply OF
them. They are all now proftably employed
the demand for them exceeds the supply, and
consequently large number of them could not
be removed from any of our Southern States
without creating deficiency of labor, and aug
menting its price. This difficulty is rapidly dis
appearing under the natural increase OF that
species of population which, in short time, will
require new fields of employment, to secure the
comfort of both the black man and the white.
*These views are strongly corrobatedby what
Mr.. McCarver and Mr.. McDouga said in the
California Convention. ~
"Mr. McCarver then moved the following sec
ton
pass such Jaws as will effectuay prohibit free per-
sons Of color from immi grating to and settling IN
this State, and etfectually prevent the owners OF
slaves from bringing them into this State Tor the
purpose Of setting them free"
| "Mr McCARvER. This is the article which
offered to the House some time ago. withdrew
il at the suggestion of several gentlemen who
thought it would be more appropriate IN another
part Of the constitution.
81 have no doubt, sir, that every member of
this House is aware of the dangerous position in
which this country is placed; owing to the induce
ments existing here for shareholders to bring their
slaves to California and set them free. | am my
self acquainted with number OF individuals
who, am informed, are now preparing to bring
their slaves here upon ndentures and them free
| hold it to be a correct doctrine, sir, that every
State has right to protect itself against an evil so
enormous this"
Again. the same gentleman, page 80:
"Let us look at the inducements, and see wheth-
er these fears are without foundation; let us see
what is the probable value Of an able-bodled negro
man in the Southern States-they hire there at
from sixty to one hundred dollars a year. Sup
pose YOU pay seven hundred dollars to get slave
here and set him free condition that he shall
serve you for one year. He produces, according
to the ordinary rates in the mines, from tWot SIX
thousand dollars. There are many OF our South
ern friends who would be glad to set their negroes
free and bring them here, if they produced one
half that amount. When the terms OF the con
tract have expired what would these slaves do'
They would become a burden on the community
And can assure you, sir, thousands will be IN
troduced into this country before long, II you 40
not insert positive prohibition against them IN
your consttution-an immense anu overwhelminS
population Of negroes, who have never been free
men; who have never been accustomed to provide
fer themselves" "
| And in like terms, page lS0, McDoUGA:
"GentIemen have risen on this floor and stated
that they had received letters from the South; and
| that they knew of many others who want TO
bring their slaves here, and work them for short
IF this constitution is thrown back upon us for re-
consideration, it leaves them the opportunity of
! bringing their slaves here 1t is what they desire
| to do; to create some strongly Objectionable tea-
\ ture in the constitution, in order that they may
bring their slaves here and work them three
months. They will even then get more than they
can get for them in the States. look upon that
as the result if we send our constitution to Con-
gress with boundary so objectionable as this. "
Mr., Chairman, the Constitution Of the United
States WAS violated by the Administration in
other respects, in its proceedings in California.
The Constitution declares that " No money shall
be- drawn from the Treasury but in consequence
Of appropriations made by law; and regular
statement and account Of receipts and eXpendl-
lures of all public money shall be published from
time to time" Yet without any appropriation
by law the salary of Mr. King was paid him
from the public Treasury, was also the per
diem and other expenses Of the California con
vention. And Notwithstanding the last sente ce
of the clause Of the Constitution which have
Just quoted, have been unable to ascertain
what amount Of expenditure was incurred on
these two accounts nor can | ascertain out OF
what particular funds they were paid. But this
last point, in the view am taking, is not i'm
portlnt, as it makes no difference out of what
funds they were paid, as it is perfectly certain
that there were no funds appropriated for any
such purpose, and none which legally could be
so applied.
This series of audacious outrages perpctratcd
by the Administration, have greatly complicated
the difficulties growing out of the slavery agiti-
ton, and have greatly eXasperated the Southern
people. know it is said that what has been
done is now irremcdiable and that all now lett to
us, is to make the best we can Of it. To Il con
siderable extent know this is true; but so far
q iinrr tn yhnt hnS h,np Ippn
the very conviction that such wrong should be
successful but adds to the feeling of irritation
and discomfort, if, indeed, it has no. awakened
one of moro decided character.
But, sir us Hagitous as these proceedings
have been in respect to California, they are pro-
prietv itself in comparison with what has been
DONE and proposed in respect to New Mexico.
Not only has military government been con-
tiuued there, without authority of law, but the
Executive has recommended to Congress to ab-
stain from organizing a territorial government,
and leave the country under military rule, until
it is ready to apply for admission into the Union
rs Il State. And this recommendation is made
to us, by those advocates Of the right OF the
people to choose for themselves their form of
government, Notwithstanding the people of New
Mexico, in convention assembled, had, at the
time of this recommends ton, expressed their de-
the usual form and had pettioncd Congress to
extend one over them And, strange to say,
this monstrous recommendation has met with
advocates on this floor, and in gentlemen, too,
who denounced President Polk as a tyrant and
usurper for authorizing the establishment of
temporary civil governments in time of war;
Sir shall never forget the fury with which
President Polk, and all who defended him, were
.ssaied upon this floor at the time allude to.
There was no epitLet so harsh, that it was not
applied. He was charged with having usurpcd
the powers of Congress in establishing tempo
rary governments in Mexico. 1t was admitted
that humanity required that civil governments,
adequate to protect persons and property, should
be established. But it was contendcd that this
could only be done by Congress. To that body,
it was argued, belonged the power, exclusively,
to declare war, and I" to make rules concerning
captures on land or water" On that occasion,
undertook to defend the President; but did
or he take the ground that he had the power to
ost,hl;sh or rontinuc those Governments one