The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-03-08
From the Natchez Courie
Admission of California,

Gen. Taylor in his late California Message. One
OF them (Mr Polk has passed from earih-bul
IN his day he was the respected leader of those
in the Southern States who are at the present
time bitterly assaing the President because he
has recommended the admission OF California
into the Union, provided her CONSTITUTION be
found to be in accordance with the reqnisitions
Of The constitution Of the United States 1'c
the Polk Democrats of former wears we recon.
mend the extract from one OF his annual MESA.
ges given in this article, with the remark that il
looks like slaniering the memory Of the dead for
them TO assail Gen. Taylor for carrying out, sub.
stantinlly, Mr. Polk's recommendations in re-
gard to this very territory Of California!
From the Message Of lHr. Polk 10 Congress 8h
December, 1913.
"Fhe question is believed to be rather abStrGcl
than practical, whether slavery ever can on
would exist in any portion OF the acquired terri
tory, even il it were LETT to the option Of the
s.ayeholding States themselves From the ma.
ture Of The climate and productions, in much the
larger portion of 1t, Il is CERTAIN IT COULD NEVER
EXIST; and in tie remainder The probabilities are
IL WOULD NOT. But, however this may be- The
question, involving as it does principle Of
equality OF rights Of the separate and several
otdltSg as tqudI Cu-pdTlleTS Ill lHe CUHleU6EdCy,
should not be disregarded.
I'm organizing governments over these terri
tories, no duty imposed on Congress By The CON
sttuion rec lires that they should cgislate on the
subject Of siqrery, while their power 10 do so is
not only seriously questioned, but denied by
many Of the soundest expositors Of t at instru-
ment. Whether Congress shall !egislate or not,
the people of the acquired territories, irhen as.
sembled in Convention 10 firm ffate CGnsfifu.
mons, ,eW possess the SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE POWER
10 determine for themselves whether it shall or
shall not exist within their limits. If Congress
shall abstain from interfering with the question.
the people OF these territories will be lett free TO
adjust il as they may think proper when they ap-
ply for admission as a Safe into the Union. No
enactment OF Congress could restrain the peopIe
OF any 0f the sovereign States OF the Union old
or new, north or south, slaveholdng or non-slaye-
holding, from determining The CHARACTER OF
THEIR OWN DOMESTIC INSTITUTIONS as they may
deem wise and proper. Any ard all the States
possess this right, and Congress cannot deprive
them Of it The people OF Georgia might, if
they close, so alter their constitution as TO abol-
ish slavery within its limits; and the people of
Vermont might so alter their constitution as TO
admit slavery within IFS limits Both States
would possess The right; though, as all know, il
is not probable that either would exert it,"
In February, 1877, Mr.. Calhoun, in the Sen.
ate Of the United States, offered series OF re-
solutions, among which we find the following,
which we have published before, but which we
now give again, iii order to show that the great
men Of the democratic party have advocated the
doctrine Gen. Taylor maintains in regard to the
territories, within The last two or three years:
"ReSolred, That it is fundamental principle
in our political creed, that people, in forming
a constitution, have the unconditional rght to
form and adopt the government which they
think best calculated TO secure their liberty,
and happiness; and, in conformity
thereto, no other condition is imposed by the
Federal Constitution on a State, in order to be
admitted into this Union, except that its const-
tuition shall be republicans" and that the mpo.
sitlon of any other BY Congress would not only
be in violation of the Constitution, but in direct
conflict with the principle on which our political
system rests"
Mr.. Thomas Ritchie, editor Of the Washing
ion Union-that mighty organ Of the whole
democratic press and party OF the land-in his
paper oi the 9th of February 1919, in leading
article having reference 10 the policy Of admit
ting California as a State said:
The South denies that Congress has any
jurisdiction over he subject OF slavery, and con-
tends that the people of the territories alone, when
they frame constitution preparatory to admis
sion into the Union, hare a right 10 speak and he
heard on that matter. This fact being settled, il
really seems tD us that hiS ercfing question might
be speedily adjusted, il calm cnunsels prevail.
The SoBln contends for her honor, and for the
great principles Of non-intervenlinn and Stale
equality Why. them cannot all mite, and per-
nit California 10 come into the Jnion as soon as
she can frame constitution! Then, according
% the doctrines which prevail on both sides OF
Mason q Dixon's line, she may cnnstitutonally
establish her domestic Institutions on any basis
consistent with republican principles. The
South could lose nothing by this course. On The
contrary, she scould SAFE all for ,chich she con-
ends"
Now. let ns bring Gen. CasS upon the stand
Some days since we gave an extract from his
speech in which he stated the authority from
whence was derived the power enabling tile peo-
Die o: territories to legislate lnr themselves We
Iuote from his speech delivered in the United
States Senate on the 2lst of January last.
lit is clear, then, that there is no necessity
pr Congress to egslate for the Territories.
'ery few instances of the exercise Of such |
,ower upon tho etatute book were NOT only lin. |
constitutional, bat were acts of supeFerogation.
Which the Territorial Legislature was much
more competent than the National Legislature |
o consider and determine to the satisfaction oi
he people of The Territory. 1t may be said, |
r, that some Of the recent acquisitions contain
considerable population foreign 10 our political
and not as yell qualified to apnre
,iae them as our native or naturaliZed citizens /
Who are familiar with their operations. But, I
r, this objection, which however does not touch t
he principle, is entitled to no consideration as a
ractical one. There is not a territorial gov /
rnment we shall organize in which the majuri |
Y OF the active population will not be American
tizens, emigrants from the older States, and in
which this class of persons wll not exercise
'reponderating influence, controlling all public /
measures. What, then, have we 10 fear? The /
reat issues of life and death are left to the people
Ss one calls this in question. And to the same
rust may be committed, with equal safety, all
be other objects of internal legislation.
"And the Late proceedings in California 10 on
-aRize gorernntena, and the constitution which
las been the result, are the bssi pro9S thai could
e offered Of The capacity of the people 10 lay the
Of their political institutions pisety
md justly. What practical comment is that
onstitutlon upon the doubts we have heard ex. I
,ressed in this ball and out OF it, respecting the
1tellgente Of these remote territories; and the |