The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-09

II
OF her population more thorough exploration of her
territory and an of the relations which
| may arise between the people occupying its various
parts II should be found conducive to their conve-
| nence ana happiness to form new State out OF
California, we have every reason To believe, from
past experience, that the question of its admission
will be fairly considered and justly decided.
/ majority OF the committee, therefore, recon-
mend TO the Senate the passage OF the bill reported
by the Committee Territories for the admission
OF California as State into the Union, 10 prevent
tmisconception, the committee also recommend that
the amendment reported by the same committee
to the bill be adopted, SO as TO leave incontesable
the right of the United States to the public domain
and other public property in California.
| Whilst majority OF the committee believe il to
be necessary and proper, under actual circum-
sancos TO admit California, they think il quite as
necessary and proper to establish governments
the residue Of the territory derived from Mexico,
and TO bring II within the pale OF the Federal
thorty. The remotoness OF that territory from the
seat of the General Government; the dispersed
state of its population; the variety of races-pure
and mixed-of which it consists the ignorance Of
some of the races OF our laws, language, and hab
it's their exposure TO inroads and wars of savage
tribes; and the solemn stpuatons of the treaty by
which we acquired dominion over them, impose
upon the United States the imperative obligation Of
extending TO them protection, and of providing for
them government and laws suited to their condition
Congress will fail in the performance of high
duty If II does not give attempt To give, to them
the benefit of such protection, government, and
laws. They are not now, and for long time to
come may not be, prepared for State government
The territorial form, for the present, is best suited
to their condition. bill has been reported by the
Committee Territories dividing all the territory
acquired from Mexico not comprehended within
the limits of California into two Territories under
| the names of New Mexico and Utah, and proposing
| for each territorial government
| The committee recommend to the Senate the es-
adjustment of those territorial governments; and
l in order more certainly TO secure that desirable
object they also recommend that the bill for their
establishment be incorporated in the bill for the adj
mission of California, and that, united together,
they both be passed.
The combination of the two measures in the same
bill is objected to on various grounds. 1t is said
that they are incongruous, and have no necessary
connexion with each other. majority of the COM
mittee think otherwise. The object of both mea-
sures is the establishment of government suited to
the conditions, respectively, of the proposed new
State and of the new Territories. Prior to their
transfer to the United States, they both formed
part of Mexico, where they stood in equal rela-
tons to the government OF that republic. They
were both ceded to the United States by the same
treaty. And in the same article of that treaty, the
United States solemnly engaged to protect and
govern both Common in their origin, common in
| their alienation from one foreign government to
another, common in their wants of good govern
ment, and conterminous in some OF their boun-
| dar ies, and alike in many particulars of ply
| steal condition. they have nearly every thing in
common in the relations in which they stand to the
rest Of this Union There is, then, general fitness
| and proprety in extending the parental care Of
/ government to both in common. If California, by
| a sudden and extraordinary augmentation of pop
ulation, has advanced SO rapidly as to mature her
| for State government that furnishes why
| the less fortunate Territories of New Mexico and
| Utah should be abandoned and left ungoverned by
the United States, or should be disconnected with
California, which, although she has organized for
/ herself State government, must be legally and
constitutionally regarded as Territory until she
is actually admitted as State in the Union.
II is further objected, that by combining the two
measures in the same bill, members who may be
willing to vote for one and unwilling to vote for
the other would be placed in an embarrassing con-
dition They would be constrained, 1t is urged,
to take or to reject both On the other hand there
| are other members who would be willing TO vote
| for both united, but would feel themselves con-
strained to vote against the California bill if it
stood alone. Eech party finds in the bill which it
favors something which commends it to accept
ance, and in the other something which it disap-
proves The true ground, therefore, of the objec-
ton to the union of the is not any want
of affinity between Them but because of the favor or
disfavor with which they respectively regarded.
In this conflict of opinion, il seems 10 majority of
the committee that spirit of mutual concession
enioins that the two measures should be connected
/ together; the effect of which will be, that ne-
Their opinion will exclusively triumph, and that
both may fnd in such an amicable arrangement
enough of good TO reconcile them to the acceptance
| of the combined measure. And such course OF
Legislation is not at all unusual. Few laws have
ever passed in which there were not parts TO which
exception taken. II is inexpedient, if not i'm
practicable, TO separate these parts, and embody
them in distinct bills, as to accommodate the d.
versity of opinion which may exist. The Con-
stitution of the United States contained in il a
great variety Of provisions, to of which seri-
Gus objection was made in the convention which
formed il by different members of that body; and
when ii submitted 10 the ratification Of the
States, some OF them objected TO some parts, and
others 10 other parts Of the same instrument. Had
these various parts and provisions been separately
acted on in the convention, or separately submit
ted to the people OF the United States II Is by no
means certain that the Constitution itself would
ever have been adopted or ratified. Those who did
not like particular provisions found compensation
in other parts Of il. And in all cases Of constitu-
tons and laws, when either Is presented whole,
the question 70 be decided is, whether the good
which IL contains Is not of greater amount, and
docs not neutralize any thing exceptionabe in it.
And as nothing human is perfect, for the sake OF
that harmony 30 desirable in such a confederacy
as this, must be reconciled to secure as much as
we can Of what wish, and be consolcd by the
reflection that what we do not exactly like is a
friendly concession, and agreeable TO those who,
being united with US in a common destiny, IL IL
desirable should always live with US in peace and
concord
majority Of the committee have, therefore
been led 10 the recommendation TO the Senate that
the two be united. The bill for establish
ing the two Territories, IL will be observed, omits
, the Wilmot proyiso, ON the one hand, and, the
other, makes no provision for the introduction o
slavery into any part Of the new Territories. That
and agitation II il were adopted and applied "a
any Territory, IL would cease 10 have any obgato.
ry force a. coon such Territory admitted az
State into the Union. There was never any coca
sion for IT, 70 accomplish the professed object with
which IL originally offered This has been
clearly demonstrated by the current Of events
California Of all the recent territorial acquisitions
from Mexico, was that in which, If anywhere with
in them, the introduction Of slavery most likely
10 take place; and the constitution Of California
by the unanimous vote Of her convention, has ex
prcssly interdicted il. There is tho highest de-
gree Of probability that Utah and New Mexico
will, when they come to be admitted as States fol
low the example. The proviso is, 10 all these
regions in common, mere abstraction. Why
should il be any longer insisted on Totally des-
titute, as il is, Of any practical import, il has
nevertheless, had the pernicious effect Ia excite
serious, If not alarming, consequences. II is high
time that the wounds which il has inflicted should
be healed up and closed and that, 20 avoid, in al
future time, the agtations which must be produced
by the conflict Of opinion the slavery question
existing this institution does in some Of tb,
States and prohibited it is in others, the tru,
principle which ought 10 regulate the action o
= Congress in forming territorial governments io