Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-21

70 Inc uCQu1sluOn OF leTrItOry Oy the con-
quest Of Mexico and said, that this terri
tory belonged to the South as well as the
North; thatin regard to California Northern
men and Southerners had gone there. The
menfrom the North. going around, perhaps
on whaling voyage.had taken alook atthe
land-they found it profitable to engage in
mining, they had stopped and gone to work
While the Virginian had been making
ready to go. the Yankee had already gone
and settled. He was soonj Joined, however,
by the Southerner and they became citi-
zens ofthe Territory; and after a time,
they all, Yankees and Souiherners, looked
around them and began to think Of a Gov
eminent to protect them. They called a
Convention, formed Constitution, and by
it, they mot Congress) excluded Slavery.
This they had right to do. Mr.. Calhoun
had said that people in forming Constr
tuition had an unconditional right to form
and adopt the Government they thought
best calculated to secure their liberty, pros
perity and happiness,and that no other con-
dition was imposed by the Constitution of
the United States, but that the Constitu-
ton Of the State should be repubican,and
that any other condition would be in con-
fict with the principles, on which our po-
litical system rests.
California then presented herself claim
ing to be admitted. The cry was raised
that Slaveryha not been tolerated. Could
States Rights men-could Republicans
gainsay the action Of California IF so,
they had changed their position. Califor-
MIA had sent no abolitionist to the Senate
she had sent no Yankee to represent her
She had chosen a son of Mississippi, DR.
Gwinn, who had filed the office of Marshal
under Gen. Jackson, and she had sent as
his colleague Col. Fremont. distinguished,
us we all knew, for his services elsewhere
Was this insulting to the South The
South indeed had been complimented-the
town of Lynchburg had been honored by
the election of son of hers,who had been
a member, as he believed, of the Conven-
ton, and Of her State Senate he alluded
to Capt. Fair. California had sent her Re-
representatives. to the Lower House,and after
long and arduous struggle, the State had
been admitted under the Bills of Compro-
mise Yes, Compromise that was the
word,-the country everywhere rejoiced
that the Union had been saved. Mr.. Pow.
ell had, on the admission of her members
refused his assemble had voted against
their being sworn in, as members of Con
gress. (Mr. Richard Po,ceU here inter
posed and denied the fact.) Mr.. G. look
ing to the Journal, said, Mr.. Powell, as ap
peared, did not vote at all, on this ques
ton. He did vote against the admission Of
California as State. Mr.. G. had mistaken
one vote for the other; but he, State:
Rights man, had not extended the hand o.
fellowship to the members from California
on their application to be sworn in. He
had not voted on this question. thong the
State had been admitted. He did vote or
the very next call of the ayes and noes, al
the Journal would show,on the very same
day. Why did he not vote : He mus
have been there. But the Journal showed
his votes,on the great question Of the boun-
Diary of Texas-the settlement in an ami
cable way ola controversy, which, as we
were then told, would have inevitably led
to blood-shed, to civil war-not war
with England-Mexico, or the Seminole
Indians, but war of extermination among
ourselves war,;n which brethren would
have been arrayed against brethren-a
war, which would have forever destroyed
the hopes of freedom, in this our day. In
this vote, who was Mr.. Powell supported
by By Giddings-by Gott-by Wilmot,
and by the Aboli,ionists of the North
Where stood the Disunionists of the Southl
They too voted to reject the bill sent from
the Senate; aeithout ercn a respectful read
ing. The solemn question was put: shall
tie bill be rejected, when but "a members,
against 16Sin the negative, VOTED Aye, and
among them, stood the name Of Paulus
PoaccH. Where was Bayly of our own
State, his Democratic colleague !-Wherc
was Mcdowell : Against him while he
was aciM Giddings-vith Got and riM
TViimot. Mr.. Goggin said he did notmean
to assert that Mr.. Powell had sought such
company. He could not help how they
voted-he had, he was sure, no friendly
feeling for them; but they were agitators
from the North, while he (Mr P.) wasact-
ing with the dissatisfied spirits ofthe South,
and hence the extremes met. You might
thus trace out this subject and you would
seethathe and they were generally together.
They, Giddings, &c, had voted with him,
to lay the Bill Including Boyds amend
ment) on the table-they had voted with
him, against the reading of the bill the third
time. &C., but finally it passed, in despite of
all opposition, and one glad shout of joy as
cended to Heaven, on the occasion. Bon
fires were kindled, and Examinations and
public rejoicings from Maine to the Rio
Grande. aye, beyond, to the distant shores of
the Pacific, testified the public joy. Utah
and New Mexico were admitted as Terri
tories-the Fugitive Slave bill became
also the law, as did the bill abolish
ing the Slave trade in the District. For
the Fugitive Slave Law Mr.. Powell voted,
as he should have done,-but these great
measures had been disapproved by him
measures of Compromise, which have the