Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-02-26
TKE OREC6N QUESTION:

THE OREGON QUESTION.
The New York EccHag Post, one of the most
consistent and udicous Republican papers in
the country, contains an admirable article in
justification of the course pursued by those Re
publican members Of Congress who voted fort
admission Of Oregon. That our readers may
see what may be said in extcnuation of their
votes we give the concluding paragraphs of the
Posi's article:
"For our mart, if we had been in Congress We
could no, have conscicntiously assented TO the
policy of keeping the people of that territory any
longer in a state Of pupilage, and we heartily
wish that the Republican members had unan-
mously voted for its admission into the Union.
We are glad for our part that Oregon is State.
That question is now taken out OF the sphere of
controversy; and the way is all the clearer for
the admission of Kansas on the same terms.
With regard to the objections to the Consti-
tuition of Oregon, serious as some of them may
be- particularly that which relates to the eXpul-
sion of coorcd people from its territory though
they NAV be citizens Of other States, we see
nothing in them Of permanent nature. Ore
gon is a free State pcoplcd from the free States
and through the influence OF the Executive, eX-
ercised through the territorial government, has
certainly given certain pro-slavery tint to its
Constitutions we break down that influence by
admitting it into the Union, and give the good
sense and liberal views Of the people their just
scope. In due time the people Of Oregon, left
to themselves, will get rid of these barbarian
provisions in their Constitution, or will let them
fall into neglect and disregard.
Some persons are possessed with the fancy
that territory ought not to be admitted into
I'll Il hos Of, ,iupf,. tbrpp
thouSnnd-the number which entities. district
in one of the States to representative III Con-
gress. There is not good reason for this. Make
a State of the territory the moment it is likely
to be better governed as a State than as ter
ritory. Justice, policy, common sense, all die
tate this course. If ii is not thought eXpedient
to allow new State a representative until she
has acquired a certain population, suspend the
right of representation until this number is
reached"
When the bill was passed in the Senate last
session 1eren Republican Senators voted fer it
and six against it. The Republican Beprcscn-
tatves, therefore, who voted for it are sustained
and endorsed in their course by the example and
action of the large majority Of the Republican
Senators who put themselves on record in favor
of the measure, and they are commended and
applauded by some of the abest organs of the
party-thosc too of the most thorough and rad
ical views in regard 10 the slavery question:
1t is gratifying thus to know thai where a few
gentlemen separate themselves from the bulk of
their political associates, they have solid and sub
stantial reasons for so doing, and that by their
course they DO but manifest and give expression
to that difference of opinion which is honestly
felt in the ranks of the party all over the coun-
try in reference to the important question which
has caused a division of the Republican vote in
both branches of Congress.
maintained by so many Republican Rcpresen-
tatiycs, was based on the following outrageous
provision in the constitution which was present.
ed:
~ o free negro or mulatto, not residingin this
State at the time of the adoption of this const-
tuition, shaU ever come, reside, or be within this
State, or hold any real estate, or make any con-
tract, OF maintain any suit therein and the leg
islativc assembly shall provide bypenal laws for
the removal by public officers of all such free
negroes and mulattoes and for their efiectua
exclusion from the State, and for the punish
the State, or employ or harbor Them therein"
When the constitution was originally pre-
scnted we took occasion to express our deter
mined hostility to the admission of a State whose
constitution thus deliberately tramplcd on the
rights and insultcd the feelings of large class
of men who are recognized as citizens of other
States in the Union. We were also oppc sed to
her admission with less population than is re-
CURED OF Kansas, so long as the restriction i'm
posed by the English bill remains upon the
statute book. But the question is one which
wide and wise tolerance of opinion and action
can be justly allowed. Our personal Judgment
and sympathies were strongly against the adj
mission of the State as she presented herself, |
especially when we rcmemberedthe restrictions
imposed elsewhere, but We have no disposition
to impugn the motives of those representatives
who, actuated by different judgments and SYM
pathies thought and acted otherwise.
Our friend of the Burlington Times thinks |
that the restriction imposed upon Kansas by the |
English bill mere "brutem .fHimen," and that
''if Kansas, having framed and adopted a con-
s'itution republican in form, should present her
self for admission tomorrow, she would be en-
titled to be admitted, and 'cguld be admitted to
the Union" We have no doubt that under the
circumstances recited she would be entitled to
but we also believe that the votes of
the majority, in refusing to remove the odious
disability under which she iabors, are significant
of the fate of such an applications
CONGRESSIONAL
In the Senate, Tuesday, the vote on postpon-
ing the thirty million appropriation bill for the
purchase of Cuba, was 33 ayes to % nays.-
This was test question and the resul, il moe.