The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-09-04

The Protest of Southern Senators,

We The undersigned Senators, deepI. im'
pressed with he Importance oil 'ho ocea,,o"
and with a solemn sen,e of the responsibility
under which we are acting, respectfully SUP
nit the following protest against the n,'' au'
uniting California as State into tins onioh'
and ,rous., tina, i, may be entered upon ths
Journa. Of the Senate. we ieei i"a'
no, enough To have resisted IN debate a,,"s'
bill SO frsughi with mischief to me o"''"
and The States which we represent WIN d"
the resources of argument which we posses.
sod but that II 10 also due 10 ourselves, Inc
,eonIe whose interests have been entrusted
TO our care, and to posieiliy, which even 10
most distant generations NAV feel us conss.
ou.ncss. 10 leave, in whatever form may be
most solemn and enduring, memorial Of the
onoosltioa which We have made TO this inca
sure. of the reasons by which we have eeen
governed. Upon the pages Of journal
which the Constitution requires TO be kep'
so long as the Senate may have an existence
We desire TO place the reasons upon which
we are willing to be judged by generations
living and yet to come, for our opposition 10
hi whose Consequences may be so dura-
sIe and noiten,ious 8 to make II an object O.
deem interest 10 All VIM So''N $3.50
We have dlssented from thl, because II
gives the sanction Of the law ard thus I'M
parts validity TO the Unauthorized actioh OF
portion of the inhabllsnis OF California, by
: which an odlous discrimination IS maze a.
painst the property Of the fifteen sla,eholdine
4 States Of the Union, who are thus deprived
: of ,bs, position of quality which the Consu.
. tu,ios 80 manlte.tIy designs, and which con
/. stitutcs the only sure and stable iouhoalloh
on which this Union can repose.
Because the RICH, of the slaseholdins
States to q common and equal enjoyment ct
J he territory Of the Union has been defeated
{. by a system of measures which, without the
II autholit, 81 precedent, OF law, OF OF The Con-
IS sti,ut.on, we're manlfeslly csnifi,ed for that
&c Purpose, and which Congress must sanction
y and adopt should this bili become law IN
IS sarcilonlng this system Of measures, thls
'e Government will admit, tina, the inhaohsh''
l. of usterriiories, whether permanent or uan
n. silent. whether lawfully or unlsaiully oecu
II nyipc The same, may form a State without
" even the previous aulhorit, Of law, without
,n even the partial security of ,erritofial or
t. paoiza,ion formed BY Congress WITHOUT Al,
ad coal census or other efficient evidence o
q Their possessing tho number Of ctizrhs ne
NJ cessary 10 authorize the representation WINCH
m they NAV claim, and without any OF lh"ss
a. safeguards about tho ballot.snS which car
to only be provided by law and which ate ne
,y cessAty 10 ascertain the true sense OF u PEG
n pie. Ii viii adm, too that Con.'e. hs""t
TO refused la provide government, except up
on The condition Of excluding slavery By Law
# th1s t,nksTnmPu
on may AT IT'S own discretion invite such lahae
Oh itanis 10 meet IN convention, under such rule
ID as i, or it.agerts may prescribe, and TO iotr
We Constitution affecting not only their ow
ION rights, but those al.o Of fifteen States Of 10
I'h Contcderacy, hy including territory with IN
purpose OF excluding those States from II
r.. enl9vmsni and without regard to the natufa
nee fitness Of boundary OF any OF the considers
re. ton. which should propttly determine th
limits OF q State. Il AL al.o admit that III
convention, thus called INTO ex's'encs by n
Executive, NAV lie pild BY him out Of b
avs funds OF the United Slnte. without the sant
sea lion Of Congress, IN violation not only o. IN
ade PLAIN provisions OF the constitution, but
adj those principles Of obslnus prnpi "hic
RI. would forbid any act calculated TO make tbs
MIS- convention depeudent upon II +; and last, b.
,or sot least 10 the series OF measures whic
fer this Government must adopt and sanction
on. passing this bill, IL the RELEASE Of The aulho
nts, ny OF the Onlted States of we hheeu''e
ON. lone 10 government thus formed, and n
ned presenting even s0iiitlent evidence Of us ha
- ing the assent of q majority OF Tho people f
hum il was designed. With asi.x Of q
ihese considerations, tho undersigned a
!. constrained TO believe that this Gosernme
-, could aever be brought TO adm, stste ~
r. senilng i.sel. under such circumstances, u
we're not for the purpose oil excluding the Pc
Pile Of the saseholding States from al o
porinnliy Of settling with their property
that Territory.
III Because 10 vote for bill passed und
ON such circumstances would be to agree 10
ri. principle which may exclude forever her
after, az ii does now, tho States which '
80 represent from all enjoyment Of the comm
territory of the Union; a principle which d
- stroys the equal rights Of their constituent
" The equality Of their States IN the Conlcder
~, cy, tho equal dignity Of those whom tn
49, represent as men and as citizens IN the c
OF the law, md their equal tltlc 70 the pr
49,. tecilon Of the Government aud tho Constlt
ton.
49,, Because oil the propositions have been 7
' .cted which have been made to obtain eth
49, recognition Of the righ, Of the .lasehod
-, State. to common ENJOY ment Of all the To
fltoty Of he United States, or 10 o far d.
sion Of that territory between the slavehol
ing aud non aseholdlng States If the UnIo
every effort having failed which has BE-
,e'o' made to obtain fair division OF the terrific
''s'' proposed to be brought III as the State
foes California.
.los-