Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-02-12
TAYLOR AND CALIFORNIA.

We did not conceive il necessary at the time
ts tosrRaen, apsn the late message Of General
Taylor IN relation To the formation of a State
pusefnnaent in California !: nor would we now
refer 10 The subject were it rot for the purpose Of
correcting some gross errors into which the Free
Press has fallen, and which it is attempting tc
ps'm upon the people. Under the head OF Short
r., Memories that paper sayE:
"Many Of the praFInaticai critics, who are find.
ing fault with Gen. Tavlor's California Message
seeni 10 lie laboring under a singular oblivious
ness as to thsir oton past opinions. adopted from
Mr.. Polk. IN his Message Of Dec. s, 1913, the
Democratic President said.
And. then ii gives an extract from the message
Of Mr.. Polk, in which he speaks of the question
OF slavery as it regards that territory, as more Of
an abstract than a practical cne. One which will
DO settled when the people of the territory come
10 form a.State constitution,, whether Congress
iegislates upon the subject or not, and al alleventf
Il can be but temporary, as IL will not be long be
fore II WILDE admitted as a State. After giving
the extract, the "Free Press''says that 1--WE heard
not a word of condemnation from Democratic pa
pers at that time" Now so far as we are con
eerned, we see nothing to condemn, and VIC sup.
pose from the language Of that paper, that it eees
HOtll12 L CUuutHNu GuuEI. J. OpiIlOll w 1'''
Polk accords with our own. But If the " Free
Press had really wished to act ENORMOUSLY in
tho matter. it would have given the whole opinion
OF Mr.. Poik'on the subject. Mr.~Polk, as that
paper kno@s, was in favor Of Congress prescrib'
ing a form Of government Tor those territories,
and 80 recommended, We believe, on repeated &C.
~cssioos, and did not hesitate TO condemn the
Wilmot Trayiso, and was opposed TO its being in.
reorporated in suca form o! government. Gen.
~~'ayior, on the other hand, not only fail
ed TO recommend to Congress to prescribe a
form Of government for that or any other territory,
but clearly intimate to Congress that they had
better be let alone TO take care Of themselves, and
at the same time Withheld any expression of
opinion as 10 the Wilmot PrOviso, its const:tt-
;innality or it's propriety. This is not all-in his
California message, aud the letter of Mr.. Clayton,
it is shown that Mr.. King had becn sent there
with some private instructions in relation to the
subject, which vas said to be, by the lion. Mr..
Bolts, a member Of the Convention that framed
the Constitution for California, not only iucon-
sistent with the official position of Gen. Taylor,
but in conflict with Southern views and feelings.
These are the things which the Democratic press
condemn in Gen. Taylor, and WI would like 10
know whether the " Free Press" approves them.
In order, therefore, to test the sincerity of that
paper, we would desire the views of the " Free
Press" first as TO his failure TO recommend to
Congress the establ ishment of a territorial gov
eminent over California and New Mexico7 Sc
,condly, his Withholding any expression ofoPinion
as to the Wilmot proviso's being applied to these
territories? and thirdly, whether it was right, Of
he did do so,) 10 interfere will, the formation
ola State. constitution in California And does
not the " Free Press know that air. Polk was
in favor.o of Congress establishing governments
Tor those territories. and excluding the Wilmot
Proyiso? Now the " Fee Press has labored 10
induce the people to believe that MIR. Polk and
Gen. Taylor stand on the same platform in rela-
ton 10 these territories, when nothing can be fur
tier from the truth. II is true that Gen. Tay-
Tor has come out at last in favor Of the doctrine
Of non. intervention; one of the crecds of Gen.
Cass and the Democratic party, with this differ
encc, however, that while the Democrats desire
10 apply it alone to the. subject OF slavery, and
things TO be matters of Legislation in the terrific
ries, Gen. Taylor is oppOsedto giving the people
of those territories any territorial government
at all.