Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1850-03-20

| proposed ny tue oeud VI, dHu P'oSeS"
directly 10 The consideration Of that OF the
Administration. however assure the
distinguished aud able Senator, that in
taking this course, no disrespecl whatever
is intended TO hin or his plan. have
adupIedi, because so many Senators Of
distinguished abilities, who were present
when he delivered his speech and explain.
ed his plan. aud who were fully capable
to do justice 10 the side they support, have
replied to him.
The plan of The Administration cannot
save 10 The Union, because il can have no
ef1cc, whatever towards salifying The
States composing the Southern section of
the Union. that they can, consistently with
safety and honor, remain iu the Union.
II is in fact bui modification Of the Will
mot Proviso. ii proposes TO effect the
same objec--,o exclude the South from
all territory acquired by the Mexican
treaty. is well known that The Sourh
| is united against The Wilmot PrnvisO. and
has,commited i'selfby solemn resolutions,
10 resist, should it he adopted. LIS OPP
position is not to The name, bu. 10 that
which it proposes 10 e9ect. That. The
! Southern STATES mold 10 be demonstrations
nl. unjust, inconsslen, with their equality
as members of the common Union, and
calculated to dcstory irrelrievably the
equilibrium between the two sections
These objections equally apply II what.
for breviiv. will call the Executive Pro.
viso. There is no difference between it
and the Wilmn'. except III the mode Of
eifecting the object, and in that respect ]
must say. .ha, The latter is much the least
objectionable. 1t goes to its object, open.
ly, boldly, and distinctly. 1t claims for
Congress unlimited power over the Ter
rirories acquired from Mexico, by posi-
tive prohibition of slavery. Not 50 the
Executive Pruviso. II lakes an indirect
course. and in order To eIude the Willnnt
Proviso, and thereby avoid eucouulering
the united and determined resistance OF
the South. if denies. by implication, the
authority Of Congress 10 legislale for the
Territories, and claims ;lhe right as be-
longing exclusively to the inhabitants Of
the TerriInries. Bu, TO effect The object
of excluding The South, il takes care, in
the mean lime, of letting in emisran's
freely, from the Northern States and all
others quarters, except from the South,
which it takes special care 10 exclude. by
hol,lins by them The danger Of having
their slaves liberated under the Mexican
laws. The necessary consequence is to
exclude The South lfcm the Territory,
just as effectualy as would The Wlmor
ProviSo. The only difference in this res.
pect il, that what one proposes TO effect
directly and openly. tho other proposes 10
effect indirectly and coverIly.
But the Executive Proviso, is more oh
jeciionahlc than the Wimot. in another
and more imporan, particular. The lat
ter, to effect i's object. inflicis dangerous
wound upon the Constitution, by depriv-
ing the Southern States as joint partners
and owners of the Territories. Of their
rights in them; hul it inflcts no greater
wound than is absolutely necessary to ef.
feet its ohiucr. The former. on the cnn.
trary, while it inllicIs The same wound,
inflic,s others equally great, aud. it posi-
BILE, greater, as shall next proceed lo ex
plain.
In claiming the right for the inhabitants,
instead of Congress. to legisate for the
Territories, in the Executive Pr9Siso, il
assumes that The sovereignty Of tho Ter
ritories is vested in the former, or to ex-
press il in The language used in resolution
Uttered by one Of the Senators from Texas.
(Gen. Houston, now absenr) they have
''lhe same inherent right Of sclf-governmenl
as The people in the Stales.'' The assump
tim is utterly unfounded, unconslilulion-
al, without example, and contrary To the
entire practice oi the Government from
shall proceed TO show.
The recent movement Of Individuals in
California 10 furm Constitution and a
State Government, anh to appoint Sena-
tors aud Representatives, is the first fruit
of this monstrous assumption. II the in
dviduas, who made this movement, had
gone into California as adyenlurers, and
it, as such, they had conquered the Terri,
tory and established their independence,
the sovereignty Of the country would be
vested in them, as seperale and inle-
pendent community. In that case, they
would have had the right ~ form Con.
sliturion, and to establish government
for themselves, and, if; afterwards, they
thought proper TO apply TO Congress for
admission into the Union as a sovereign
and independent Stale, all lti, would have
been regular, and according to established
principles. But such is not The case. IL
was The Unired States who conquered
California, and finally acquired it by
treaty. The overeignIy, OF course. is
vested in them, and moi in tho individuals
who have attempted TO form Constitution
and Stale, without their consent. All
this is clear. beyond controversy. except
it caa be shown that they have since lost
or been hivesIed OF their sovereignty.
Nor is it less clear, that the power of
legisla,ing over the acquired territory is
vested in Congress, aud noI, assumed. in
The Inhabitants Of The Territories. None
can deny that the Government Of The Uni
ted SlaIes have The power to acquire Ter.
ritnries, either by war Of treaty; but If The
power 10 acquire exists. il belongs to Com
gross to carry it into execution. On his
point there can be no doubt. for The Cons
stiuti"n expressly pr"vIdes. that Congress
shall have power ITO nuke all laws which
shall he necessary and proper 70 carry into
execution the foregoing powers" (Ihose
vested ia Congress,) "and all other pnw-