The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-30

a military officer, who, by virtue Of the commits
sion he held under the Government Of the United
States, exercised the functions OF civil governor.
His ukase directed that the convention should con-
sist Of thirty-seven members. Amer the conven-
ton was elected, it assembled, and, by vote
for which it had no authority, not even from the
military dictator, it increased the number of dele
gates from thirty seven to seventy-nine, and al
lowed the additional number, without referring il
to the people, to take their seats, they being the
defeated candidates at the election. In my judg-
ment it was the duty of the President to have CEN
sured the officer who thus exercised the high pre-
rogative of military Dictator II the President
had desired to carry out the will of Congress ac
cording to his pledges, that officer could not have
escaped punishment, for Congress at its last ses-
sion positively refused to allow the people of Cal
fornia to do that which the military governor, by
military order or proclamation, bearing striking
analogies to an order, instructed them to do
Who are the people Of California; A world in
miniature-the four quarters Of the globe are re-
presented there. No naturalization laws have
been passed, there was no legal impedment to
their exercising the right Of suffrage. The whole
the rightfdl legislature 1.-THE terrtory-was lille
gal and revolutionary. [ repeat, Mr.. Chairman,
that with all these irregularities find every par
ty in Congress from the Northern States in favor
of the admission of California into the Union-and
whys For no other reason than that slavery has
had assembled under lawful authority, with an
ascertained population equal to the present ratio of
representation, they alone would have had the
power to determine the question whether slavery
should or should not exist within her limits
Ii that decision had been to exclude slavery, no
murmur Of complaint would have been heard from
any Southern man but Undertake to say here, if
slavery had been tolerated, we should have found
just as unanimous sentiment in the Northern
States against her admission into the Union as we
now find in favor Of that proposition and do
not make this assertion without good foundation.
When Florida applied for admission into the
Union, large minority voted against it, when
every initatory step had been regular, on the iso
lated ground that she was slaveholding State.
There are other evidences, Mr.. Chairman, of
Northern sentiment upon the subject Of slavery.
The speech recently delivered by the distinguished
Senator from Massachusetts,, Mr.. WEBSTER, and
the action of the House in laying upon the table
early part Of the session, has induced the belief in
the South that sense of justice had returned to
their Northern brethren. These appearances are
deceptive. 1t is an illusion which / deeply de-
plore. The Senator from Massachusetts made a
truly patriotic speech; but what did he propose
All that he offered was, to give to the South her
clearly constitutional rights. This gratlfed
us. 1t gratiied US to know that distinguished
Northern man would frankly and ingenuously con-
cede our rights and enforce their execution by his
vote and voice. How has that speech been re-
ceived in the State of Massachusetts,, of which he
is the proudest ornament? Her legislature was in
session; and fearing lest that speech might contain
the balm to heal the division Of the country,
sraightway new poison was poured into the
wound Resolutions were passed, taking the
strongest and most offensive ground. They did
not instruct him. it is true for the dominant party
do not assume the right to instruct; but that Sen
| ator has not been sustained by his immediate con.
A laxra not,tc
but large majority of the people and Of the press
| Of Massachusetts, have condemned him. He has
not been more fortunate here-one after another
OF the Massachusetts delegation has addressed the
committee, all assuming positions adverse to those
taken by Mr.. WEBSTER. The only hope Of aid
in this House took its departure to-day, when the
honorable gentleman who proceeded me (Mr.
WNrHRoP) announced himself in favor of Cen
era Taylor's understandable plan Of settling the
existing difficulties. DANIEL WEBSTER once spoke
and could speak for New England. The waves
Of fanaticism have broken over the land of the
Pilgrim Fathers, and are sweeping off the infu-
| ence and power Of her best and brightest men.
When his genius has proved itself impotent to
stay this onward wave in the minds Of those
whose service he has SO much honored, upon
what ground can the South rest her hopes Of peace
and safety i'll this Government
The action Of the House IN laying RooT's res
olution upon the table promised fruits which will
l
at the present session, it will not be because the
North have abated one title in their devotion to
it. The advocates of that measure are satisfied
they will accomplish their purpose quite effec-
tually, and much more adroitly, in another way.
But sir there is still further evidence of North
| ern sentiment. We have been told by one gen
tleman, in this debate, "that the only way in
which the abolition Of slavery in the States can be
constituonally effected, is to conne it within its
present limits;" another said, "that no more
slave States or slave Territory should come into
this Union--sooner civil war" &C.; another,
"the Wilmot Proviso was an abiding principle in
the hearts Of the people Of the free States" and
still another, who is a moderate Northern man,
"that slavery was a National shame and Ma
| tional disgrace" quote these sentiments that
they may be contrasted with the of-reiterated as
sertion, that it is not the purpose Of the Northern
States to abolish slavery where it now exists
They tell us plainly they can effect abolition in
the States, through the Legislation Of this Govern
ment, without violating the Constitution; and they
admit, further, that they will do it by indirect
means, but their constitutional scruples forbid dl-
rect legislation in abolishing slavery.
| Now, sir, have great contempt for the mo-
rality or honesty of that sort Of reasoning which
would make act unconstitutional if executed di-
rectly but satisfies the conscience that it is consti
tutional if done indirectly.
| The institution Of slavery being " national
| shame and national disgrace" In the opinion OF
the North, and having the power to abolish it by
indirect means, the legislation Of this Government
(for the North have the majority is to be hostile
to our institutions. We then present this anoma'
ly, that a Government establishedby wise and pa
triotic men for the security and safety Of the per-
sons and property of all its parts--a Government
which derives its sustenance by taxation upon all
its parts, is to depart far from the purposes OF
its creation to destroy, by its hostile legislation
the property Of one-half of the States composing
that Government; and that, too, when the States
thus threatened are in such hopeless minority in
Congress that they are unable to protect them
selves against that hostile, unconstitutional legs-
lation. The value Of our slave property is some
sixteen hundred millions of dolais: this is to be
destroyed through majority.
The rule for constructing the Constitution,
which is fast being established, is, that the major.
ity have the right to rule and what ever construc
ton they give is the true construction. Such Mr.
Chairman, is not our reading or construction Of
that instrument. The Constitution is to protect
the rights of minorities; majorities have always
the ability to protect themselves. II they have
the absolute right of making and constituting, Their
there is no necessity for written Constitution
IL the viii of the majority is absolute, it is the
strong against the weak--the law of force which