The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-14

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decide under the influence of similar considera-
tious in regard to new States formed of or out
of New Mexico and Utah, with.or without the
institution of slavery, according to the consti.
tntions and Judgment of the people who COM
pose them, as to what may be best to promote
their happiness.
In considering the question Of the admission
of California as a State into the Union, ma
iority of the committee conceive that any If.
regularity by which the State was organized
without the previous authority of an act OF
Congress, ought to be overlooked, in consider
alton of the omission by Congress to estaolish
any territorial government for the people OF
California, aud the consequent necessity which
they were under to create government Tor
themselves best adapted to their own wants.
There are various instances, prior to the case OF
California, of the admission of new States into
the Union without any previous authorization
by Congress. The sole condition required by
the Constitution of the United States In respect
to the admission of new State is, that Its
constitution shall be republican in form. Cali
fornia presents such constitution and there
is no doubt of her having greater population
than that which, according to the practice OF
the government, has been, heretofore, deemed
sufficient to receive new State into the Union.
In regard to the proposed boundaries of Cal
ifornia, the committee would have been glad II
there existed more full and accurate geographic
cal knowledge of the territory which those
boundaries include There is reason to believe
that, large as they are, they embrace no very
dsproportionate quantity of land adapted to
cultivation. And it is known that they contain
extensive ranges of mountains, deserts OF sand,
and much unproductve soil. 1t might have
been, perhaps, better to have assigned to Cali
fornia a more limited front on the Pacific; but
even if there had been reserved on the shore OF
that ocean portion of the boundary which it
presents for any other State or States, it is not
very certain that an accessible interior of suffi-
cient extent could have been given to them to
render IN approach to the ocean through their
own limits of any very great importance.
A majority of the committee think that there
are many and urgent concurring considerations
in favor of admitting California with the pro.
posed boundaries, and of securing to her at this
time the benefits of a State government.
If hereafter, upon an increase Of her popula-
ton, more thorough exploration Of her terri
which may arise between the people occupying
its various parts, it should be found conducive
to their convenience and happiness to form
new State out of California, we have every rea-
SON to believe, from past experience, that the
question of its admission will be fairly consid.
cred and justly decided.
A majority of the committee, therefore, re.
commended to the Senate, the passage of the bill
reported by the Committee on Territories for
the admission Of California as State into the
Union. To prevent misconception, the COIN.
mittee also recommend that the amendment
reported by the same committee to the bill be
adopted, so as to leave incontestible the right
of the Uuted States to the public domain and
other public property in California
Whilst majority of the committee believe
it to be necessary and proper, under actual cir.
cumstances, to admit California, they think il
quite as necessary and proper to establish gov:
ernments for the residue Of the territory derived
from Mexico, and to bring it within the P.le OF
the Federal authority The ren,oteness of that
territory from the scat of the General Govern.
meut the dispersed state of its population; the
variety ofraces-pure and mixed-of whic II it
consists; the ignorance of some of the races ol
our laws, language, and habits; their exposure
to inroads and wars of savage tribes and the
solemn stipuIations of the treaty by which we
acquired dominion over them, impose upon the
United States the imperative obligation Of ex-
tending to them protection, and of providing for
them government and laws suited their cond-
ton. Congress will fail in the performance of
high duty lift does not give, or attempt to
give, to them the benefit of such protection,
and government and laws. They are not now
and for a long time to come may not be, pre-
pared for State government The territorial form
Tor the present, is best suited to their condition
A bill has been reported by the Committee on
Territories, dividing all the territory acquired
from Mexico not comprehcnded within the limits
of California into two Territories, under the
names Of New Mexico and Utah, and proposing
for each territorial government.
The committee recommended to the Senate
the establishment of those territorial govern
ments; and in order more certainly to secure
that desirable object, they also recommend
that the bill for their establishment be incorpo-
rated in the bill for the admission Of California
and that united together they both be passed.
The combination of the two measures in the
same bill is objected to on various grounds.
1t is said that they are incongruous, and have