The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-06-27
NO. l9.

4
there has been no indication Of any
change in their policy. On the contras
ry, against the South is greater in the
present Congress than in the last; fol-
lowing the usual course of every sue
cessives election for years past. Nor
have we seen in the action Of the States
with few exceptions, any proof of a
returning sense Of Justice to-us, Or Of
reverence for the constitutions Sever
al Of them, lest false inferences might
be drawn as to there position, have
taken care lately to reiterate in the
most offensive forms their former de-
clarations against our rights; and when
a great Senator, representing one of
them, anxious for the perpetuation Of
the Union, has ventured to advocate,
something Of justice to the South, he
has been rehuked by the Legislature
ofthe State he represents, and virtual~
ly denounced for his fidelity to the con-
stitution. This resource then; under
the ordinary operations Of the consti-
tuition, is Of no avail. And how is Il
with the present Congress, the only
other.source or redress in the usual adj
ministration ofsthe constitution For
six months it has beenln session, and
during this whole period Of time slave
ry has been the absorbing topic Of dis.
cussion and agitation. Yet nothing
has been done to heal the discontents
which SO JUSTLY exist in the South, or
restore bleeding constitution. All
we have received have been bitter de-
nuncialions of our institutions by many
members Of Congress, and threats to
coerce US into submission. Although
nothing has been done, a report has
been made in the Senate by commit
tee of thirteen members, which is now
pending in that body; and as the meas
sures il proposes have been pressed
upon the South as worthy Of her accep-
tance, we. deem it proper to lay before
you brief consideration Of the matters
1t contains.
This Report embraces four distinct
measures-lst the admission Of Calls
fornia as State, with the exclusionof
slavery in her constitution. Sd. The
Territorial Governments to be erected
over the territories of Utah and New
Mexico, with nearly one half Of Texas
to be added to the latter. 3rd. The
prohibition Of the slave trade in the
District Of Colombia, and 4th. provisi-
ons for the recapture of fugitive slave
in non-slaveholding States. To under
stand whether these measures are con-,
sistent with our rights and worthy of
our acceptance, each of them must be
considered separately.
The South is excluded BY :he bill
from the whole of that part of Califor-
MIA lying ON the Pacific, including one
hundred and fifty thousand square
miles Of territory; and if this is done by
The legislation of Congress, the mode
in which it is done is of no Importance.
California belongs to tho United States
and all action by the individuals in that
territory; whether from the United
States or from the rest Of the world,
spproprlating the soil to themselves or
erecting government over it, is of no
1aIidity. They constitute d people in
10 proper sense of the term; but are
,ltizens Of the States OF countries from
which they have come, and to which
hey still owe their allegiance. When
therefore Congress attempts to carry
,ut and confirm the acts Of these indi-
1lduals, erecting California into state
aud excluding slavery therefrom, it is
he same thing as if Congress had orig
nally passed law tothis effect, With
,ut the intervention of those individu-
lis. The exclusion Of slavery from
California is done by the act Of Com
yress, and by no other authority, The
constitution Of California; and the Will,
not proviso it contains, is the Wilmot
,rovlso passed and enforced BY the le-
yislation Of Congress. Here then, il!
hat exclusion from this territory by the
ct Of Congress, which almost every
outlern State in the Union has declar7
d she would not submit to, plainly
ALPHABETICALLY enforced by this bill
free people cannot be satisied with
he mode 10 which they are deprived Of
heir rights. A sovereign State will
isdain to inquire in what manner she
stripped' Of her property, and de-
raded from an equality with her sis
IF States tt is enough, lhatthe OUT
ige is done. The mode is of little
There IL therefore IN
. mode Of extending the Wilmot
roviso over the territory Of California
resented BY the bill, nothing to omI4
gate lhe Indignation Of the southern
iates, or to battle their determination
redress the wrong, ifinaicted. They
. excluded from the whole territory