The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-31
A CHANGE OF POSITION.

JHANbE Uf fUNlflUN,
So far as we can see, the Wing party has
changed its position since the message of General
Taylor in favor Of non-intervention. What we
mean by this may be learned by the following
editorial from the Albany Erening Journal:
"This important document will awaken the
profound attention of the people 1t is clear, ex-
plicit, and patriotic Its positions are at once
emphatic and concilatory. Except upon single
point-the duty of Immediately providing Terrific
, rial Gsy4rnmerts Co. NJ ~ M-.iec "a 9. 60
it sonss fully up to the free soil sentiments q the
Uhon. Inc reasons gwen Tor this single point Of
difference will have great weight with the people
The President has official information that New
Mexico will, at no distant period, ask for sdmis-
sion into the Union and we know that the people
of Deseret have already framed their constitution.
But, in making these suggestions, the President
expresses no doubt of the right of Congress not
merely to give New Mexico and Deseret Terrific
rial organizations, but TO preclude slavery from
those Territories, if it SO please The admission
of this principle-the very corner stone of this
great suhject-will disappoint those who have
been predicting that this message would contain
an avowal of his determination to veto any bill
recognising the Proviso. Even the EUeung Post
has the frankness to say that General Taylor
asserts the unlimited legislative authority of the
Federal Government over the Territories Hav-
ing assumed this position, and thus given guar
antee of his readiness to cooperate with Congress
in any course which it may adopt, we shall prob
ably hear no more of his determination to prevent
by the exercise of the veto, the restriction of sla-
very within its present limits
"The President, it will be seen is, as no one who
knew him doubted he would be, equally emphatic
in regard to the admission of California, with the
constitution her people have already provided. In
assuming this position, he places himself in direct
conflict with the disunionists But the arguments
he adduces in support of his position are irrefuta-
BILE and conclusive, and will receive the hearty ap-
prevail Of every true man in the Union"
The Journal, it must be remarked, has always
professed to occupy high antislavery position
in the Wing party. Other leading Wing papers
of the North 20 beyond the Journal in praise OF
the message, finding nothing in it at variance
with the Free Soil Sentiment of the country
Let us see
General Taylor says that under the Consti.
tuition Congress has power to make all needful
rules and regulations respecting the Territories
of the United States" So says General Cass
but these "needful rules and regulations" he
respecting slavery On this point, then, the
President-is no more identified with the Free
Soil Sentiment than with its opposite
The journal says that the President " expresses
no doubt of the right of Congress to preclude
| slavery from the Territories" This is Jesuitical
The President expresses no opinion nh0tsOerer on
this point, and the Journal understands this very
well
The same paper says that the President has
official information that New Mexico will, at no
distant period, ask for admission into the Union,
and it thinks this will have great weight in recon-
Cling the people of the North to the recommend
alton of the President to waive all action in
regard to New Mexico. The fact is just the
reverse for the language of the President is,
"The reasons for my opinion that New Mexico
will, at no very distant period, ask for admission
into the Union, are founded on unofficial information
mhich i suppose, IS common 10 all mhO hare cared 10
make inquiries on that mIJea"
The Journal speaks of the President as having
given a guarantee of his readiness to cooperate
NTH Congress in any course mhch Il may adopt
| lie has given no such guarantee he has not COM
mitted himself at all in regard to Territorial
bill, should it contSin the Wilmot Proviso
The President, says the JouruOL is equally
| emphatic in regard to the admission of California
with the constitution her people have already
prepared"
Yes, and he is equally emphatic in regard to
the admission Of any other Territory claiming
admission as a State no matter if its constitution
toerates slavery.
This is the position of the President Let the
people of a Territory decide for themselves
whether slavery shall be tolerated or excluded
let them apply for admission as State-and il
will become the duty of Congress to admit, even
though they constitute slaveholding State The
journal and the rest of the Wing papers, glad of
an opportunity TO get rid Of present peril by an
expedient, assent without qualification 10 this
position, and thus commit themselves to the sup.
port Of the admission of Deseret as a State, with
a constitution tolcrating slavery, and preclude
themselves from consistent opposition hereafter
to the application of New Mexico and Jacinto,
should they apply for admission with consttu.
tons toleratipg slavery. And this they call
coming fully up to the Free Soil Sentiment of the
country!
Having assumed this position, how long will it
be before they will be called upon to acquiesce in
the annexation Of divers other slave States, in
cluding Cuba The truth is, they have aban-
doned the Free Soil ground. They are about
aiding in the reversal Of the time-honored policy
of the Governnent-the policy Of slavery restric.
ton by action of Congress They have consented
to set aside the Ordinance Of 1857 as a precedent
and establish the precedent Of non-intervention,
by which the General Government shall be bound
to raify the decision of the people Of any Terri
tory on the slavery question, no matter how
directly il may conflict with the views and inter-
ests Of the great majority Of the States
There are slaves in Deseret. Her constitution
does not prohibit slavery. Her application for
admission is to come before Congress The Wing
members of Congress il they follow the lead OF
the Wing press will vote for her admission.
New Mexico, in view Of this will proceed to
form State Constitution constitution tolerat-
ing slavery--and next year will see her member
! Of this Union. And then win come Jacinto