The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-10-29

US a most singular and inexplicable mystery how
Mr.. Fulton or any man can say that Congress did
not vote all this territory to the North, when he
knows perfectly well, that he as a Union-hring
man, who has absolutely aided California in get
ting into the Union, that he has no right to take
his slaves there, unless he wants to make them
free, whereas northern men have all. The rights,
as free ingress and egress to southern States
whilst We are positively excluded from any par
ticpaton with our peculiar institutions in territory
acquired as we'll BY our arms as by the North
EouALIry-is it RIGHT! Ifto these interrogato-
res you answer in the affirmative, will you be
good enough, as you have already VOLUNTEERED, to
give us few reasons Of the faith that is in you.-
We give as te,o of our reasons for saying that
Congress had no right TO pass these bills, that
California, the most important one, was not ad-
mitted regularly, constutionay, or equitably.-
In your replies don't forget to state why it was
that California was admitted with boundaries un.
natural aud ercesxire" whilst other States hereto
fore were restricted and circumscrbed in their
limits. Why was it that such considerable ex-
ception was made in the case of California!
But you say, in attempting to justify your posi-
ton on the California question in general we take
it, on the voting "all this territory 10 the North"
shat Congress had nothing to do with this, that
that matter was very justly disposed Of by the peo-
pie Of aiifornia." Now this is one ofypu7 "uere
assertions without shadow of proof" Pray tell
us how the people of California SO usry justly dis
posed ofihat matter. We wont ask you who the
people of California are, or who were General Ri
leys confederates and members of Governor Ri
lays unauthorized selfconstituted convention
We reckon these questions. with few more OF
the same SORT will be little too hard for our
gacious brother to answer rightly: but do tell us
little more about this rery just disposition by the
people q of California. Who, it seems from the
editorials of Mr. Fulton, have dictated terms to
Congress as well as given us to understand, in un-
mistakeable language, that we are not to have part
| or pascel in the California spoils According to
Fulton's last, THE individuals in California who
formed constitution and State, and exercised
the power of Iegislating without the consent OF
Congress, who have usurped the sovereignty OF
the States and the authority Of Congress, and
have acted in defiance of both"-that these, the
people of California have very justly disposed ol
all matters, and by and with the aid and authori-
! and unerring wisdom it was better to exclude the
South from her portion ofthe acquired territory
! better 10 be ~
! "Iorls of all they surveyed,
| For their right there none TO dispute"
And there would be none to dispute ifall southern
men were Fultons. But we appeal from such a
d. cision. and to sustain position we are will
ing to submit facts to candid world. The prac
tical Editor was right when he said the Argus Ed
itor is just where he always was, OH the wrong
side of the question.
But again, before taking leave of California, We
submit the following Congress tai no right to
pass the California bill, and in so doing establish
ed dangerous and unjust precedent, a total and
wilfll disregard is manifested not only in this act
| tor constitutional law, but for established usage
and the articles Of confederation agreed upon by
| the delegates from thirteen States in convention
assembled July ninth, l77s.
In regard TO the Texas bill We have this to say,
it wont do now for southern men, and Editors in
particular, to say that "Had Congress made it
compulsory OH Texas TO accept the BILL then Tex
as and the whole South might have complained.
AS it is, we cannot see where Congress has as
sumed any arbitrary power" &c. We regard
the passage of this bill as wrong, because it is clear
that no'o no State can get into the Union, unless
slavery is prohibited. 1t is therefore bribe and
nothing less for Congress TO offer to purchase any
territory, much less our o,on, when it is evident
their object is to make free soil Of it. Can brother
Fulton, or any of his coaduors, deny that if this
bribe is accepted by Texas, the South, by such ac-
ceptance, will be deprived Of so much of her ac-
quired territory, and in short time free State
will be admitted with as little hesitation as Calitor-
MIA Is this not so. But, say you, Congress
offers to pay the South for it. Recollect sir, that
the South in this matter will be absolutely taxed
to buy her own territory from herself for the
largest part ofths bur,hen will fall upon us, and
in our REIMBURSEMENT Of this right we will not be
allowed to enjoy common right with the North
to this territory. We must see them enjoying an
exclusive right TO all of it whilst we with our Pc
culiar institutions are totally excluded from any
part or parcel Of said territory. How, we again