Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-16
Continued from the first page. |

Of their country. Would TO Ged that this feeling prevailed
with equal intensity the of the republic prevails
at its distant extremity While they wish to in there
are those who wish 60 out tits consong find that the
patriotic ardor Of ceunymen does not diminish they
recede from the older portions of the republic repeat they
here not Tevolutonss but integral part OF
great community, asking admiance into the conedeacy.
Mr. KING lin his seat) Who is il that prevents them
Mr.. CAsS The Senator from Alabama inquiries who
is that has prevented them from having government, and
is the Congress of the United States and in saying
this take the blame myself, one of its members.
Mr.. DOWNS. The Wimot provso prevents them.
Mr. CASS. am speaking of the cause OF our neglect
The Wlmot psviso is another thing. am not examining
what differences of opinion may have prevented action
speaking OF neglect and of its effect upon the people
of California and Of their justification in forming State Gov
What has the Wmot proviso any other differ
of opinion here, do with them They would still have
remained without had they not taken their own
into their hands, aud done for themselves what we
ought to have done for them Are they to be deprived OF
social organization, and of all the elements of social order
may add Of existence and to be treated by with connmey
and mokey, under the petence that we can do nothing for
them because some one thinks proper to introduce the Will
mot provso into our Legislative proceedings
Mr.. DOWNS Does not the gentleman know that that's
the only reason
Mr.sCASS. To be sure; gentlemen would not have
voted for Territorial Government clogged with the Wimot
provso. would not do it myself But the great fact still
remains fault they have government. II is not
theirs and because that question has divided you and
prevented you from doing your duty that they appear here
to-day and ask justice at your hands.
Mr.. FOOTE. Will the Senator bear with me
Mr. CASS. With pleasure.
Mr. FOoTE Ipresume the Senator does not wish to do
injustice TO any but he knows well that what may
properly be called the Walker amendment prevented from
being adopted according his account by the Senator
from New York.
Mr. CASS. IF any gentleman supposes that had the
slightest idea Of casting upon human being, he
utterly mistaken such sentiment occurred to
speaking OF the Congress of the United States and of
the duties they had TO pero and had neglected perform,
and did intend to reflect the upon any gen.
eman north SOUTH east west much less srragn their
motives speaking of the relation which existed be-
tween this Government and the people Of California which
has justified, in my opinion the they have taken.
Mr.. BUTLER Will the honorable Senator allow me to
ask him question HAT. ."@"
Mr.. CASS. Certainly.
ME BUTLER. Do understand the honorable Senator
now to say that the duty Congress have prov
ed a competent Government for these Territories
Mr.. CASS. There two positions have always main
tanned with reference to this subject First that Congress
under the constitution has right establish Governments
for the Territories secondly that under circumstances
have they the right to pass any law regulate the internal
affairs OF the people inhabing them. The first may be
matter of necessity and when the necessity exists if
Senator votes for il he votes upon bis responsibility to
his constituents If they believe the necessity and support
him, ne saf but he must fall If had voted under
such circumstances must have looked to my constituents
for my justification but under circumstances could have
voted for law interfering with the internal OF the
people Of Territory. No necessity requires it. There is
no necessity which would justify it.
Mr.. CHASE. Will the Senator allow me to ask him a
question
Mr.. CASS. Certainly stand ready to be catechsed all
day on this subject, il Senators desire it. d.
Mr.. CHASE. Did l understand the Senator as saving
that in voting for bill 10 establish government in the
tories he would the any authority given
IN the constitution IT,. e.
Mr. CASS The honorable will undoubtedly recoect
that in historical document called the Nicholson letter. which
subsequent circumstances have made somewhat important
distinctly stated my views upon this subject and those views
have remained unchanged the present hour. maintain
ed that no given by the constitution to establish
exists for such measure the legislator who yields
look to his constituents for his justification .s'
Mr.. CHASE understood the Senator say that there
was no such authority given by the constitution ;
Mr.. CASS said that if we do act not authorized
by the constitution under pressure of necessity that act
must be done upon cur own responsibility; and refer
the gentleman the authority of Mr.. Madison, who jus
tilted the action of the Congress Of the Confederation
the subject OF territories upon this ground, and upon this
alone. If the gentleman will take the trouble look
my speech the Wmot proviso he will find my views on
this point distinctly laid down. What the objection in
principle TO the admission Of California Allow say
that great political rights and movements in this age Of the
world are not to be determined by abstract speculative
opinions There is want Of heavy books in the world
which treat Of political science but need to them
to ascertain the rights OF men, either individuals
mites you do you will lose yourself cropping LABYRINTH
and where no follow you. If there rights
of sovereignty there may be of sovereignty and this
truth should be held in everlasting remembrance. And this
the with gado California We have rights and we have
duties ard if the former sacred the latter should be sacred
ALSO One of these duties have neglected perform and
told by gentlemen who have spoken here that when
State wishes admission into the Union she should
the door of Congress and knock for admission California
has thus come and knocked But door is opened her.
and she is be told, Go back and wait till ready.
There is but door through which you enter, and
that door keep shut You pass through territorial
government but that government have neglected to give
you, and probably far from establishing
And such IS the paernal regard manifest towards
hundred thousand American citizens who uphodiDg the
flag Of country the distant shores of the Pacific.
good dead has been said about preceden going
examine either their application authority though it has
been pretty clearly shown by others, that they fully justify
this measure Of admission.
Great political measures be judged by themselves
When new and imposing circumstances dictate unusual
course they furnish the justification for action, and they
furnish also precedent for future proceedings and whether
such this TO be found in legislative history,
duty is still the That duty imperiously requires
the admission Of California into Union. She comes
and asks admission; not, the honorable Senator from ILL
nois says in language of equal force and beauty,
reject sovereignty, but because her citizens love their
native country, know the value of institutions and de-
are to become bone of bone and aesh esh They
come repeat not revouonists, but petitioners, ask
ing the greatest favor bestow upon them The dis
dngu'shed Senator from South Carolina has objected that
only admit State into Conederacy, and that Cali
forna Is not State. Wel sir in my opinion il is State
and as truly existing under the The honor
able Senator from Name asked the very emphatic question:
What constitutes State And his answer will find re-
spoDsve cord in The heart of every American He said with
truth, tina. il is men who make State. They do sir II is
not land, nor trees, gold mines but it is men, by whom
and tor whom States constituted and maintained Why
sir any other doctrine would carry us back to the worst Dor
ton OF the middle when Governments instituted for