Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-11
sion of California as State into the Union.


prevent misconcepton, the committee also recon-
mend that the amendment reported by the same
committee to the bill, be adopted, so as to leave
inconestable the right of the United States to the
public domain and other public property in Califor-
mia.
Whilst a ma iority of the committee believe it to
be necessary and proper, under actual circumsan-
ces, 20 admit California, they think it quite as ne
cessary and proper to establish governments for
the residue OF the territory derived from Mexico
and to oring it within the pale of the Federal au-
thority The remoteness of that territory from the
seat OF the General Government; the dispersed
state OF its population; the variety of races-pure
and mixed-of which it consists; the ignorance of
some of the races of our laws, language, and hab-
its; their exposure to nroads and wars of savage
tribes; and the solemn stpulations of the treaty by
which we acquired dominion over them, impose
upon the United States the imperative obligation of
extending to them protection and of providing for
them government and laws suited to their condition.
Congress will fail in the performance ola high
duty fit does not give or attempt to give, to them
: the benefit of such protection, government and
laws. They are not now, and for long time to
come may not be prepared for State government.
The Territorial form, for the present is best suit
ed to their condition. A bill has been reported
by the Committee on Territories, dividing all the
territory acquired from Mexico not comprehended
within the limits of California into two Terrific
ries, under the names ofNew Mexico and Utah,
and proposing for each territorial government.
The committee recommend to the Senate the
establishment of those territorial governments;
and in order more certainly to secure that desra-
bic object, they also recommend that the bill for
their establishment be incorporated in the bill Tor
admission of California, and that united together
they both be passed.
The combination of the two measures in the same
bill Is objected to various grounds. 1t is said that
they are nconguous and have necessary connection
with each other. A majority OF the committee think
otherwise The object OF both measures is the esab-
lishment Of government suited to the conditions re-
spectively of the proposed new State and OF the new
Territories Prior to their transfer TO the United States
they both formed part of Mexico, where they stood in
equal relations to the government of that republic.
They both coded to the United States by the same
treaty. And in the same article of that treaty, the
United States solemnly engaged to protect and govern
both Common in their origin common in their ale
nation from one foreign government to another
mon IN their wants OF good government, and nter-
minous in some OF their boundaries, and alike in many
particulars of physical condition, they have nearly
every thing in common in the relations in which they
stand to the rest OF this Union There is, them gene
ra fitness and propney In extending the parental
OF government to both IN common If California, by
sudden and extraordinary augmentation OF popula
rton, has advanced so rapidly TO mature her for
State government, that furnishes why the
less fortunate territories of New Mexico and Utah
shouldbe abandoned and left ungoverned by the United
States, or should be disconnected with California,
which, although she has organized for herself State
Government, must be legally and conslituonaly re-
garded Territory until she is actually admitted as
State in the Union.
1t is further objected that by combining the two mea-
in the same bill, members who may be willing to
for and unwilling to vote for the other would
be4paced in an embarrassing condition. They would
be constrained it is urged, to take reject both On
the other hand there are other members who would be
willing to vote for both united but would feel themselves
constrained to vote against the California bill if it stood
alone. Each party finds in the bill which it avors
thing which commends it to acceptance, and in the 9TH
err something which it disapproves The true ground
therefore, OF the objection to the union ofhe measures
is any want Of affinity between Them but because
of the favor or disavor with which they respective
ly regarded In this conflict of opinion, it seems to
majority ofthe committee that spirit of mutual conces-
sion enons that the two should be connected
together the effect OF which will be, that neither opn
ion will exclusively triumph, and that both may find in
such an amlcable arrangement enough OF good TO
concile them to the acceptance of the combined mea-
And such course of legislation is not all
sual. Few laws have ever passed in which there were
not parts TO which exception was taken. 1t is inexpe
dent if not mpracticabe, to separate these parts and
embody Them in distinct bills to accommodate the
diversity OF opinion which may exist The Consltu-
ton of the United States contained in it great variety
of provisions, to some, OF which serious objection
made in the convention which formed it by different
members of that body and when was submitted to the
ratification OF the States of them objected
parts and others to other parts of the instrument
Had these various parts and provisions been separately
acted on in the convention separately submitted the
people OF tine United States it is by certain that
the Constitution itself would have been adopted or
ratified. Those who did not like particular provisions
found compensation in other parts OF it, And in all
OF constitutions and laws, when either present.
ed whole, the question to be decided u.s. whether the
good which it contains is not of greater amount and
does not neutraze any thing exceptionable in it, And
nothing human is perfect tor the sake of that harmo-
ny desirable in such confederacy this, we must
be reconciled to secure as much as we can of what
we wish, and be consoled by the reflection that what
we do not exactly like is friendly concession and
agreeable to those who, being united with in com
mon destiny, it is desirable should always live with us in
peace and concord
A majority OF the committee haYe, therefore, been led
to the recommendation to the Senate that two measures
be united The bill for establishing the Territories
it will be observed omits the Wmo proviso on the
hand and the other, makes provision for the
introduction OF slavery into any part OF the new Terri
tories. That proyisO has been the fruitful source OF dis
traction and agitation. If it were adopted and applied
any territory it would to have any obligatory
force such territory admitted State
into the Union There was never any occasion for it.
to accomplish the protested object with which was orr
ginally offered. This has been clearly demonstrated by
the current Of events California, OF all the recent ter
rtoria acquisitions from Mexico, that in which, if
anywhere within them, the introduction of slavery
most likely to take place; and the constitution of Cali
torna, by the unanimous vote of her convention, has
expressly interdiced it, There is the highest degree of
probability that Utah and New Mexico will when they
come to be admitted as States, follow the example,
The proviso is as TO all these regions in common,
mere abstraction Why should be any longer insisted
on Totally destitute, ash is, OF any practical import
it has nevertheless, had the pencous effect to excite
serious if alarming consequences 1t is high time
that the wounds which has inflicted should be healed
up and cosed and that, to avoid in all future time the
agtatons which must be produced by the conflict Of
opinion on the slavery question: existing as this nstu-
ton does some of the States and prohibited as it is in
Others the true principle which ought TO regulate the
ton of Congress in forming territorial governments for
each newly acquired domain is to refrain from all egis-
laon the subject in the territory acquired so long as
it retains the territorial form of government
to the people of such Territory, when they have attain
ed to condition which entities them admission as
State to decide for themselves the question OF the al
lowance or prohibition of domestic slavery. The COM
mttee believe that they the anxious desire of
immense majority of the people of the United States,
when they declare that it is high time that good feelings
harmony, and fraarna sentiments should be again re-
vived, and that the Government should be able once