The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-31

as a legacy of embarrassment. Whatever were the
natural political difficulties with which the settle
ment OF IL To be surrounded, they had been
left to wild, if they were not augmented by the
course which had been taken in relation TO 1t. We
will not say that this adopted purposely
10 augment the difficulties Of the question, but
will say that it would be difficult to give good
reason for, an for, many things which the
late administration did. But General Taylor,
wisely deciding that il was more difficult to go
back than il to go on, though the right course
had not, in all things, been originally taken, de-
termined to give full force to the arrangements he
found existing when he came into power; but at
the same time to so direct them that, by wise
prudence, whatever evils might have resulted from
an indiscreet management would be avoided.
The result we have What was regarded
matter involving questions OF great difficulty
and danger, is found, when the motive and policy
that have governed General Taylor are made
known in his message to Congress- and their effects
fully seen, be free from all proper of
icty even and to be already virtually settled; and
thai, too, in that no one can object to,
unless he is bent opposition to the g bitter end,
no matter what aspect the future may wear"
There is no real difficulty in settling this
question of the admission of California into the
Union The policy, proclaimed by General Tay-
Tor in his message, of leaving to the people Of that
and all other Territories in like circumstances to
determine for themselves what shall be its constitu
onal regulations in regard to its domestic nstitu
tions is not only the only constitutional course,
but is dictated by strict justice and by the right Of
self government, which is the foundation stone Of
our national existence. II congress has right to
impose a State, when applying for admission
into the Union, restrictions which shall make the
authority Of such State TO alter to change her
situtiona form Of government less than any other of
the States ofthe Union, old new, then the equality
of the States no longer exists and limitations and
restrictions upon any thing and every thing that
relates TO its domestic policy may be imposed
upon it.
And the wrong would be as great in Congress
deciding that such Stste shall not exclude do
mestic slavery from its territory, il would be lift
decided that it should exclude il. But Congress
has not that right The exercise, therefore, Of such
power by Congress would be a usurpation, and
would be an impotcnt Of its power, if it really
had it conferred by the Constitution 1t would not
be binding. 1t would have more authority upon
the State than would law Of Congress requiring
Massachusetts to establish slavery, or Maryland to
abolish it. This is the doctrine of Gencral Taylor's
message, and this ia the doctrine of the Constitu-
ton. He says:
"Should Congress, when California shall present
herself for incorporation into the Union, annex a
condition to her admission State affecting her
domestic institutions, contrary to the wishes of her
people, and even compel her temporarily TO comply
with it, yet the State could change her constitution
at any time after admission, when to her it should
seem expedient"
II may suit the ambitious aspirations or minister
to the political exaltation of some men, who only
can achieve distinction by an extreme course of
policy upon every question-it may suit such fana-
tics who onlyris to the surface in the troubled wa
ters, to oppose this doctrine, and to contend that
it is not right to leave the people of California to
say what form of domestic policy they will live
under; but whilst there is respect left for the
equality of the States, and regard felt for the per-
manence of the glorious Union, that doctrine, that
the people of the States for themselves only can
decide what shall, and what shall not, be their
domestic policy, will be cherished as the most
sacred of all the principles Of the Constitution ofthe
United States, and guarded as the one upon which
il was founded.