The southern press., 1850-06-25

division. / am free to say that, twelve
months ago, would not have voted for the
Missouri Compromise line; but the active
intervention of the Executive and others in
the affairs Of California, and which will be
continued as to the other Territories if this
question is left open, render settlement,
even by this line, desirable at the present
time. 1 would be willing for division Of
the Territory by parallels Of longitude, and
would prefer the bill Of the honorable mem
Der from Maryland, Mr. McLANE,) which
proposes to extend the Texas boundary to
the Colorado and the Gulf of California,
giving to the State of California the
\ balance of the country. This would fix
the institutions Of the whole Mexican ac-
quistion, and leave no further territory for
the Wilmot Proviso and the legislation Of
Congress.
| Ifthere cannot be division of the coun-
try, then the Mexican law ought to be for
mally repealed. This would not be an es-
tablishment Of slavery, but would leave the
question to stand merely upon the Constitu-
ton and non-intervention. Congress has
no power to destroy property, or exclude i
from Territory; but it may remove OBJ
structions and obstacles. If there be any
Mexican law excluding the manufactures or
mechanic arts Of the North, or the slave
property Of the South, it is the duty Of Con-
gress to repeal these laws. | might 60 fur
ther, as question Of right, and maintain
that there is broad and obvious distinction
between the power to create, or establish a
piece Of property, and the power to de-
stroy.
i Congress ought to settle this matter, and
place it beyond doubt. The inclination oI
my own mind is, that the Mexican law, in
relation to slavery, is superseded by the
Constitution; yet it is question in contest
and, as long as it remains in that condition
no one will think of taking slaves into these
Territories No prudent lawyer would ad-
wise his client to that course; how, then,
can lie consistently vote for any settlement
which does not secure the right, and place
the emigrant beyond the harassment O
vexatious lawsuits in relation to this specie.
of property? The present condition of the
law is the subject OF too much uncertainty
to be safe rule, 1t will prevent the emf.
grafton of shareholders, and in its practica
results, exclude the South from any fairpar'
ttion in the advantages of the common Ter
ritores. Let there be removal Of al
obstructions, in the shape Of Mexican laws
or an acknowledgment Of the right on one
side of given line.
TIE ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA. O."
The first measure Of the series is the ad
mission of California as State, with he
constitutional boundaries and inhibition o
slavery. This action in California, by (;
handful Of men, excludes the South from tn,
whole Pacific coast, running through som,
ten degrees of latitude, and embracing th'
whole Pacific country of any real value. Th'
Justice of permitting few persons thus t.
monopoize an empire, which they canno
occupy, to the expulsion Of one halt of th'
States of the Union, cannot readily be ap
prehended. Within reasonable and legiti
mate boundaries, first ascertained, the people
of Territory, when forming State, have
| rioht to prescribe their own domestic in.
/ stitutions; but few men or inhabtant
have no right or power to monopoize large
tracts of the public domain for an indefinite
period of time, which they cannot enjoy, ant
cucumber it with their political Institutions
Such course Of action is alike forbidden BY
Justice and the Constitution. In the case o
California, it is particularly odious to the
States it was aimed at, from the fact that j
was accomplished through the instrumental
ty OF political agitations, and the interference
| Of Executive agents ard emissaries. know
this has been denied, and ! do not now men
ton the subject with any other view than t.
produce the proof, furnished by the Califor'
, MIA convention, on proposition to extent
her boundaries to the line Of New Mexico
for the purpose Of excluding slavery in al
J that vast region.
"Mr. SHERWOOD. The gentleman
(Mr. McCARvER,) says he is in favor Of ;
permanent boundary. How is he going t.
: get permanent boundary by fixing it upoI
the Sierra Nevada Is he sure that Con
, gress will not cut us of on the South ?
the gentleman has that assurance from ma
iority Of the members Of Congress, shoulc
: like to see it | hope he will produce it
In my opinion, il majority Of Congress arr
determined to settle the question ofslavery
: they will give US the whole territory. Iii
is objected 10 by Mr.. Calhoun, or any othe
, gentleman who is in favor Of slavery over ;
part of California, it will be answered that i
, is too expensive to establish a territorial gov.
: ernment on the eastern side Of the Sierr;
, Nevada that that territory is for the mos
part desert waste, and may rest with Cali
, forna as a part Of the State without being
f expensive to the people Of California; bu
, that it would be quite burden in thirty o.
, forty years, at an annual expense to tht
t Treasury Of the United States Of one or two
hundred thousand dollars year-a large
portion Of which we would have to pay our
: selves. In regard to preventing our admis
, sion into the Union, by extending the boun
dary to New Mexico, we expressly say tc
Congress that, if they will not give us that
/, | tbay may cut nc dawn IN thc Sierra Nevada