Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-15

Try - not the passage of laws establishing Territorial Co
yemenis which would keep alive the agitation, but their
passage with poviso obnoxious oneha Of the confede
rscy, Why then, should the policy Of inactivity be CONT
nued as the policy Of the Administration, and supported
such IN both houses Of Congress The passage of the bill
without this offensive restriction will produce excitement
in the South. We all know that On the contrary, it will
aay it. by removing principal of discussion What
Them is the possible objection action Let tn who
consider the Wilmot provso constitutional and necessary
vote for It, But let not be urged reason for not meet
ing the question: that its agitation dangerous. That agta
ton has begun, has continued and will go till it yields
our final action Agitation, indeed Why, many Of the
very persons through the country who depecae it as
for avoiding the only of its termination, among
the very persons who pepetualy presenting the whole
subject to the community the worst and most offensive
form. Are these exciting discussions go on, and all the
mischief done that do by infaming the public mind
and, when we approach tsrmnaon to be told, SIT
STILL leave the Territories without governments otherwise
you will agitate the country
No. sir, no this of adjustment is dangerous only
to those, whatsoever wherever they be- who
willing to meet the question by open manly vote. That
is the true and only danger.
/ must confess that have listened with amazement to
much that has been said upon this subject and if know any
thing OF the intelligence Of the American people, the
of policy advocated here is little likely to be made
ceptabe by the alleged reasons which dictate it.
The President considers in his message that there legal
existing Government in New Mexico, which secures the
people "the benefit and protection of those municipal
laws originally derived from Mexico" am warranted in
saying that the President considers it. because laws cannot
afford their benef and protection unless there is legal
and competent authority administer them shall not stop
to examine this topic here nor point the difference
between political institutions, which require officers legally
appointed to give them effect and civil rights the former
having relation to appointments cease with the cesson OF
country the latter remain till changed to point out the
duty any view Of the subject Of preventing by direct egis
aton the difficulties and discussions which to come
and Of defining the relations between the confederation and
these acquisitions left in such embarrassing condition.
But what desire to remark is, the strange Inconsistency
of contendng for the Wmot provso and at the time
declaring that with without that povso Congress ought
pass law upon the subject of Territorial Governments
For have been distinctly told by the Senator from Con-
necticu mr. SMIrH and may well presume he speaks
cathedral that he should for the Wmo provso, and
whether that adopted not, he should then
against the BILL Practically, be would help the aga
ton the last point and then, when it might be terminated
forever he would round and stop egsaton leaving
the same battle be fought again, with consequences still
DISASTROUS such renewed agitation fails to bring
with it.
Well sir why should the establishment of legal govern
men leaving untouched the question of slavery be
measure under any circumstances than this this
acquescence in military government perfectly invalid
unless to the words of the present Secretary OF War; sit
rests on the consent Of the inhabitants under it. and when
all the officers appointed and the administration OF public
affairs directed by colonel Of the army No Wlmot pro-
viso-tha is prohibition by Congress against slavery
follows one case the other and utterly unable to dis
cover how leaving the people be governed by the Mexican
laws with all the evils of military rule and OF doubtful
obligation be any better in the opinion Of those who con-
slider the Wilmot provso important than the establishment
of government which leaves the whole subject it finds it,
and does undertake touch the rights of the country in
this respect.
In connexon with this branch of the subject it becomes
again the Presidents views of the
dion of Territories left without governments Instituted by
Congress- and of the rights which belong them have
already referred the passages OF the message touching these
subjects but have authoritative exposition Of them
terng in detail into the whole matter found in the
Republic of the 3Oth of May, official organ of the Ad
psr + an
the President only because of the relations which that
paper the Executive and the Cabinet but because the
editor in the article referred to- introduces the name OF the
President by bis authority, when denying that any
change had taken place in the views of the Administration
upon this subject take that who has read this
article will deny that has been carefully prepared and in
tended to define the position of the Administration. Well,
sir what doctrine does hold the subject of this Terrific
rial right of action Here the general principle laid down
in it's application Utah With regard to Utah, the peo-
pie Of that portion Of the territory acquired from Mexico have
emgrated thther of their voion, and now constitute
isolated people, They have adopted provisional form OF
government perhaps well better suited to their condi-
ton and wants than any Congress could devise for them
They in the full enjoyment of the of self
ment And in the number of the Republic is article
extracted from the New York Courier and Enquirer, which
contains the adhesion of that paper TO the principle
g that the proposition to allow the Inhabitants Of com
munty form such laws they shall h isneher novel
startling those who have faith in republican principles
Now, sir have already expressed and now renew my full
conviction of the truth Of this doctrine Its foundation lies
deep in the rights of man. The exercise of this power of
selfgovernmen the absence of any other government
revolutionary, il has been called but strictly
of the existence of society," and of the re
aons with the parent county whose authority not super
seded but supplied and acknowledged asserted
But this right of doing for themselves what we ought to do
for them justification for the nacon Of Congress We
have heard this right of government disputed here and else
where and by of the abest in the country And
have the validity of the laws called in question is one OF
the gravest evils that aiict community. And there
will always be found those in the Territories themselves
who will do this and thus disputes of the worst character
will spring up And the legal relations of communities thus
left to themselves with the States Of the nion present
tions Of the most embarrassing nature But need not
this topic To state the proposition is to refute it.
Well sir in the exercise OF the powers OF government thus
necessarily assumed what may Legislature do or rather
what may it not do It may pass any laws, not prohibited
by the constitution and inconsistent with the relations
existing between these Territories and the Union They
may regulate all the domestic relations the condition OF hu
band and wife, of parent and child, OF guardian and ward
and indeed organize and control the whole legal institutions OF
the country They institute slavery if the constitution
permits and exclude it under similar circumstances. No
draw line between the power to regulate the rea
ton Of and servant including the condition of slavery
and the power control the other domestic relations unless
that line be found in the constitution Such ia the state of
this question: with respect to the power of Territorial legsa
ton where the Legislatures established by the
people themselves And what would it be, in the event Of
the passage of this bill
We have inserted restrictive clause, fobiddng the legs-
laures created by the bill from establishing prohibiting
slavery II this clause remains the status quo of slavery
mains with it, and the existing condition cannot be changed
This restriction carried by the votes of several members
who had already voted for the Wmot provo and upon
ground that slavery not existing in these territories cannot
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