Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-29
The slave Power In California.

Tine slave EON AA NdAAAOHhlos
California, with republican constitution, ex-
clading slavery from her territory, sought admis-
sion into the Union, in 1850, and was admitted,
as a COMPROMISED California was in fact an
Independent State, in so far as her municipal laws
were concerned. South Carolina, Texas, Mis-
sissppi, and all the other States, had no business
with the exact character Of her local laws Ii
she had the necessary population, and repuo-
lcan consultation, the United States were bound
10 admit her into the Union, these facts being es-
tablished But the South voted against Callior-
MIA being admitted, except on the condition that
Texas should receive "a, 900 square miles of ter
riiory, and $40 ,OOO, 900; and that Utah and New
Mexico should not be restricted from holding
slaves under the United States territorial laws.
Upon these conditions, California was admitted
into the Union. free State.
Since 1850, until the present time, the slave
power has been striving to render the free con-
stitution Of California nuty; and as they have
been working in concert, with constant energy and
uutiring zeal, they have succeeded wonderfully.
In 1852, California passed law, giving addi-
tonal force TO the Fugitive Slave Law. This
edict was enacted to enable shareholders TO re-
claim colored persons who had come from the
Southern States TO California, when it was either
a Mexican province, or United States territory.
OF course, this measure was a triumph Of the
slave power. During the last three years, the
pro-slavery party have been secretly working, in
order TO obtain a division Of the State; and by
last accounts from San Francisco it is stated that
bill has been passed by the legislature, referring
the question to the people, whether Convention
shall be called to consider the proprety of dividing
the State. The southern portion of California Is
sparsely settled by farming population, chiefly
native, who do not take very lively interest in
the movements Of the politicians, and they will
probably offer no objection to this measure; while
the northern population, being chiefly transitory,
are more intent on gold hunting, than on preserv-
ing liberty to the land in which they consider
themselves to be only scjourners.
The promoters of this scheme, who denied,
two years ago, that they wished TO divide the
State, while they secretly agitated the question,
now openly avow their intention; they deny, how
ever, that they wish to introduce slavery into the
Southern part Of the State, when the expected
division takes place. They act upon the policy
of only avowing SO much of their intentions as
they think they sustain; they reserve the dec
laration of their Interior designs until they have
secretly assured themselves of their success AT
present shareholders are carrying hundreds Of ne
groes to the South of California, and are forming
settlements. When the constitution of the neav
State is drawn up, the Northern Californians will
then see what was the end contemplated by the
division Of the State; and who are the men who
will reign over the fair region which has been
hlched from freedom by the most unholy means.
We have often been told that the "peculiar in
stitution" Is not aggressive; that the South only
wants to be let alone by Northern fanatics, and
allowed to conduct her own municipal affairs in
peace and quielness; but the history Of Califor-
MIA is another illustration of the unjust, unscrupu-
lous, Unsuitable character of slavery, and of all
who are bIighted with the infection Of its immor-
atty. We trust the friends of freedom in Cali
fornia will combat this nefarious attempt to blight
their State with slavery, and that they will de-
feat the unhoy project.