New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-18

/ "a
on the subject of slavery, while their power 10 do
so is not only seriously questioned bat denied INV
many oil the soundest expounders OF thar instr1
ment. Whether Congress shall esislste 5r nor
the people OF the acquired Territories, when as
semoied III convention to form State Constitutions
| "lil possess the sole and exclusive power to de-.
/ ternline tor themselves whether slavery shall or
shall not exist within their limits If CoRgrys,
shaA ABSTAIN from interfering citA tie question.
the people OF these territories will be Left FREQ IN
ADJUST 1t as they may think proper tohen hsv an.
! t%J0T admission as St0teS Ut0tbe Uaton
/ NO enactment Of Congress would restrain the
people OF any Of the Sovereign States of the Union
old or new, North or South Slaveboldinc or non
HiaVehoidmg from determining the character of
/ Their own domestic institutions rs they nasydeem
! wise and proper. Any and all of such States nos
sess this right, aud Congress cannot deprive them
OF u; Inc people OF Georgia might, if they chose,
so alter their Constitution as to abolish SLAYER,
within its limits. The people of Vermont MIGHT
SO alter their Constitution as to admit Slavery
within its limits Both States woul duossess tina
! right though. as all know, il is NOT probable,
that either would exert it. 1t is fortunate for
the peace and harmony of the Union that this
question is in its nature temporary, and caa
only continue for tie bret period tcRtch ,oiu
iate7reae betore California and Nec Merico
may be admitted as States into the Union--
From the tide OF population now flowing into
them, it is highly probable that this TW soon &C.
cur, He aiterward adds that, ." Ii Congress, in
stead of observing the course OF non interference,
learing tie ADOPTION Of their domestic instltu-
tons to tie people cho may Rha6u these Terrific
,Ies or If, instead of extending the Missouri
compromise liue to the Pacific, shall prefer to sub
nit the legal and constitutional questions which
may arise to the decision OF tue judicial trlbu'
mas as raS proposed IN bill Eh9ch passed the
Senate at your last seSe,on, an adjustment may
be effected in this mode Ii the whole subject
be referred to the Judiciary all parts OF the Union
could cheeJaliy acqaiesce an the f1lal decision Of
tie tribunal ~eated 6y the Constitution for the set
HemeHt Of a. questions whlch may arse under the
ConStitut on, treaties and laos Of the Uaited
States.
Of the souudness OF the opinions here express
ed, | never entertained a doubt. These were
Justly regarded during the whole session which
preceded the close of Mr. Folks Administration
and the Inauguration Of Gen Taylor, rs the lead
ing doctrines not only Of Southern Statesmen, but
also of the Democratic party. Not only was the
Cabinet of President Polk committed to these
doctrines, but his party in Congress espoused the
same principles and these principles gained
strength during the whole Of that session, 70 such
an extent that good men throughout the country
regarded them as the ark Of their political safety
from the threatening evils arising out oil our ter
ritoria acquisitions
The House OF Representatives contained a small
majority as we have seeniu opposition to the last
measure recommended by President eo!R when
was the bill had introduced at the previous ses,
sion and as many who had opposed that OH
ay0wcd themselves friendly to the measure re-
commended by him, of awaiting the action of the
ueoplc in the formation OF State governments both
in California and New Mexico, acquiesced in
the general sentiment winch favored that course
Of policy, because it would as etlectualy settle
the whole controversy when the States should be
admitted as the bill had proposed for submitting
the question to the Judicial tribunals and was
DESTROYS to avoid the opposition OF such as having
once voted against the bill OF peace had pro-
posed, from the mere pride of political consistency,
would probably persevere III doing so. thought
then and think yet that that bill presented by far
the most eligible mode OF deciding the question
that could be suggested
With President Polk, did not doubt that all
parts of the Union would cheerully aCquiesce in
the final decision OF the tribunal created by the
Constitution for the settlement OF all questions
arising under the Constitution, treaties, and laws
of the United States" Upon the formation OF ter
ritoria governments judicial tribunals were ne
cessarily to be established and the Constitution
commanded us, in the erection OF such tribunals,
to make the necessary regulations for giving to
the Supreme Court It's appellate jurisdiction inns
provision in the bill was therefore measure, In
my view, ilnperatlvely demanded oil Congress,
should territorial governments be established
But no such measure was necessary, IN case 1t
should be determined that Congress should not
interfere, in the language OF President Polk, for
the Drlet period MllCL NUult intervene DtiDTC Cnl
oria and New Mexico would be admitted as
States into the Union events which he decar
ed, at was highly probable would soon occur"
Influenced by these considerations, my own sem
tments on this subject were thus far entirely in
coincidence with Southern statesmen and the lead
ing men OF the democratic party itself.
1t was at this stage OF the progress OF this agI-
tation that | was houored by President Taylor
with place in his Cabinet. Loud and ongcon-
tinued cheering. Coming into power with sub
stantial majority against him in both Houses, his
great aim and end being the harmony and happ
ness Of the country he naturally and, as thought
wisely, concluded that it would best conduce to
the successful adjustment OF these questions, 10
carry out the policy suggested by his predecessor,
and sustained, as / have stated by the very party
which opposed his own election He sought to
make no party issue out of the controversy, but
deeply deprecated the geographical divisions
which would necessarily arise out OF such an lssue
Upon the organization OF the first Congress alter
his inauguration, he recommended 1t TO await the
action of the people in the formation OF State Gov
ernments in tile new Territories and expressed
the same opinion with his predecessor, that these
events would would probably soon occur
1t was apparent that by this means the Vexed
question as to the power and duIy OF Congress 70
iuterdct Slavery within these Territories would
be avoided without doing violence to the feelings
or prejudices Of either section OF the country ana
when his California Message was sent 10 the
House of Representatives, recommending this
course of policy the Opposition press OF the coun;
try burst forth in one general Oqtcry that he had
but adopted the resolutions and principles OF the
Democratic party, and copied the rec9mmenda'
ton OF President Polk. Laughter Inc com
plant was that he had proposed nothing new;
and while studied effort was made to heap
praises on those who, it was alleged, had orlgn
ated these suggestions, he was denounced IN I'M
measured terms for his "imbecty" in merely
following in the footsteps of others Their censure
under such circumstances was the highest enco
MUM that could have been bestowed upon him
Great applause =.
zens, that was opposed TO the acquisition OF these
Territories | never voted for such an acquisition
The Legislature of this State had instructed me
to vote against the annexation OF any new Lein