Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-03-02
ing that the Constitution of California before Congress

ing that the Constitution of California before Congress
smphaticaIy the work Of those who nave-bo c
of United States The right suffrage restricted
by law to " free ,chne citizens" and foreigners posi-
lively excluded from its enjoyment Fifteen thousand votes
were poled at the adoption of the constitution and Of these
not more than thousand natives Of California.
the remaining fourteen thousand being born and raised in
the United saes These the persons who according
Southern Senator, carried with them California those
elements Of government which are formed the breast
Of srery american citizen" There is authority, then,
for saying that this constitution from the hands of mix
ed and motley population. Those who made
ymeD who were recently amongst US every section of
the Onion, enjoying those rights which common ALL
The spirit of enterprise and adventure has carried them to the
shores of the Pacific but they country
men, They have bat yielded to the spirit of the agethat
progressive spirit by which distinguished above all
other people in the world And for having done this
cordance with the policy of the Government shall we cut
them of from political association, abandon them
state of awess anarchy drive them the necessity Of
nsurPng form of for themselves by the force Of
revolution All the high considerations of patriotism and
duty prompt US to yield hem Immediately that protection
which secured to them BY the treaty and spirit of
stitutions If Congress shall fail do this will leave u-
discharged important with which has
hded and will have before this country and the
placeu Imminent
which mans genius has yet devised where pop-
lar rights are maintained by law
The facts also show that there justification for the
serion so frequently made, that the agitation Of the slavery
question has prevented emigration Cali ornia from the
southern States to deprive those States from any agen
cy In the formation of the constitution. The Convention
was composed Of fy-t,0o members OF these, from fifteen
to fceywere natives of the slave States, tuen or
oenytWo natives of the free States three foreigners
who had emigated from the United States after naturalization
here and the remainder native Calionans The President
OF the Convention native of slave State. The COM
mittee which reported the constitution composed of sr
from the slave from the free States and sr natives
win chairman from the slave States Both Senators
elect are from the South both Of them, think have
peen saSehoders and have strong sympahies with South
interests Those them who seek to obsuct the
California into the Union are without apolosy
Southern interests and Southern feelings have been fully re-
there and the South has complaint if
the sovereign authorities of California thought proper to
exclude slavery is their act and the Government of
the United States has power TO reverse 1t.
The adoption, by the Convention the clause Of the con-
sution prohibiting slavery, the work of deIbeation
This is its history. II moved by Mr. w. E. SHANNON
who native fIreland and who emgated California from
New York. He had moved the amendment several days be-
fee but it was called for final action the Sepem
Der, ls49 when underwent considerable debae as is
stated BY the "ha CaAornia published at San Francis
CO. During this debate "many members expressed the wish
that this question Of slavery should be submitted separately
to the people, This being deemed unnecessary, the ques
ton taken upon Mr.. sHAssoss amendment when it
tcas UNANIMOUSLY adopted" We have no present means
OF to the debate which took place this question: but
the reported proceedings show sufficiently that the people Of
California do not intend that slavery shall exist there Ihat
the end Of the question, unless Congress shall assert and
exercise the right force Government upon them different
from that of their choice. 1t is pery strange to my
mind that Southern gentlemen, of all others, should insist
upon doctrine at with all the fundamental principles
of the past political creed Of the South.
The only question which can possibly arise upon the pre.
application Of California for admission into the Union
that of erpedency the constitution inerposes no obstacle
and existing law would be violated by her
is not question Of the doubtful exercise Of power.
But if it were, there considerations of momentous
character connected with it that Congress should hesitate
We have abundant precedent for this Louisiana was ac-
quired by doubtful exercise of power the part of the
Federal Government because necessary and expeaent
that should the mouth Of the Mississippi river.
Mr. JEFFERSON thought possible that amendment the
constitution might be necessary enable this important object
to accomplished But Congress and the country thought
otherwise and the purchase justified by its Importance
BY this precedent have sanctioned the purchase of Florida
the annexation Of Texas, and the acquisition of territory
Mexcoso that has become part Of the settled policy
of our Government that may acquire territory by purchase
or annexation whenever the public interest shall require j.
although there is express for it in the constu-
ton The South has done towards the establishment
Of this doctrine than any other part of the Unon and does
not become her. in the present crisis to inepose obstacles
to the consummaon Of object which has induced by
her policy Does she the progress Of this
Government, because the politically of the country may
ultimately pass from her hands Is it her design assert
that because she maintain the acendency the pub
lie councils she will therefore, hazard the existence of the
only free Government upon earth do not believe it-for
it is my deliberate conviction that the people the South
love the Union with intense devotion people Of the
North The question of political power between the two
sections Of the Union which be resolved by time
and by circumstances which beyond the reach Of egsa
ton The immense tide Of population which pouring into
the Western and Northwestern States gradually transfer
ring the political power Of this nation beyond the Aleghanies
The extreme North and the South for
gotten that these work. and while they have
treated the West infant she has grown up the pro-
portions Of giant The people who crowdng into the
West emphatically conservative They love Unon
and intend that shall be preserved They stand between
the two extremes of factonparicpatiDg with neither and
sympahyzng with neither in their attacks upon the or
integrity Of the States 1t is perhaps fortunate that they
even now bold the balance and that they resolved
to exert do justice to both North and South and
preserve the peace and harmony of the country The West
knows neither North South she knows only the Unon
and by that she will stand orerer. The South and North
of union binding them all together they will each advance
in greatness, and mutually rejoice the prosperity each
other The West is willing trust both the North and
South. Will The and Souh trrs herr will