Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-20

moderate the irrational excitement which exists on this sui
in both sections and enc Of the principal cause
hat now TINS Government and dsurbs the put
| lie tranquility.
When say that slavery will be forever excluded from h
Territories which have acquired from Mexico BY cause
that exist independent Of Congressional legislation am on
an opinion which has heretofore been expressed
the late Secretary OF the Treasury, Mr. r. j. Walker b.
Mr. Cass In his Nicholson letter by the Aie Secretary
State, Mr.. Buchanan and by Mr. Webster in his recen
in the Senate and think am safe in SAYING
that am only utterng truth which every intelligent al
in this Republic believes who has examined the subject will
the purpose Of arriving correct conclusions am supporte
in this opinion, aso by the Committee of Thirteen which
reported the compromise bil the following extract from
the report accompanying that bill will show:
The bill for establishing the two Territories will B.
Observed omits the Wmot provso the hand and
the other makes provision for the introduction of SLAYER,
into part of the Territories That provso has beer
adopted and applied any Territory would cease 10 have
any obligatory force as soon such Territory were
admitted State into the Union There was never a,y
originally offered This has been clearly demon,ra
ted by the current OF events California OF all the
territorial acquisitions from Mexico that in which, any
where within them the introduction of slavery was most
likely to take place and the constitution OF California by the
unanimous vote OF her convention has expressly nterdc it,
IS the highest degree OF probability that Utah and
Mexico WILL when they come to be admitted States follow
the example,"
Mr. Chairman if have succeeded in establishing the posi-
ons have assumed in any degree popor,ionae my own
deep conviction of their TRUTH the conclusion will follow that
IN deciding the comparative merits of the
now under consideration in this and the other end of the
CAPITOL ought to be governed exclusively by our in.
dividua opinions of the specific provisions of those measures
but that estimate Of their adaptation remedies for ex-
listing evils ought to be In great degree Influenced by the
favor and support extended them by the representatives
conflicting sentiments and opinions When the various mat
es in controversy between the Northern and Southern
tons Of the Union referred by the Senate committee
composed Of Senators eminent for talents and patriotism and
and from the savehodng and nonsaveholdng States the
hope naturally in the public mind that high character
OF that committee would impa influence to its recon-
mendaons that would take these questions out of the vortex
OF party politics, and commend its recommendations the
general acceptance and approval Of the whole country This
expectation has no, been realized Since the report Of the
committee the Senate itself has been converted scene Of
dcodan of sectional strife Southern Senators op
the report of the committee because yields every thing
in controversy he North and on the other hand North
Senators oppose it because it yields every thing con-
trovery 10 the South Its supporters in the South obviously
intend to that the admission of slavery into
the Territories acquired from Mexico, whilst equally OBJ
vous that its Northern supporters will that excludes
slavery from those Territories. Can susceptible of
such contradictory construction tranquze the public mind
and restore harmony to the Union If it be passed into
law by Congress- not to be feared that the conflict
OF opinion which has marked the debate in the Senate will
be transferred the popular FORUM in the North and South
and that proacted agaon and deeper and dangerous
sectional excitemens will be the consequence In the midst
Of this conflict of opinion, it hangs suspended in the
Senateno claiming to be able foreel its fate Should
It receive such notifications TO make pass the Senate,
is it not to be appehended that when it into this hail.
it will encounter the fate which every attempt heretofore
made to establish Territorial for Mexican
territories has encountered Will ardent "Free.
soiler rise in his place, and to amend, by attaching
the Winct proviso prohibiting slavery in those Territories
And will not that proposition, heretofore, command
oriy of the votes of this House and will increased
onal evaporation and excitement follow consequence
4
that induced the President to recommend Congress conne
action for the present. to the admission of California into
The Union as State and leave the residue of territory the
government of existing laws and the temporary
which have been established. .lt #.. .s. ~.
The recommendation of the President contempates the
early admission of New Mexico Stale into the Union,
and refers the question OF the existence nonexstence Of
slavery therein the decision of the people, when they form
State constitutions preparatory to their application for ad
mission. He recommends the North waive the provso,
offensive to the South and he recommends the South and
The North mutually to consent to reference of the question
in dispute between them to the decision of that tribunal
which, in the last resort have Jurisdiction whatever
plan Of temporary adjustment may be adopted by Congress-
He recommends "compromise which gives triumph
neither to the section the other and which requires
neither section to sacrifice its principles its pride, its
rights The fact having been developed by repeated
,essul attempts that Congress cannot by any Of legsla-
ion, adjust the question in dispute the satisfaction of the
parties that dispute, the President recommends them
refer its decision TO that great American principle which
cognses the right Of every political community choose and
decide for itself what shall be the character Of its institutions
md laws. ,"
But it is urged that there were Irregularities informaes
departures from established usages, in the proceedings in
California, which resulted in the formation of State const
uion and application for admission into the Union, that
constitute sufficient grounds for rejecting her application.
These objections trivial that will time in
refuing them No entertans the expectation that
California will he remanded into territorial condition. and
The question Of her admission is merely question of time.
may be delayed but cannot and ought to be prevented
More plausible objections urged against the early adms
sion Of New Mexico into the Union State of which
is that the population, unaccusomed segovenment, is
not sufficiently civilized and intelligent to comprehend and
perform the duties that would attach them State.
admit the force Of this objection, and frankly declare that
sut for the peculiar circumstances under which act
would be in favor Of holding New Mexico long period
of territorial pupilage, before admitting her State into
the Union but when compare the evils which may
suit from her admission State, with those likely flow
from proloDgaton Of present difficulties, they sink into in
significance Gentlemen from the savehoding States found
their opposition the early admission of New Mexico upon
the assumption that the sentiments and opinions of that peo
pie sufficiently known TO make certain that they will
incorporate prohibition of slavery into their constitution
Admitting the truth Of this assumption, does constitute
sufficient reason for rejecting the policy which advoca
ing have already expressed the opinion that the
suit would ultimately obtain, whatever may be the legislation
OF Congress and brief postponemen Of the result would
not compensate for the evils likely to flow from continuation
OF the strife and agitation which distract the country
And, as the people, when in convention form State
sution, can only finally decide the question which is the
cause OF that strife and agitation, every consideration Of poll
cy, having reference to the harmony and stability of the
Union, urges most powerfully its immediate reference them
Let the people Of New Mexico decide the question to suit
themselves and whatever their decision may be- the people
OF the United States will acquesce II they adopt consti
tuition prohibiting slavery what right will the Southern States
hoya to tasr1 al. .l.--.