The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-02-09
special Message of President Taylor.

!
position" which the Presidents California message
has placed us IN, we shall, very briefly, and in as
plain language as we are capable of using give our
views of the message, if not satisfactory TO us, al
least hope, to the satisfaction of the editor OF
the Democrat" He appears to take great in
terest in position, and his fears that we shall
abandon the platform of freedom, and consequent
have led him to believe, that our every word and
action is watched with an intense interest by the
public-at least he says SO, and Locofoco editors
won't fei'
The circumstances which called out the message,
were the fears of the Southern Chivalry that the
President had used his official power to induce
California to apply for admission into the Union as
State, and that he instrumental in having the
antisavery article incorporated into her consttu-
ton. The South hoped by thus calling on the
President for information cas- to what extent he
was instrumental in bringing about the formation
of her constitution to connect the administration
with it in such manner tofurnish pretext on her
part for opposing the ratification of that Constitu-
ton by Congress, comprising as it does the anti
slavery clause) and to defeat the admission of Cal
iornia at the present session, a Free State But
our readers can see how completely this purpose is
baff1ed by the disclosures of the message itself.
Upon this point, the President says:
81 did not hesitate to express the people of those
ores my desire that each territory should if prepared
comply with the Constitution, of United States,
form plan of State constitution and submit the same
Congress, with prayer for admission into the Union
State but did not anticipate, suggest. authorize
the establishment of such government without the
assent of Congress, did authorize any government
agent officer interfere WITH any influence
control the election of delegates
vention in making or modifying their domestic nstu-
ons any of the provisions of their proposed constu
ton On the contrary, the instructions given by my
ders were, that all Of domestic policy adopted
by the people of California must originate solely with
themselves that while the Executive OF the United States
desirous protect them in the formation of gov
republican in its character be the proper
time submitted to Congress- it O be distinctly
understood that the plan of such government must at
the time be the result their del berate choice
and Originate with themselves, without the interference
of the Executive"
In approving this part of the message, we hope
the Democrat will not accuse us with abandoning
our position or views free territory.
The President recommends the admission of
California with her free Constitution, by Congress,
thus fully substantiating the assertions of the Wing
press, that he is opposed to the farther extension
of slavery.
In speaking of the territory of New Mexico, he
declares that the Mexican Laws, (which is known
utterly prohibit slavery in force in that terri
tory, and will continue in force until Congress pro-
Vides another Government, and recommends, that
those laws remain in force, until the people of that
territory apply for admission into the Union as
a State. If this recommendation of President Tay-
lor is fully carried into effect slavery cannot exist
in New Mexico as long as it remains territory,
and all precedents establish, and experience
teaches US the fact that a country which remains
uncontaminated by the blight of slavery while a
territory, when the people come to form Consti-
tuition, will forever Danish slavery without her bor
ders.
Ifslavery can be inhibited from these territories
by the enforcement of the laws by which they are
now governed, we cannot see what more the Pro-
viso could do, what practical benefits would
result to the country from its application by Con
gress to those territories
But Gen. Taylor merely recommends his views
to the consideration of Congress, the best caleu-
lated, in his opinion, to allay the excitement upon
this vexed question, and to reconcile conflicting
parties to the republican doctrine of mutual for
bearance and concession. At the same time he
freely admits the Constitutional power of Congress
to legislate on the subject of Slavery in the terri
tories LAS full warrant of that power, he quotes
the language of the Constitution authorizing Con-
gress to make all needful rules and regulations
respecting the territories of the United States. He
thus by the force of this admission and his repeat
ed pledges in his Allison Letters and first message
submits the question of Slavery there to the will
of the people as expressed through their Repre-
sentatives in Congress-
Place Gen. Taylor's views by the side of those
promulgated by Cass during the last Presidential
campaign, and recently reiterated by him in the
Senate at Washington and mark the difference
Cass is not only opposed to the Proviso, but de-
nies the right of Congress to legistae upon the
subject of Slavery at ALL Suppose he had been
elected President instead of Gen. Taylor what a
humating position would the north have been
placed in at this time. Gen. Taylor, a Southern
Slaveholder, recommending the admission of Cali
iforna into the Union with her anti-slavery const
tuition and recognizing the power of Congress to
legislate upon slavery in the territories; and Gen
Cass, the Democrats candidate for the Presidency
denying the right of Congress to interfere with sla
very Would it not have been glorious consu