The southern press., 1850-10-03
From the (Va.) Spirii Of Jefferson.

From the (Va.) Spirit Of Jefferson.
THE ADMISSION or CALIFoRNIA.--Prominen
among those recent acts Of outrage and wfop2
upon the rights of the South the requirements
Of the Constitution, ard the former usages of
the Government, the admission of California
stands first In this matter, who dare deny the
njustic. perpetrated upon the South 1t is
without parallel in the history OF our legisla-
ton, and will yet cover with infamy the political
traitors of the South who have quietly acqui-
esced in its preparation. What are the facts z
California, in the first place, was acquired by the
common blood and treasure OF the South,
thereby emitting her TO fair partition OF its
domain. No sooner was California acquired,
however, than Gen. Riley, temporarily appointed
as Governor of the Territory, undertakes to de-
clare that the Mexican law, which excluded
slavery, should be the supreme law Of the land
until revoked by Congress- Thus matters re-
mained until the advent Of General Taylor's Adj
mnistration, when he, as very torcibly says the
Lynchburr Republican, instigatedand controlled
bv "an Abolition Cabinet, fearful of having an
issue forced upon him by Congress, in the shape
of the Wimot Proviso, which he could not meet
without betraving the confidence Of one or the
other sections Of the Union determined to ward
off that issue. if possible, by instigating the
people of California to settle the question for
themselves, bv system Of usurpation hereto
fore unknown to our system OF government
Accordingly. Thomas Butler King Southern
member Of Congress, was appointed the special
agent Of the Administration. to accomplish this
dirty work. and was forthwith posted off to
California, with official advice to the people OF
that Territory to assemble in Convention, form
a Sute government aud apply for admission into
the Union. And General Taylor expressly de-
cares himself to have been principally actuated
in this recommendation, by an earnest desire Ia
afford 10 The wisdom and patriotism Of Congress
an opportunity Of aroiding occasions Of bitter ana
angry dissensions among fte people Of he United
States In other words of avoiding the slavery
question by instigating the mongrel breed OF
foreigners, &c, inhabiting that Territory, to
adopt constitution excluding slavery
This was clearly the purpose of the President
as is manifest, not only from his own language
quoted above, but from other important and in
dubitable facts, which have heretofore been given
to the public through our columns.
The next step in this grand crusade against
all right and all Justice, as due to the Sourh is
the admission of California as State Of this
Union, by the two Houses of Congress and the
endorsement of President Fillmore. Now, when
or where had the South any part or parcel in the
arrangement or settlement Of this important
question: in which she had the right to demand
an equal and fair participation? When acquired
as Territory, Mexican law was proclaimed and
slavery excluded. The next hope was, that
Congress, as by all precedent it Ind heretofore
done, would extend the laws of the United States
over the Territory, thereby giving alike to the
people of the North and the South, an equal and
fair opportunity to acquire supremacy. But nc
such nodcnm of justice was vouchsafed the
South. Before one solitary day had passed over
when California, as a Territory was free to the
people Of the South and its property, alike with
the North, set of desperate adventurcrs, from
all clmes and all countries, unauthorized by
Congress, and contrary to the just hopes and
expectations of every citizen of the South adopts
State constitution, elects members to the
| United States Senate and House of Represen-
tatives and 10, the measure of iniquity and wrong
is consummated The South deprived of all
participation in territory which would have
been of inestirnable value to her people, and OF
countless millions to her wealth. And yet, IL
the face of all this, there are men to be found
, and we blush to say in the South, who send
forth pans of joy to the immaculate wisdom
which devised, and the baseness which consum.
| mated this and similar acts of deep and damnng
| wrong With craven hearts, and cuckoos' notes
| they cry "Peace Peace!! when there is none