The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-24
AN APPROACHING CRISIS IN THE AFy,u,
CALIFORNIA VI


Slavery still continues the struggle for 6,
hold on the Pacific IL would extend its a..
from ocean to ocean, 50 as to secure fo, ~
whatever territorial acquisitions may be b,.'
after made on our Southern border u,t.
its advocates in California have worked s,ooIl
ily cloaking their design, as we have ooaS
said, under demand merely for revision -
the Constitution but they are growing boldo,
as the time for decisive action approach.
They now announce that their object is the A |
vision of the State; and this move, if succa.oe,
they are confident will secure their ult.r;o, =.
sign. Territorial Government for So,h.--
California, and land and labor monoror
would follow, as things of course
We regret to see, by late arrivals from So,
Francisco, that the Senate has agreed to a 70
port, recommending an appropriation .os
100000 to defray the expenses of a STAT
Convention on the subject. 1t was to be acted
upon in the Assembly, which, it was FEARED
would concur in the measure.
AS throwing additional light upon the stat.
of things in the new State, we publish the S.
lowing extract of letter from highly ntelL
gent gentleman in San Francisco dated JaDu
airy 81, to q friend in this city:
With regard to the old parties they a.,
both corrupt, hopelessy corrupt. Both are
controlled by the pro-slayery spirit By the
connivance of the leaders the South has
large majority in both branches of our Leps.
lature. The favorite project Of the South i
to divide the State, knowing that the southern
part must fall back under Territorial Gov.
eminent. While thus situated, they will fll !.
with slaves and when they adopt State Con.
stitution, that instrument must protect the in.
stitution. This is known to the leaders of both
parties, yet neither would suffer their eapdi.
dates to be Intercepted on the subject of d.
vision of the State, previous to the election.
The consequence is, we have in the lower
branch of the Legislature 33 members from
the south (of the clothes line, y and % from
the north, true native Californians, who favor
a division of the State, and of the others have
not yet learned their former residence You
will have seen the Governors Recommendation
of amendments of the Constitution
In the election of Speaker, the chivalry tr,
umphed. The subject of amending the Const-
tuition was referred to committee of thirteen
appointed by the Speaker. Of that committee,
twelve are from the South. bill providing
for q Convention was introduced at an early
day. 1t was referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee. In the Senate, the bject was referred to
select committee of five. That committee
has made three reports--one in favor of a Con-
vention, one against, and one silent on the sub
ject.
Gone of the reasons urged in favor of Con-
vention is the division of the State. This is
the first time that this object has been openly
avowed in anything like an official or authori-
tative form. On the contrary, it has been
openly denied by the leaders of the party and
avowed only by few indiscreet hot.heads
Now that the object is avowcd by authority,
we have less to fear, as we shall have better
chance to contend with them All we want
now is an independent press to meet them.
But while they admit they desire a division of
the State, they deny that they wish to intro
duce slavery By this they will deceive many I;
and while we have presses that will oppose
division of the State we have none, that know
OF, certainly, that will use this argument as it
might and should be used.
"The disposal Of the public lands, in large
quantities, to be worked by slaves or, failing
in this, by coolies is another favorite scheme
of the Pro-Slavery party Their whole system
Of policy is summed up in this-a monopoly
of land and of labor Opposition to those, and
the advocacy Of measures calculated to defeat
them, would furnish a broad platform and
il. will gain and forever hold the ascendency
=. CoE h.. Oh doro
take it. have hope that division will occur
in the Democratic party, that will drive por-
ton Of the party to take it. 1t will be the
larger portion, and it will receive many ac-
cessions from the Wing party. If we can but
get the old parties fairly broken up and get
the lines distinctly drawn, we shall scarcely
have need for Free Soil party. Our work
would be done under the name of Anti-Mo-
nopoly. If this cannot be accomplished, then
know Of nothing else that Can save the State
from slavery but the organization of a Free
Soil party, and the refusal of Congress to ad
init slave State, carved out of California ter
ritory. Can tre rely icih confidence ON Con-
gress to do so?
I" In considering this subject, you will bear
in mind that California is not the only part of
the Pacific coast that is to be protected from
the encroachments of slavery We cannot
shut our eyes to the fact that the authority of
the United States is yet to extend farther south
Let it be her mission to ameliorate, not TO az
gravate, the condition of the people over whom
she bears sway. The resistance to slavery on
this coast must come from California With
California for her ally, the Congress of the
United States will not be able to resist her
allurements And California will be either al
ally or an enemy. She cannot remain neutral
long.
"Our monopolists have got up scheme to
ask Congress to devote to the State all the
public lands within it. This would make q
splendid corruption fund, after she shall have
squandered what we have already got Give
them to actual settlers in limited quantities,
but not to the Statep
- aak nm ,oh xtha