The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-23
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| COMMUNICATED
MEssRs EDIToRs: A communication in your pa
per of this morning. the signature Of Fideiis,
which calls in question the entire accuracy Of your
editorial few days ago. under the head OF "The
Beginning OF the End !" Is entitled 10 some notice.
The object of the writer Is evidently 10 find fault
with you for not justifying the course Of the ma
ority in attempting to carry the resolution OF Mr.
Doty, instructing the Committee on Territories to
bring in bill for the admission Of California with
her present constitution and boundaries, by the
"gag Of the previous question without debate,
elaboration, consideration. II is not surprising
that Of the majority actively engaged in these
proceedings should have felt the force Of your
marks upon the improperly Of such course; nor
can the conduct Of that majority now be excused by
the country, under the yrsfexfs offered by Fidelis.
| The amount Of his argument h. that no debate
could have been entertained on tho resolution In
any cvcnt--that under the rule Of the House, such
resolutions only could be offered ON that day as
did not give rise TO debate, and that the previous
question was moved as the only means Of prevent.
ing the resolution from going over by mere fac
tious objection, when Il could never again be
reached. This may be the candid opinion Of Fide-
lis and that his object was not really 10 cut OF de-
bate, and to get prcjudgmcnt u the House upon
the merits Of the proposition; but II 80, let me sug
gest to him why the resolution was not referred 10
the Committee Of the Whole ON the state Of the
Union. There Il would have come regularly
for debate Nobody would have objected 10 that
course.
1t is true that according 10 the rule Of the House.
no debate would have been allowed on, the resolu-
ton on Monday; but the resolution would have
been put when 1t could be debated, thoroughly con
sidered. and acted upon with that dcliberation
which becomes subject Of such magnitude and
importance. Those who resisted the course pur-
sued did because Of its irregularity, and because
of the manifest design Of the majority 10 iorestall
the opinion Of the House by committing IL with
positive instructions 10 the committee. II will be
recollccted that when the message Of the President
was sent TO the House, communicating the Califor-
mia constitution, Southern man--Mr. Venablc,
believe-moved to refer it, with tho accompanying
papers, to the Committee on Territories. Another
Southern man-Mr. Stephens cndeavored TO effect
the same reference but it finally, on motion
of Northern man, referred to the Committee Of
the Whole on the state of the Union. And thus the
matter remained until Monday, when. contrary TO
all parliamentary usages, resolution, peremp-
tory and absolute in its character, was offered
to instruct the Committee on Territories TO re-
port bill for the admission of California with
her constitution and present boundaries, when that
committee did not have one Of the papers relating
to the subject before them, and could not have got
70 them without special leave Of the House;
for they had all, by previous order Of the House,
been referred to another committee. To say
thing more about the improperly of attempting in
this summary way of committing the House to this
measure in advance of discussion, and in
terchange Of views essential for wise and pru-
dent Legislation upon all great and exciting sub
jects-was greater irregularity ever before at
tempted in the halls of Congress than that attempted
by the majority in the House on Monday! The
message and papers relating to California had by
one of their number been referred TO the Com
mittee of the Whole the state Of the Union
the first and most important committee known TO
the House. Why did not the same majority then
give the direction to the resolution of Mr..
Doty, and let the whole matter undergo tho
rough discussion in that committee before any
definite expression of opinion was sought, if pre-
Judgment ,othout debate, by ertorfed poe, not
the objec And ii should be further recolected that
this prejudgment aimed at before the constitu-
ton Of California had been printed, or before
the members had had time TO examine it and make
themselves acquainted with its character and de-
tails.
As for what Fideiis says Of one among other
sons which have been given by the minority for
their course, to wit: "The alleged improper in
reference Of General TAYLOR with tho formation
of the government Of California and the exclusion
Of slavery from that Territory" &C., have only
to say, that no such reason had any influence with
at least one of that minority. have no evil
dence of any improper interference the part Of
General TAYLOR with the people of California; nor
do | believe that any such has been resorted
to. The people of California were without any
organized governmcnt-Congress had failed TO
give them one. Whether Congress had the power
| to give them one, is a question by means free
| from doubt. Under these circumstances, they
have formed for themselves just such gov
eminent as consisted with their own views and
feelings And, when they apply for admission
into the Union as n State, Congress cannot inquire
| into the nature or character Of that government
further than to see that it is republican in its
| form.
II is true that even If this requisite is complied
with, Congress has the right and power to admit
or reject according TO discretion. Congress has the
| power TO admit Statcs--but il is a discretion
airy power. And in the exercise of all such powers,
Congress should act with prudence, sound judg-
ment and due dcliberation. If there ever was a
time in history when these requisites for egis-
lation were cminenuy necessary to be observed,
such is certainly the present time. And IL is for
the country to determine, when all the facts Of the
case are understood whether the proceedings Of the
majority Of the House on Monday last were marked
with such wisdom, ss well as moderation, az the
e1igency of the crisis demands.
Feb. %, 1850. SOUTHERN Vino.
|
4 PAINFUL CALAnrry FROM THE USE or CAM
PHIsE.-On Saturday evening, daughter Of Mr..
| Rufus =. King, about sixteen years of age. re-
/ nj ofr