The North-Carolina standard., 1850-05-15
RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA WEDNESDAY MORNING, NAY s 1850

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DNEsDAY MORNING, MAY
her own act, and free she will remain; and re
oice that she owes not her freedom to the reeso party
in this House. l know that southern gentlemen de
ny that the Constitution of California was the vol
uatary act Of her people, and that they aege it wat
Sir, concede that there highly improper and
unwarrantable interference by the administration ir
regard to California and that perhaps, without tina
interference, this State government would not have
been formed. But it IS nevertheless the voluntary
act of her people, although the suggestion to do that
act first from the administration. fit be not the
voluntary act of the people, why is it that re-
monstrance has been sent up to this House? Why
is it that no complaint of any kind has been made
by any one! Because there is no dissatisfaction
among her citizens in regard to that act ButI have
other objections to the admission of California
State 1t to me, that if it were not for the
influence which this slavery question exercises over
the minds of US all, not twenty gentlemen could be
found in this House who would vote for her admis-
sion The territory embraced by the proposed State
of square miles which either New York or Pensyl-
vana possesses. Pennsylvania has territory embra-
cling nearly fory-seven thousand square miles, and
New York has about the same number. But Califor-
mia is seeking admission with territory which may
be estimated to contain about hundred and
ty thousand square miles and she has coast of
nine hundred miles, thereabouts. In addition to
all this, she includes within her limits every harbor
which we have on the Pacific. Why, sir, admit her.
with her present extended boundaries and she will
be an empire! No one, who looks forward to the
future, when dense population will fill her borders,
can doubt what will be her destiny. With her var-
ed and rich m inera productions, her splendid and
unrivaed commercial position, with the trade of the
eastern and western world falling into her lap, her
population will increase with an acceeration unpre-
cedented even in this country. That destiny will
then be separation from the Union and the formation
out of our Territories west of the Rocky mountains
Of separate western confederacy. am aware that
it has been said that great part of her soil is bar
rem, and will be unproductve, and that therefore she
will be incapable of sustaining large population
But, whatever may be the fact in regard her SOIL
it is manifest that, with her immense valuable mineral
productions she will sustain population much larger
than merely agricultural territory could possibly
do. Sir, we all know the prepondering influence Of
large States. In 1914, the whig party felt sensbly
the weight of the empire State Of New York, whose
thirysix electoral votes crushed their hopes and de-
feated their candidate.
And in 18l8 the democratic party, with candidate
distinguished for his patriotism and sound American
feeling for his abilities and ongtred services in the
councils Of the nation, and for his pure and constu-
tional democracy-I say, that with such standard
down by the twenty-six electoral votes of Pennsyl
vana, which she cast for the no-party President
The three States of New York, Pennsylvania, and
Ohio poll nearly two-thirds of the electoral votes
necessary to elect President; and if we add Vir-
ginia, we find four States of the Union wanting but
two of hree-fourths Of the vote requisite to elect
candidate. Does not this simple statement strongly
exhibit the dangerous power which belongs to large
States? We have thirty States in the Union; and
of these, four alone can, from their extent Of territory,
Poll three,fourths of the vote necessary to choice.
BY combination with each other, their power, in
every presidential election, would be irresistible The
influence of large States is felt not
only in presidential elections, but in the councils
of tho nation, and in everything that appertans to the
government of the country Sir, think it is unwise
territory nearly four times large as any one of the
four States have named. The smaller we make the
States the Pacific, the greater will be security
against secession. If Influenced by the slave
~ question, in my objection to the admission of Cal
ifornia, would take the ground that by dividing her
territory would have two free States instead of
one, and four senators in Congress instead of two,
and thus strengthen the power of the free States in
the legislative department of the government.
But there are other objections to the admission of
California, besides the extent Of her territory Has
she served the probationary period, which has here
tofore been required of all our Territories! Has her
population in year become sufficiently indoctrin
ated in republican principles to enttle them to the
inestimable rights, privileges and inmuntes enjoy
ed by State government! am afraid not, A
large portion Of her population consists of foreign
FRS, who have never had republican training. 1t is
we'll known, that on the discovery of the gold, per-
from every part of the world ccked to Califor-
mia, and that the Pacific coast and islands sent forth
their thousands. To say, sir that such population,
composed of every hue, and brought together from
every cline, were fit PERSONS in whom to vest that
high attribute of freemen, the elective franchise, is
what cannot understand, and do not believe. The
high privilege of Incoming one of the sovereignties
of this great confederacy has been lightly
granted. Michigan was erected into Territory
January IL, 1905; but she was not admitted as a
State until January 26, l837-more than thirty-two
years after her territorial government had been estab
lished, notwithstanding she had three times memo
rialized Congress for admission and, sir, when she
was finally admitted, she was allowed but one repre-
sentative in Congress. And how was it in respect
10 Florida territorial government was establish
ed in March, 1922, but she was not admitted as
State until March, 1915, twenty-three years after
she had been created Territory, although she had
knocked four times at your doors for admission.
Even then, she allowed but one representative
in Congress. might through the list of all our
served probationary term before they admitted
as States, but my time will not permit me to do so.
Why, sir should this salutary rule be broken down
in favor of California? In my opinion, rigid en-
forcement of it is necessary in regard TO Cali
fornia than it was in other cases. ...
But, Mr.. Chairman, what was the population of
California when this constitution was formed, and
what is it now! When speak of population, / do
not mean gold-seekers and other adventures, who
have gone there for temporary object; but what is
the number Of her resident populationa No one can
tell. But fact do know and that is, that the
whole number Of votes polled only about twelve
thousand eight hundred, and that too, without any