The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-18
From the Grenada (Dfiss.) Republican
California Message.

We have already given our views upon that part
o. the fresidents message which spoke of his ac-
ton IN bringing about the states affairs which
exists IN California. We now purpose to say some
thing OF his recommendation 10 admit California as
State, provided the Constitution she presents 10
Congress Is in accordance with the requirements Of
the Constitution Of the United States. The main
point, and IN fact the only one, which has been at
issue between the North and the South has been the
constitutional power Of Congress to pass laws ex-
Guiding the domestic institutions Of the Southfrom
the Territories. gs
The doctrine Of the South has been, that the Ter
rltories We're the common property of the ivhoie
Union, and that Congress had no right to prohibit
lhe Inhabitants OF any particular section from car
rylng their property into them Although the
South is as effectualy excluded, in the present
constitution OF California, from carrying her slave
property into that country, as il Congress had
passed the Wilmot proviso, still the principle is
lar different. In the one case ii is the people Of a
particular country deciding what shall be their
own law in relation to particular question:; and
IN the other Congress decides il for them. The one
acts upon the broad principle that man is capable Of
self government, and OF right ought to govern him
self the other that the common agent Of the ,chOe
Union has right TO legislatc for the interest Of
one portion OF that Union To the injury Of another
and that, too, when the subject matter of legisa
ton is the common property of all the States, from
the enjoyment Of which the Wilmot proviso princi-
pie would exclude large portion of the people Of
the United States In the one case il is done by the
inhabitants OF the country ITSELF who have right,
under the Constitution, to regulate their internal
concerns in their own way; in the other it is done
by the representatives OF the ,choie Union, who
have no right, under the Constitution, TO interfere
in matters affecting the domestic policy of peo-
pie, 80 far as to determine, that in certain local
ity particular species Of property shall not exist
that kind Of property, too being recognised by the
Constitution.
II And suppose that California should not be adj
mitted, at the present time, into the Union as a
State on account of this slave exclusion clause in
her constitution and she should erase it therefrom
md lu fara Afnta .xxyo,ll
We think not. Let her then do so, and could she
not Immediately, after her admission, amend her
constitution and again insert it? She most GER
tainly could. Ns'a Wa.t5i.n asssT
But it is objected that the inhabitants of Califor
MIA arc principally Mexicans and Indians, and are
incapable Of deciding such a question General
Casss Nicholson letter doctrine would have left 1t TO
them, but this is different case. There are now pro
badly 100000 American citizens in that country,
and they capable OF deciding what is best for
their good as we are. They have decided the qucs-
ton adverse to the South, and that too, under the
leadership of men born and educated in the south
ern States, large majority of all her officers elect
ed under her constitution being of that class.
These officers, too, are not only from the South,
but they have belonged heretofore TO the Locofoco
party.
And now, after the Locofocos have annexed Texas,
brought on the war with Mexico, acquired a large
portion of Mexican territory, sprung. upon the
Union thereby the Wilmot proviso issue, sup
ported General Cass in his doctrine of leaving the
question of slavery to the people of the Territories
(and that too without any restriction to the time
when they should decide the question, )--after all
this, they with remarkable agility change their po-
sition and oppose old lack because he recommends
the admission of California State, provided she
has a republican constitution. They can sing ho-
sannas to General Cass the advocate of southern
doctrine, when he would leave the settlement OF
this question to mongrel race, scarcely superior
to our negroes; but when General Taylor recon
mends the admission of State whose constitution
has been formed by American citizens, and large
majority Of whose inhabitants are of our own Ian
guagc and blood, they cannot find epithets too
harsh to apply to him.
This is a beautiful consistency! Truly it is Lo-
cofoco consistency fully worthy of the end
school of politics
We, are opposed to the Wilmot provso upon
principle and willing to stand up for the South
80 long 1t occupies constitutional grounds, but we
cannot join in the war against old lack, carried on
by an opposition pledged in advance % to oppose
his Administration to the bitter end matter what
face the future may wear" especially when we are
thoroughly convinced that his recommendation on
the vexcd question is and in accord
ancc with the first great principle of republican
governments, which is, that man is capable of gov
erning himself, and of right should do so.
IL will be time enough 10 raise the cry of disunion
other grounds than a violation of the Constitu-
ton, when the South finds that even under the
promises Of that instrument it is longer safe for
her 10 remain in the Union.