The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-23
WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, MARCH %, 1854.

the country, which he strongly recommended az have
read by the doctrine OF non'ntererenee by the Mis-
souri-C Compromise line.
We come now 10 the next step in the history OF the
struggle betweoa DIE North and South this subject Du
nng the session q isio49 Congress appeared 10 have
settled down IN me conviction, strongly felt by men Of all
parties that az all other measures for the settlement of this
question had proved Intellectual the people Of the Territories
SHOULD be encouraged when they should have the requisite
population to form State governments themselves, and
ask admission into the Union with or without slavery, as
them should seem ill., bill introduced by the
from Illinois W. DouGIAs admitting the State of Cali
iorna into the Union whenever she should form republic
institution although at that time no territorial govern
men had been organized ia California and no attempt
tabsh State government had been made That PROPOSE
on was unsuccessful but still the idea pervaded the halls
OF Congress that there other mode of settling the
question but that of permitting the people of the Territories
TO adjust as they pleased when they should be admitted
into the Union.
Near the close Of that session of ls4s and l849 when
Mr. Polk was about TO retire from Office, and very few
days before President Taylor naugurated PROPOSE
ton was made by the honorable senator from Wisconsin
Mr. WAKER for the establishment of territorial gov
eminent over California and New Mexico. Two years
hal elapsed, and the whole Territory was entirely
elected There had never occurred in the history Of this
an instance of such neglect oa people for whom
the United States had been bound solemn treaty provide
the protection and blessings Of civil government. Cali
fornia had 10 government She had been conquered by
the troops of the United States in 1857 she had been coded
by the treaty Of Guadalupe Hdago the I'd of February,
lo4o and yet more than two years after the troops Of the
sss oSs e an s and @
the treaty OF Guadalupe the people left without any
aid from this government 1t outrage, sir and
was felt by every honorable in The United States to
De such The honorable senator from Wisconsin, in my
Judgment is entitled the thanks of the country for the
proposition which he made 1t was by way of amend
ment TO the civil and diplomatic appropriation BILL to add
this as an additional secton
" That the constitution of the United States in far
the provisions of the may be applicable to the con
ton of Territory ofhe United States and all and singular
the the registering record
ehi
and clearance thereof and the foreign and coasng trade and
fisheries and all the respecting the imposing and collect
ing of duties imports, and all acts respecting trade and
with the Indian tribes and all respecting the
public nnds the survey sale thereof and all and sngu
lar the other acts of Congress Of public and general chaac
ter and the provisions whereof suitable and proper to
be applied to the territory of the Rio del Nore acqulr
cd from Mexico by the treaty of the ID Of February 1884,,
be, and the hereby, extended and given full
force and efficacy all sad territory and the President of
the United States be- and he s hereby authorized to pre-
scribe and establish all proper and needu rules and regula
tons, in conformity with the constitution of the United
States for the enforcement of the provisions of the const
ton hcrenbeore referred to- and of said laws in said terri
tory and for the preservation Of order and tranquility and
to the establishment of Justice therein and from time
time to modify or change the said rules and regulations IN
such manner may TO him discreet and proper,
and to establish temporarily such divisions Districts ports
Offices and all arrangements for the execution of said laws
and appoint and ion such officers may be
sary to administer such laws said Territory for ouch
term or terms as he may prescribe whose authority shall
continue until otherwise provided by Congress said o
prescribe not exceeding double the compensation hereto
fore paid to similar officers Of the United States its
Territories for like services and to enable the to be
done, the Of 900 be appropriated out of any
money IN the treasury not otherwise appropriated
This admirable proposition of the senator from Wiscon-
SIM which had reference the subject Of slavery would
have rescued the Territory from danger and assured the in
ured people Of California of the paenal regard of this
government. Never wiser measure proposed one
imperousy demanded by every principle of justice
and honor But unfortunately this proposition was defeated
by rival proposition made by MIR. Webster, which
peculiarly Objectionable the southern mind because il
prcssy provided
That until six months after the expiration Of the
for the qRGEsss ss Congress shall sooner provide
thereof shall be maintained and observed" NV
And among other things also provided tina, the
Tine and while these laws in force by express enact
ment of Congress;
"Any decision upon any writ Of habeas corpus ordering
the discharge detention Of any person, shall be subject to
be reviewed IN the Supreme Court Of the Unted States
under such regulations shall be prescribed by that tn
bunan
saw cir that southern gentlemen considered Mr. Web
amendment emneny unjust to the South, because
il expressly continued with oil the force OF statute the
Mexican laws in the Territory until the issue between the
Noh and the South could be decided under the influence Of
that statute by the Supreme Court OF the United States The
South Justly complained that Mr. Webster's amendment
deserted the principle of the Compromise 1885, which left
the question be decided by the the question stood
the time Of the acquisition Of the Territory without the in
ervcnon Of Congress Southern necessarily opposed
the measure and fierce debate this body upon
The result was however, that the amendment Of the
ator from Wisconsin carried through the Senate IL
went TO the House, and there Mr. Websters amendment
substituted for by the votes of northern friends
The appropriation bill back TO the Senate and the
overy renewed from midnight daybreak at the very
close OF the session. The result was, finally, that each
house yielded It's amendment thus giving up for that ses-
sion the whole effort establish territorial government for
California or New Mexico. The North maintained the
position that IL any established there the
Mexican laws should be oontnued and by perseverng m
this course they compelled the friends Of the amendment OF
the senator from Wisconsin, to abandon il, lose the gen
cra civil and diplomatic appropriation bills and thus The
whole session wasted in uess struggle, without any
appropriation provision whatever to govern the new Ter
rtores The result that the incoming President who
took the oath Of Office days after the defeat OF this las
effort TO procure territorial government for California; was
left TO govern IL whole year, he could, without any AID
from Congress and without dollar TO pay agent TO as
ss him in doing The conduct OF the North m relation
TO Ahis amendment sueed the indignation of the southern
bosom beyond any excitement which hal previously ex
| listed.
This sir il fair and truthful history Of the slavery ex
element upon the acquisition of the Tern
tories up to the period when President Taylor into
Office and Il Is sso fair and truthful history Of the con-
duct of the Leading agents in getting up the excitement o.
that day, and tanning Il into blaze.
Sir do propose or il would not be periInen
TO the which discussing to-day 10 give histo
y tho endorsements which President Tayors admin
saon encountered consequence Of the wsnt OF
enactment enable him provide for thos'
Territories but say that during the whole Of his nd
there nothing which distressed him
much this very He then directed his attention Il
the only thing left for him do that Of quoting the public
mind in California; and assuring her people Of the patsrDs
regard Of this government and the disposition Of the Pres