The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-04


September, IS47. All slaves under sixteen
years OF age were set free, and those over, sub
Ject TO an apprenticeship Sof four years, This
apprenticeship was abolished in 1913
The proceedings. in the States of the Union
during this period, indic to the same growth OF
an antslavery spirit. Rhode Island, Massachu-
sets, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Penn
sylvania, and we believe, New York, (the SEN
ate passed the bill, IT to 5, but we have no no.
tice Of further acti0n,) respectively forbade all
their officers and people from interfering, in aid
of the master 10 recover his fugitive slave.
These States, with unparalleled unanimity ia
their legislatures, party conventions, eccleslas-
teal meetings, and primary assemblies, have ai,
firmed all the claims Of the anti slavery party,
and recognized the propriety of the exclusion
Of the Southern STAKEHOLDER, with slave pro-
petty, from all territories They have approved
Of propositions to remove it from all situations
over which the parties had Jurisdiction. The
great religious associations have been impor
tuned to interfere with the relation of master
and slave, in the Indian country, by their mis-
sionares, and in the States, through the ordi-
nances of The church. The most favorable po-
litical opinion given in the Northern States
stops at this point, that the government shall
not Interfere, TO exclude or to prohibit it. on the
common ground of the confederacy; and this
opinion is alone made palatable by the assur
ances given, that existing laws aud natural
causes forbid the introduction Of slaves on that
ground" This vast and controlling body de-
manded plain and explicit legislation, to prevent
The extension Of slavery II was openly and
frankly avowed, that the extension Of slavery
could not be tolerated that Southern ambition
and rapacity must be held under the curb which
such n restrictive policy imposed; that there
could he no more expansion or growth for IL:
that slavery had found its boundaries. This did
not come from fanatics from zealots in poll
tics or religion--but was calmly, dispassiouately
and advisedly spoken, by men of entire respon-
sibility, who were in position to know, and
even to mould, the opinions of their constituents
notice of the state of judicial opinion, in
reference to these Subjects will close this branch
of our subject The Supreme Court of the
United States, in the case of Groves Us. Saugh-
ter, some years ago, determined that State had
the plenary power of excluding slaves from its
borders, and that this right was paramount to
any commercial regulation of Congress. The
grounds Of the decision are well stated by Judge
Mclean; and nn opinion of transcendant ability
and force, of Mr.. Justice Greer, delivered in the
license cases, 5 Howard, S. C. r., contains a
lucid exposition of the principle. The question
has not come before the court, of the power OF
Congress to interfere with the transport of
slaves from State to State, for sale, or whether
it can prohibit such transaction. The Opin-
ions declared by some of the judges, in the
passenger cases" raise very painful apprehen
sions on this subject, and appearances already
indicate an agitation to accomplish, in relation
to this traffic. what has been done in regard to it
for the District of Columbia. Petitions to Con-
gress to prevent the transmission Of slaves from
State to State for sale, and denunciations of the
internal slave trade, will now become staple
of anti-slavery agitation.
The Congress which has lately adjourned,
was elected under the anti-slavery ideas of the
/, Congress Of 1852. 1t was elected for the
purpose of excluding slavery from the terrific
ries, by means of the Wilmot Proviso.
/ The administration Of Gen. Taylor, to avoid
this specific measure, and at the same time, we
suppose, to insure the exclusion of slavery, sent
to California instructions for the call Of con-
vention, to form constitution, and to erect the
community into a State. Similar orders were
sent to New Mexico.
i The military commander (Gen Riley) in Cali
fOrnia, pursuant to Mexican law, as he says, as
sumed the functions OF the civil executive II
the proclamation furnished to him, he inform,
the popuaton Of California that the Mexican
laws retain their authority until repealed 1t j.
important that citizens should understand this
fact, ne says, $50 as not to endanger their prop
erty and involve themselves in useless and ex.
pensiye litigation by giving countenance to per-
sons claiming authority which is not given then
by law, and by putting faith in laws which car
never be recognized by Legitimate courts" IL
virtue of the power in him vested, Gen. Rile,
appointed day for the election Of delegates tt
convention. He appointed the number o
delegates, the districts in which they were to b,
elected the qualification of the voters, the mod,
OF conducting the election, and concludes witt
this extraordinary statement: "The method her,
indicated, to attain what is here desired bv all
viz: more perfect political organizations il
deemed the most direct and safe that can b,
adopted, and ore fully authorized by law 1t i,
the course advised by the President, and BY thu
Secretaries of State and of War, of the United
States, and is calculated to avoid the nnumera
Bile evils which must necessarily result from any
attempt at illegal local legislation. 1t is, there
fore, hoped that it will meet the appreciation OF
the people of California and that all good citi-
zens will unite in carrying it into execution
This impudent effrontery; this deliberate, cold
blooded, brazen usurpation this Infamous per-
version Of law and fact has not received from
| Tue people OF Tue southern states the reprODa-
ton it deserves. The misdeeds of the cabinet
are imperfectly understood. The country has
| been so well satisfied with their uneeremonous
dismissal, that it has not sought to inquire into
the specification of their offences. Their trans
action in California was of such nature, that
we are rejoiced to find theirm prominent and
| decided supporter was forced to say, they were
wholly without precedent. The whole pro-
ceedng was an intrigue of the most disreputa-
BILE character, and which has been sustained by
equvocation and the suppression of truth
We suppose that this proclamation was pre-
pared by an officer of the cabinet, and that all
the arrangements in California were prompted
by direct Instructions or artfu insinuations, from
Washington city. The Senator from Connec-
ticut, (Mr. Smth,) who was supposed to stand
in nearer relation to the cabinet Of General
Taylor than any other member, was forced to
say,
1.-THE Convention which formed the Consti-
tuition now before us California; was held with
out authority oflaw. 1t is said there are pre-
cedents for California. But this deny. Ia all
other cases there were organized governments