The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-24

division. | am free to say that, twelve
months ago, would not have voted for the
Missouri Compromise line; but the active
intervention of. the Executive and others in
the affairs of California, and which will be
continued as to the other Territories il this
question is left open, render settlement,
even by this line, desirable at the present
time. | would be willing for division Of
the Territory BY parallels Of longitude, and
would prefer the Bill Of the honorable mem
Der from MARYLAND, (Mr McLAHE, which
proposes to extend the Texas boundary to
the Colorado and the Gulf Of California,
giving to the State Of California the
balance Of the country. This would fix
the institutions Of the whole Mexican ac-
QUESTION, and leave no further territory for
the Wilmot Proviso and the Legislation Of
Congress.
7 IN. there cannot be q division Of the coun-
try, then the Mexican law ought to Be for
maly repealed This would not be an es-
Enlistment Of slavery, but would leave the
question to stand merely upon the Constitu-
ton and non-intervention. Congress has
no power to destroy property, or exclude it
from Territory; but It may remove OBJ
structions and obstacles. If there be any
Mexican law excluding the manufactures or
mechanic arts Of the North, or the slave
property of the South, it is the duty of Con-
gress to repeal these laws. might go fur
ther, as question Of right, and maintain
that there is broad and obvious distinction
between the power to create, or establish a
piece Of property, and the power to de-
stroy.
Congress ought to settle this matter, and
place it beyond doubt. The inclination Of
my own mind is, that the Mexican law, in
relation to slavery, is superseded by the
Constitution; yet it is question in contest,
and, as long as it remains in that condition,
no one will think Of taking slaves into these
Territories No prudent lawyer would ad-
wise his client to that course; how, then,
can he consistently vote for any settlement
which does not secure the right, and place
the cmigrant beyond the harassnent Of
vexatious lawsuits in relation to this species
Of property? The present condition of the
law is the subject OF too much uncertainty
to be a safe rule. 1t will prevent the emf
grafton Of shareholders, and in its practical
results, exclude the South from any fair par
tition in the advantages Of the common Ter
ritories. Let there be removal of all
distractions, in the shape Of Mexican laws,
or an acknowledgment Of the right on one
side Of given line.
THE ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA.
The first measure of the series is the ad-
mission Of California as State, with her
constitutional boundaries and inhibition Of
slavery. This action in California, by a
handful Of men, excludes the South from the
whole Pacific coast, running through some
ten degrees OF latitude, and embracing the
whole Pacific country Of any real value The
Justice Of permitting few persons thus to
monopolize an empire, which they cannot
occupy, to the expulsion OF one halt of the
States of the Union, cannot readily be APP
pretended. Within reasonable and legiti-
mate boundaries, first ascertained, the people
of Territory, when forming State, have
right to prescribe their own domestic in
stitutions but few men or inhabitants
have no right or power to monopolize large
tracts Of the public domain for an indefinite
period Of time, which they cannot enjoy, and
cucumber it with their political institutions.
Such course Of action is alike forbidden by
Justice and the Constitution. In the case Of
[ California, it is particularly odious to the
States It was aimed at, from the fact that it
was accomplished through the instrumental
ty OF political agitations, and the interference
Of Executive agents and emissaries. know
this has been denied, and I-dono now men
ton the subject with any other view than to
produce the proof, furnished by the Califor-
MIA convention, on a proposition to extend
her boundaries to the line of New Mexico,
for the purpose of excluding slavery in all
that vast region. M
"Mr. SHERWOOD. The gentleman,
(Mr. McCARvER,) says he is in favor Of a
permanent boundary. How is he going to
get a permanent boundary by fixing it upon
the Sierra Nevada ? Is he sure that Con-
gress will not cut US off on the South !, If
the gentleman has that assurance from a ma
iority Of the members Of Congress, ! should
like to see it hope he will produce it,
In my opinion, if majority of Congress are
determined to settle the question of slavery,
they will give us the whole territory. lift
is objected to by Mr.. Calhoun, or any other
gentleman who is in favor Of slavery over
part of California, it will be answered that it
is too expensiveto establish territorial gov
eminent on the eastern side of the Sierra
Nevada that that territory is for the most
part desert waste, and may rest with Cali
fornia as part of the State without being
expensive to the people Of California; but
that it would be quite burden in thirty or
forty years, at an annual expense to the
Treasury of the United States of one or two
hundred thousand dollars year---a large
portion Of which we would have to pay our
selves In regard to preventing our admis-
sion into the Union, by extending the boun-
Diary to New Mexico, we expressly say to
Congress that, if they will not give us that,
they may cut us down to the Sierra Nevada.