The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-09-03

rrn-f "a s'lesr proposition. Il WAS a mat
Ter iaf The r.in and patriotic ia 'ginenl OF
the people Of 'Eexss 10 determine: and she
terms we're sgreed 10 ny hrr Nth rnpsr-
ALI led unaulmisy. II j. equally untrue
and unjust 10 the brave and patriotic pec-
pie 81 Texas 10 impule their seton on This
snhlrettn The fear nf federal power. or The
equally offensive consideration Of bribery
and corruption. As wenId MOI tolerate
surh an impulaiion mon The eilizens az
nar osn State under similar rirrum-
stances. will moi inialge in The nngen-
efous and unlannded reflection unan lie
hnnes'y and integrity Of our young and
prosrernas sister.
Th,s disputed boundary was thus sci.
lied between The United States and Tex
a. IN The only mode. in my judgment. in
which such an issue could Be determined
between The government and sovereign
Stale ni this Uniah. am aware that The
rl rye Is sometimes made that this bill
seized on 'he slave territory of Texas, and
appropriated il 10 free soil. Nolhinp
could he further from The truth. The only
difert elfert resulting from this measure
upon The slavery question was 10 remove
The prohibition upon slavery in that por.
iion OF the ceded territory being above 80
deg. 80 min.. which was put upon il in
the articles Of annexation. when Texas
was admitted into The Union. This bill
removes thai prohibi,ion. and submits 10
The decision Of the people Of the territory,
when they come 10 organize their State
government, the question whether or not
slavery shall constitute a part Of their
social system. This hill, like The others
which | have considered, received The
VAIN and cordial support Of majority
Of southern representatives, and cncoun-
tered lis blleresi opposition from The lree-
soil representatives of The North.
J lie only remaining bill affecting our
territorial acquisition was The one for The
admission Of California as StMe into The
Uni y. THIS measure was objectionable
10 southern men. though il finally receiy-
ed ,lle support OF nearly one-third Of The
representatives OF The South. In common
{ with a majority Of The Soa,ll, 4 entertained
! ohjec ions to this bill; | preferred that q
territorial government should have been
o,i,led for California. as was done for
I Utah and New Mexico. |. would havo
been more regular aud appropriate mode
l Of dispasing of that parIion of the ,elrilo.
7 ~; but the failure 10 do SO do not re-
! gard rs u violation of The constitution or
. The rights Of The South. In The admission
Of California, Congress exercised power
expressly conferred upon j, by the con-
siitniion, "to admit new States inio tho
Union;" and though our judgments do not
ahnIiy approve of The exercise OF that
discretionary power in this instance. il
constitutes no such cause oI complaint
against The government as would Justify
the resistance which has been indicated
by the enemies Of The Compromise and
The advocates of disunion.
The principle upon which California
was admitted into The Union, with her
constitution prohibiting slavery, has ever
received the sanction Of southern slates-
men. The principle denies 10 Congress
the right 10 look into the constitution Of
a Stale asking for admission into The
Union, further than to see that il is repub-
lican in It's form Of government. Whetl-
er slavery shall exist there is a ques ion
not for IIe consideration Of Congress. but
10 be determined BY the people when they
frame their State constitution.
This jorlrine was clearly expressed in
The following resolution introduced by Mr..
Calhoun into The Senate Of The Uui,ed
States in 1877. II was the annuncialion
Of a sound constitutional principle, and |
am prepared 10 maintain its correctness:
g ResolUed, That, as fundamental
principle in our political creed. PEOPLE.
in forming constitution, have the un-
conditional right 10 form and adopt the gov
ernmen, which they may think best cal
cnlate,l 10 secure liberty, prosperity, and
happiness; and that, in conformity there.
10. no other condition is imposed by the
federal constitution on State, IN order 10
her admission into this Union, except that
lis constitution be republican; and that The
imposition Of any olher by Congress
would not only be 10 violation Of the con-
sliiu,ion. bn, in direct conflict with the
principle on which our political system
rests"
4 The bill fur the suppression Of the
slave trade in the District Of Columbia was
, objected 10 by southern men principally
, on the ground Of The penalty which il pro-
yi.les. Tha, feature is taken from the
, laws Of Maryland. and it will be remem-
bered that all that now remains Of the
, District was originally a par, Of The Stale
J of Maryland. In 1916 The State Of Gerr-
. gia prohibited the Introduction Of slaves
within this Stale for sale. under penalty
: of a fine OF FIVE hundred dollars, and i'm.
E prisonmenl in the pcniientiary for foul
Q years. ior each slave brought into lhe
! State for sale. This law was repealed in
J; 1912 anil re-enac,e,l in lS43. and again
i repealed al the session Of 1919. The
! penalty fnr the violation Of the Disiric
S law is the libet alton Of The slave, VI hich ls