The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-11-25
Division OF California.

I
appears to be nearly unanimously De
sired in the southern portion. Their
are three newspapers engaged in sul >
porting il earnestly and continually ;
aud others take occasional interest in
examining the question wiihous posi-
lively taking sides. None OF the San
Francisco papers have yet taken up
the subject with much zeal, although
San Francisco will be included in thai
southern portion, which if the project
succeeds, will return into the territorial
condition. But we see no very strong
signs of opposition TO division. The
plan, as presented in the resolutions of
public meetings, would take from the
State as now constituted the counties
Of San Francisco. Contra Costa. Santa
Clara, San Joaquin, Calavtras, Tuo.
lumne, MaripoSa, Santa Cruz, Monter.
ey, Santa Barbara, San Luis. Obispo
Los Angeles, and San Diego-thir-
teen counties which contain more
than one hall the area, and one-third
the population of the State. The Ia
vorite idea at present is to organize
this part OF the State into a a territory
to be ceded back TO the United States
leaving the Northern portion a State
under It's present constitution, amend
ed TO suit its new boundaries. Bui
we observe that other pans are sng>
gested, though not much debated yet.
One proposes to abandon the State Gov
eminent altogether and have two ter
ri oral governments and another Is,
to create NV State IT once out oi
the Southern division. The first is a
mere fancy speculation. and there is
no probability that 1t will get supports
ers. The latter is more likely TO be
the end of the agitation, If division Is
decided upon finally. The difficulties
in the erection of a new territory out
OF organized portions Of subsisting
State, and ths danger OF giving occa-
sion for the revival of extinct contro>
vcrses, will make it desirable to avoid
The attempt to form a new territory IN
that region, and TO leave the control Of
their domestic affairs with the people
themselves. IN the formation of Il
new State Government they can have
the opportunity to make any new pro-
visions which their particular interests
and condition require.
The formation of two States ont OF
one. by the division of the State, is a
very easy operation ifthe State desires
| il and Congress has nothing to say in
the matter until it is called upon to ad.
nit the new State. There are precc.
dents already in the formation Of Ken
tucky out of Virginia and Maine out
of Massachusetts. Virginia first gave
her consent by an act of the Leg sla-
ture. A Convention was called in
Kentucky, and the convention at once
made application to congress for adj
mission as II State, and was actually
admitted by prospective law in ad-
vance OF the adoption OF consiitu.
ton. In the case of Maine, the State
authorities proceeded with equal indie
peudence Of any previous consent by
the federal authorities. The Massa.
chusetts Legislature first gave its con-
sent to the declared wishes Of the Dis.
trict of Maine, and the people of the
district then formod their constitution
and erected themselves jnto State
and application was thereupon made
to Congress to sanction these proceed
ings bg admitting the New State into
the Union. The phrsseology Of the
act Of admission is little peculiar
II recites in the preamble the act o
the State OF Massachusetts as the
source Of authority in the erection o
ian independent State" by the peopl,
of the people OF the District of Main,
and the formation Of a constitution IL
pursuance of that act and ihereupoI
il declares the said State "to be one
of the United States of North Ameri
ca. and admitted into the Union on al
equal footing with the original State
in AL respects whatever" In neithe
case, Kentucky nor Maine. was an,
coDsert or authorization by Congress
/ asked fm or claimed as necessary. al
he steps from to first preliminar
I movement up TO the appearance OF tb
new State 70 ask place in the Unio
. were madeNon the sole authority Of th
$ states respectively from which the
Z were created.
The division Of state III the Unio
with view Of surrenderiug pertio
A .f the territory and people TO the juri
!. diction Of the United States, presen
= another question. There are prec
I. dents indred. OF cessions of vacaI
: lands. Of which the United States h'
, accepted jurisdiction, and which Co
gress subsequently, formed into territ