The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-04


the struggle commenced between them to
send a delegate to this convention, which
was to assume sovereignty over territory of
the United States, and to determine the fun
damental law of country they had never
seen. The contest was of doubtful issue,
when vessel came to in the offing, and
more or less of the crew and passengers
were Immediately brought in, as learn, to
decide it by their votes in favor of the boun-
dairy commission. And then body Of dra-
goons, stationed some distance in the country,
were sent for. They came in; they too as
sisted by their votes to elect a candidate,
who was one Of the military escort; and thus
an officer Of the army Of the United States
became a delegate to the convention which
has claimed to measure the rights of Ameri-
can citizens in their own country. Was
this the will of the people' Was this the
sovereign will to which it is sad that Congress
must bow' or was it an unauthorized inter
ference of men who had no legitimate or
permanent connexon with the matter they
presumed to decide,
Now, sir, looking into the constituent ma
terIal OF that convention, we meet there,
instead of Mexican nhabitants--instead of
Americans who had gone there with the
intent to remain citizen emf grants, seeking
a new home-seven officers of the New
Y erik regiment, sent out there by this gov
eminent for military purposes, three officers
OF the United States army, two or three Of
hcers OF the navy of the United States,
lew Mexicans, who could not speak Eng
lish, and some of our citizens who were
said to have gone there to aid in the organ
IzatIon OF the government. The residue
was composed of persons of whom it may
be supposed part were permanently identi-
lied with the country-how great part |
will not pretend to say. But | would ask
Of senators how many they suppose of those
persons they have known to emigrate to
California went there with the intent to re-
main 1t is not enough to say they will
probably never carry out their intent to re-
turn, because to qualify them to found the
institutions of the country they should have
had at the time fixed purpose in their mind
to make that country their home. This
could not be the case with those who few
few months before had gone there merely
to collect gold and return to the United
States. There is another test How many
had taken their families with them THAT
best guaranty of an intent to become per-
manent residents
Mr.. President, it comes, then, to this
point: whether sojourners, persons travel
ling, with no permanent interest or locality
nthe country-solders, sailors, or govern
,neut nrunloUpnc ypbn han m ho opf
ARE qualified to lay the foundations of a
State, and decide on the institutions which
shall prevail among generations ,yet UNI
born
But, Sir, there is something further to be
offered to those on whom these considera-
tons make no impression. Taking the pop
ulation according to all the ordinary esti-
mates, it was only about one-ffth of the
population of California which took part in
this proceeding, either to elect delegates OF
to ratfy the constitution they formed. What
then? Four-fifths Of the Americans in the
country, and Mexicans, to whom we are
bound to extend special protection, had nc
connexon whatever with this convention
Are we still to be told that its proceedings
lmbody the impression Of the will of the
people Of California These, Mr.. Presi-
dent, are the facts which come to light
upon an analyses of this remarkable pro-
ceeding ; and these facts are such as not
only apply to sustain in my opinion the
amendment of the Senator from Louisiana,
(Mr. SoULE,) but which would entirely
justify us in treating this constitution as
nullty, and proceeding to the formation of
a territorial government for the people who
inhablt our western territory.
am not one Of those, Mr.. President,
who can be with any truth described as hos
tile to the territories. On the contrary,
their interest has uniformly received my
support | am one of those who strove
most strenuously at the last session of Con-
gress in favor Of giving those people 60
vernment ! am one of those who was
willing then. as | am willing now, to admit
them as State, so soon as they come here
regularly with proper qualifications, and ask
for admission. But am also one of those
who claim conformity with the precedents
which have existed since the foundation of
the government, and which are necessary to
secure considerations of far higher import
ance than any which concern the asccndancy
Of particular interest, or political party.
But, Mr.. President, find myself con-
stantly wandering into considerations broad
er than it was my purpose to enter upon.
| have said that this country south of Sc
deg. 30 min. was separated by nature from
the body Of what is now called the State of
California, and that it claims political or
ganization separate from the other. The
basin of the Lake Tulares, lying immedi-
ately south Of the parallel of SO deg. 80
min. A bare inspection of the map, with
the slightest knowledge of the mountain
ridges and passes, must convince any one
that this country belongs to South California.
Its ports are San Diego and San Pedro.
That all the country back of the Sierra
Nevada up to the Salt Lake, must for com
mercial purposes find its outlet at San Die
60 and San Pedro, and not at San Francis
co, is established now, believe, beyond
Al