The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-02-08
The CnIifornin Question,

California is the property Of the United States
| by purchase from Mexico. The Constitution says:
g Congress shall have power to dispose of and
make all needfu rules and regulations respecting
the territory or other property belonging to the
United States" Unquestionably California is
such property as was contemplated by this clause
of the Constitution. The mineral wealth OF this
territory has attracted thither very large number
Of the citizens Of the different States Of the Union
Now, if proprietary interest in land can be passed,
for valuable consideration by one party to another,
it is clear that these persons, formerly citizens Of
the States, have gone upon the property oil the
Federal Government; and the mere tact OF oec7t-
paacy cannot make it theirs. But 50 numerous
have they become, and such have been the exigen-
ces of their situation, that they have already con-
stituted Government for themselves; and, by the
election Of Senators and Representatives to the
Congress Of the United States, have made prepare
ton for admission, as State, into the Union.
II has been the uniform practice Of Congress to
admit new States with such plan of Government
as they may, of their own accord, have adopted
requiring only that such plan of government shall
be republican, and in compliance with the require
ments of the Constitution. 1t has not been re-
quired by Congress that they should make applica-
ton for admission in any particular character-as
States, already of independent existence,
territories, merely. By far the largest number Of
new States that have been admitted into the Union
have been formed OF territory which belonged to
the Federal Union, composed OF the original thlr-
teen States; but, on the other hand, Louisiana and
FLORIDA became territories oil the United states oy
purchase Oh france ana opaln, ana, as such' We're
admitted INTO the unlon' While 1exas' an lnde-
pendent rePubhc, became one oil the states SIMPLY
oy resolutions oil annexation adopted by our
Congress
Inc people Oh Oaiiornia, though occupying 'he
territory oil the United States, have formed Tor
themselves state Government win executive
legislative and judicial departments, similar IN all
respects to those oil the dinerent states oil the
mon. In TINS character she now presents hefseh
70 Congress as an applicant ior admission INTO the
Union me Pracnce OIL our government IN the
ADMISSION OF ahneNa'ioh o. new ola'es ceflainiy
does not preclude me coming IN oil oaliiornia In
the character IN which she presents herself II
anu rlofiua coulu DC purchased OF other
governments ana subsequently Drought into the
Union as states IL 1exas, an independent repuo-
NC could be transformed INTO one oil our Confede-
racy Of states merely by the adoption oil concur
rent resolutions oy me congresses OF the two ma
IONS u IS clearly evident that California may now
Pc received without violence TO the Constitution.
Inns conclusion is irresistible.
The question now presented to Congress and to
the nation is, Shall she be admitted? This ques-
ton assumes grave import, when with it is
nected the agitatng question of slavery-a connec-
ton which, in respect to California, is entirely
forced The latter question she has settled for her.
self by the adoption of Constitution which totally
discards the principle of involuntary servitude
AS unpalatable as such exclusion is to our South
tastes, as inconsistent as it may be regarded by
some with Southern interests, had she not a right
to make it? Had not Florida, had not Louisiana,
had not Missouri in the framing of their respect
i've Constitutions, preparatory to admission into