The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1850-08-07
THE TRUTH IN A NUTSHELL.

The Hon. John M Berr;eu, Of Georgia
is one Of the ablcst aud most clear.headed,
rs he Is one Of the most patriotic, o: the
SOU hern men who are breasting The storm
Of Fauaticisra in the Council Halls Of the
Nation. The South may well be proud of
such atesmen. And democrat as we are,
we are no blinded by party feeling to his
virtues, nor can we resist the impulse which
we feel to praise him.
In a recent debate upon an amendment
to the Compromise Bill, for reducing the
boundaries OF California, this gentleman
condensed in the following paragraph an
unarewerahle argument, showing that the
admission of that territory by Congress, as
she now applies, IS equivalent to the enact
ment of the Wlmot Provso-tliat it would
DO equally as vioatlvc of the principles OF
the Constitution, aud equally as unjust and
degrading to the South.
We recommend to those who entertain
doubts on this poin', the lucid explanation
of MIR. Berrien:
1.-The report which accompanies this bin
admits that the people do not constitute a
State, that they are subject to the controll.
ing power Of Congress; that their acts are
valid or invalid, JUS as we please to make
them: and how must go HON, 10 the peo
pie represent, who have declar d, in com
mon with all the people of the outhcrr
States, thai they will not submit 20 this leg
isla:ive inhibition Of slavery in the Terri.
tories, and must Tell them hat Congress:
has not imposed this inhibition thar Ger
/ gress has carefully abstained from enactine
the Wilmot Proviso-bnt it is the peop's
of California who have done it, and you
Town detrine has been that the people o
the Territories. when they come 10 form
Il State, have the right TO determine for them
! selves the nature of their institutions? Sir
could not look the people whom / hav
the honor TO represent in the face, and sa,
that this Proviso has been imposed by tn
; people Of California Who constitute I'll
J, people within the sphere Of the operation
of that provision for which we have here
tofore contcnJed! An nnorganized body
or rather an unorganized assemblage Of il
dividAals, has met upon the public land, i
j violation ef the law existing on tie status
books, ard assumed to themselves the rigl
TO prescribe government in the coRnir
where 4 vast majority did not own one foe
i OF soil, and bad no domicil bu, lneanwhil
!. retained their domicils in their own State
!, such an act IS obviously an act witho,
force, without life: il has no effect Bl
= the CongEss Of the United States. IN II
u exercise of their right 10 admit new State
!; have admitted Ssate Of California wi
!. his inhibition of slavery. This, then. "
sbe simple inquiry: In what consists Il
difference seiween she imposition Of 4
y Wilmot PFogiso upon 4 Territory by u
RI direct action d Congress, and the allo'
, ance oS tie imposition by i people assul
4 ing to form i Slases which imposition
y that proviso could have no force Of
6 without lllis acsiouof Congress- The ia
1t PIE are entirely too intelligent 70 be delu
ed ly such sophistry. Ihey will feel q
they have righE to feel iii inc exercise
Il those facuilias which God has given llle
thai tlsere i 10 distinction no1e but II
which i a. affona 81 thelF intel igence
e IL the direct imposition ol The Nilnot q
n yiso 81 she legislation ~ soagres and
- tits indisecs iGnpss ton 81 i IS an nnot.