Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-15


vemments which would keep alive the agitation, but their
passage with poviso obnoxious to oneha of the confde
racy Why, then, should the policy of inactivity be cont
nued the policy Of the Administration, and supported
such in both houses Of Congress The passage of the bill
without this offensive restriction will produce excitement
in the South We all know that On the contrary it will
aay it, by removing principal of dissenson. WHAT
then, is the possible objection action Let tn who
consider the Wlmot provso constitutional and necessary
vote for it. But let not be urged reason for not meet
ing the question: that its agitation dangerous That asa
on has begun, has continued and will go on till yields to
our final action. Agitation, indeed Why, many of the
very persons through the country who deprecate
for avoiding the only Of its teminaton among
the very persons who are PerPetuay presenting the whole
subject TO the community in the worst and most offensive
form Are these exciting discussions to go on and all the
mischief done that do by nfamng the public mind
and, when we approach termination, to be told SIT
still leave the Territories without governments otherwise
you will agitate the country
No, sir, no this course of adjustment is dangerous only
to those whatsoever wherever they be- who un
willing to meet the question by an open manly vote. That
is the true and only danger.
must confess that have listened with amazement to
much that has been said upon this subject and if know any
thing Of the intelligence Of the American people, the
Of policy advocated here is little likely to be made
ceptable by the alleged reasons which dictate it.
The President considers in his message that there legal
existing Government in New Mexico, which to the
people "the benefit and protection of those municipal
laws originally derived from Mexico" am warranted in
saying that the President considers it. because laws cannot
and competent authority administer them. shall not stop
to examine this topic here to point out the difference
between political institutions, which require officers legally
appointed TO give them effect, and civil rights; the former,
having relation to appointments, with the cesson of
country the latter remain till changed ner to point out the
duty in any view Of the subject of preventing by direct egs
laon The difficulties and discussions which are sure to come
and Of defining the relations between the confederation and
these acquisitions left in such embarrassing condition
But what desire remark is, the strange Inconsistency
of conendng for the Wmot provso, and at the same time
declaring that with without that provso Congress ought
to pass no law upon the subject Of Territorial Governments
For have been distinctly told by the Senator from Con-
nectcut Mr SMITH, and we may well presume ne speaks
cathedral that he should vote for the Wimo Provso, and
whether that measure adopted not, he should then
against the bill Practically, be would help the aga
ton to the point and then, when might b terminated
forever he would round and stopa legislation, leaving
the battle be fought again, with consequences still
DISASTROUS such renewed agitation never falls to bring
with it.
WE'LL sir, why should the establishment Of legal govern
men leaving untouched the question Of slavery, be
measure under circumstances than this no measure this
acquiescence in military government perfectly invalid
unless the words Of the present Secretary OF
rests on the consent of the inhabitants under it, and when
all the officers are appointed and the administration of public
affairs directed by colonel Of the army No Wmot pro-
yso-that is no prohibition by Congress against slavery
follows one the other and am utterly unable to dis
how leaving the people be governed by the Mexican
laws, with all the evils Of military rule and OF doubtful
obligation can be any better in the opinion OF those who
slider the Wot provo important than the establishment
of which leaves the whole subject as it finds
and does undertake to touch the rights OF the country In
this respect.
In connection with this branch of the subject it becomes
necessary again the Presidents views of the
don Of Territories left without governments instituted by
Congress- and Of the rights which belong to them have
already referred the passages OF the message touching these
subjects but have authoritative exposition OF them
terng more in detail into the whole matter. is found in the
Republic of the 3Oh of May, official organ of the Ad
nistraon. say authoritative exposition Of the views Of
the President not only because Of the relations which That
paper the Executive and the Cabinet but because the
editor in the article referred to- introduces the name OF the
President by his authority, when denying that any
change had taken place in the views of the Administration
upon this subject take it that who has read this
article will deny that has been carefully prepared and is in
tended to define the position Of the Administration. WE'LL
sir what doctrine does hold the subject of this Terrific
right of action Here is the general principle laid down
in its application Utah With regard to Utah, the peo
pie of that portion Of the territory acquired from Mexico have
engated thither of their voon, and now constitute
isolated people. They have adopted provisional form Of
government perhaps well better suited to their cond
ton and than any Congress could devise for them
They in the full enjoyment of the grearght govern
ment And in the number Of the Republic article
extracted from the New York Courier and Enquirer which
contains the adhesion of that paper to the same principle
50 that the proposition 10 allow the inhabitants OF COM
munity form such laws they shall fit sneher novel
startling those who have faith in republican principles
Now sir have already expressed and now my full
conviction of the truth of this doctrine Its foundation lies
segovernment in the absence of any other government
revolutionary has been called but strictly
of the existence of society," and of the re
ations with the parent country whose authority is not super
seded but supplied and acknowledged asserted
But this right of doing for themselves what ought to do
for them no justification for the inacion of Congress We
have heard this right of government disputed here and else
WHERE and by of the abest in the country And
to have the validity Of the laws called in question is of
the gravest evils that afct community And there
will always be found those in the Territories themselves
who will do this and thus disputes of the worst character
will spring up And the legal relations of communities thus
left to themselves with the States of the Unon present ques
tons of the embarrassing nature But need not par
sue this topic. To state the proposition is to refute it.
Well sir the exercise the powers Of government thus
necessarily assumed what may Legislature do, or rather
what may not do 1t may pass any laws, not prohibited
by the constitution and inconsistent with the relations
existing between these Territories and the Union. They
may regulate all the domestic relations the condition Of hus-
and indeed organize control the whole legal institutions of
the country They institute slavery if the constitution
permits and exclude it under similar circumstances. No
can draw line between the power to regulate the rela
ton of and servant including the condition of slavery
and the control the other domestic relations, unless
that line be found in the constitution Such ia the state of
this question: with respect TO the power of Territorial gsa
ton it. where the Legislatures established by the
people themselves And what would be, in the event of
the passage OF this bill
We have inserted restrictive clause forbddng the legs
laures created by the bill from establishing prohibiting
slavery II this clause remains the status quo Of slavery
mains with it. and the existing condition cannot be changed
This restriction carried by the votes of several MEMBERS
who had already voted for the Wmot provso and upon the
ground that slavery existing these territories it cannot
60 there unless the people, when they to establish