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

particular times and placss Our American
mode Of government does not draw any powe
from tumultuous assemblages anything i
established in that way, it h deceptive 1t Il
true, that At the revolution, governments wer
forcibly destroyed. But what did the peop
then do they got together. and took the ne
cessary steps to frame new governments, as the,
did in England when James H. abdicated. VIII
liam asked Parliament to assemble, and provid
for the case. II was revolution, not becaus
there was change in the person Of the sover
eign, but because there was hiatus, which mus
be filled II has been said, by the opposing
counsel, that the people can get together, cal
themselves 30 many thousands, and establish
whatever government they please. But Others
have the same right We have, then, stormy
South American liberty, supported by arms to
day, and crushed by arms to morrow. Our theory
places beautiful face on liberty, and makes i
powerful for good, producing no tumults. Wheel
1t is necessary to ascertain the will OF the peo
pie, the legislature must provide the means fol-
doing II. The Constitution OF the United States
WINS established in this way"
The argument employed in Congress to JUS
tity these Irregularities was a subterfuge. The
system of laws left by the Mexican government
| "'u N"O ~ RONlucu, Vic pIOCldua'
ton of General Riley informs the population oil
California, was sufficient for their 'temporary
wants" Here then, was case in which wide
departure had been made from the track, before
that time pursued, for the organization of a gov
eminent over the territories, and attended with
circumstances OF suspicion, relative to the mo-
tives OF the transaction. The orders sent to
New Mexico were not fulfilled in the manner
contemplated, and the case of that territory did
not come up for the consideration until the end
of the session.
! The circumstances of their fulfilment--the
corresponding with those of California in all The
facts Of irregularity--were such ludicrous ca
ricature of the principles we recognize rs the
pillars of our institutions, that an abolition Con-
gress could give no support to them. The fail
ure OF New Mexico and Utah to comply with the
instructions of the cabinet, left the admnistra-
| ton policy, upon the meeting of Congress, in
an abortive, unnccomplished condition. 1t pre-
scented itself to Congress, maintaining the mon
strous and deformed state of California, and
military governments in the territories. The
Administration had offended its principal South
ern supporters, and Mr. Clay was in the Senate,
to rule or ruin
This want OF preparation of the administra-
ton, the defencelessncss of its position, in re.
gard to New Mexico and Utah, placed its policy
at the feet of the discontented, in the party
which elevated it to power, and those of the
opposing party who desired Arrangement for
their defeat. After many discussions a com.
mittec of thirteen was raised, which produced,
after long incubation, series of bills, which
have been termed "aE adjustment" The report
OF the committee assumed that the status quo
In California, New Mexico and Utah, was un.
favorable to the admission of slavery-so favor
able that no prohibition was needed. The status
quo being already established, on free-soil prin-
clples, the committee accepted it.
The Acknowledgement of Texas, and the aboli-
ton of slavery in the District of Columbia, with
an amendment to bill before the Senate, in re-
! gard to the escaping slaves, constitute the fea-
lures of this report. The ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
Texas was accomplished, by taking one-thrd OF
her territory, and imposing upon the common
treasury Sl0,00O,000, to indemnify her. The
events Of the session indicate that this oontrac,
was made, was ratified by the Texas senators
in advance. The scorntul denunciation, by Col
!, Benton, OF the inherent corruption of the bill
hardly received reply. If there had been
doubt, the ludcrous exhibition, by the amb
: dextrous representative from that State mus
, have satisfied the most incredulous mind-ar
exhibition in which he was not alone. DR.. Chal
mers has recorded it, shat the morals Of polti
clans are the morals of horse Jockeys
, We can imagine that border politicians, skille,
; in Mexican and Indian craft, would not conduc
! an enterprise upon any known rules Of civilized
management. Looking over the whole schem,
, of Texas dismemberment-th declarations OF
Gen. Cass and others, in l847, that the claim o
Texas to the Rio Grande was an "undoubte,
one" and their refusal to allow ID now the in
J difference of the government to the holdil o
J lands, with their profuse appropriation, and tn
J tenacIty OF their claim here the course of tn,
7 Texas delegation the war message of the Pre-
} sident the fiery indignation and fiery speeche
I 1t accustomed; together with the singular move
: ments in Texas; the fragrant tergiyersatons O
e members OF Congress on the subect-it is on,
} of the most discreditable transactions ia Amer
: can history
!, We have adverted to the principle of enon-in
3 tervenion." We have shown that its obec
. was not to secure Southern rights, and Northern
consciences Ifcarried out, it overturns all lega
and constitutional barriers against abolition, anC
submits us to the "higher law" That govern
ment which fails to secure, fully and impartally
the legal rights of its citizens, within the rang,
OF its jurisdiction, is unworthy of support. The
end OF government is to remove the confusion
and anarchy that attend uncertainty and misgiv
iiS. commence III the future is The WeI-sprng
of enterprise, and under this principle none can
exist The very object Of the principle is tc
place slavery at the mercy Of its enemies, by the
abdicaton of the government of its duties to the
stakeholder His property would then become
prey to rapacity or fanaticism The truth is
that these bills were framed to suit free-soil in
terests, and to disguise the motive from the
eyes of the stakeholder. The Northern sup.
porters OF the bills declare that an explicit exclu-
sion OF slavery was unnecessary and Northern
appreciation Is won to them, by the promise that
whenever such an exclusion becomes necessary,
it s all be applied. The abolition of the slave
trade in the District of Columbia affords an car.
nest of the spirit, and discoses the quality OF
the legislation, which is deemed fitting for such
case. We may therefore conclude that the
law of exclusion has been applied, in all the con.
quests of Mexico, and will be perpetuated by
more stringent enactments, whenever the slight
est breach in the law is discovered
There remains. then, the Fugitive slave bill
as the compensation to the Southern States for
the sys ematic hostility manifested to the spread