Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-14
THE ADHESION OF OREGON.

THE ADMISSION OF OREGON.
The action Of the House of Representatives
last Saturday, ON the Oregon question, is re
ported, by telegraph, in another column. From
the indications of the last few days, the result
had been generally anticipated, and will not ex
cite much surprise. When a territory, we'll
developed, with satisfactory population, and
many resources of material wealth and pro-
gress, presents herself for admission as State,
it is not an easy or pleasant thing to deny
the request 1t would have been matter of
peculiar difficulty in the case of Oregon, situa-
ted as it is on the Pacific coast, where we are
in most need of States, peopled by industrious
and mostly thriving settlers, and entitled, I'M
der the peculiar circumstances of her applica-
ton, to consideration on the part of Congress.
Had the trainers of its constitution not seen fit
to mar it with provisions which are manifestly
unconstitutional and unchristian, the territory
would have been admitted not unanimously,
perhaps, but by handsome and satisfactory
majority. As it is, we regret the result. We
regret still more, that the Worcester District
should have been made to contribute to it.
through the voice and the vote of its represent
ative.
The specific Objectionable provision of the
constitution, now endorsed and approved by
both branches of Congress, is, that which de-
bars negroes and mulattoes from all civil priv
ileges whatever. They are not allowed to reside
or to hold property in the new State; they
cannot make contracts, or maintain suits in
its courts Here in Massachusetts,, we have
colored population of nearly ten thousand
citizens of equal privilege with all others,
by right, of which there is no power in
Congress, or in the Federal Courts to rob
them. They are a respectable, industrious,
and worthy people; pay their taxes regularly,
go to church, and send their children to school.
But under the prescription which has been
made law by the votes of Democrats, to whom
such things are customary, aud of Republic
cans, to whom they are not customary, not one
of these ten thousand citizens of Massachu-
sets can plant his foot on the soil of Oregon
with IMMUNITY. They cannot acquire single
foot of that vast and uncultivated soil, which
belongs to Gods poor, from whatever race
they have sprung. They cannot, whether Wis
iting the Pacific coast as sailors in the service
of commerce, or their country, or as adven-
turers in pursuit of the inalienable rights be-
longing to all men-they cannot shield them
selves from violence robbery, or murder, or
any crime that avarice or brutality could in
vent for the Courts do not know them. The
1oxr not e ,,,
an old State, already established, and beyond
the range of our responsibilities, but, in a
State which we have been called on to make
which we hare made, and for which, to the
extent of the votes we have furnished, we
have become responsible.
The question before Congress was, not
whether the people of the territory had
right to make such restriction, but whether,
being made, it was worthy to be ratified and
endorsed by Congress. If we are prepared
to say that all States must hereafter be admit
ted, with such constitutions as they may choose
to present, it is well enough. But that position,
though recently made familiar to the Repnhli-
cans Of this Congressional District, is very far
from being approved by them. They hold as
they have ever held, that territories are under
the sovereignty of Congress till the act of admit
ting them as States is finished. Constitutions
which set apart specific portion of the human
family, for slavery or for Punishment, merit
the same scrutiny and the same judgment.
The power to enforce justice-a power which
implies duty-in the territories, is specifically
and plainly vested in Congress. 1t is there the
people of Massachusetts desire to have it re-
main. Squatter constitutions, for the last five
years, have not been so nearly infallibe as to
commend themselves to those who love free
dom. If Congress itself sometimes goes wrong,
we can hopefully anticipate the time when it
will be filled with truer men and governed by
wiser counsels.
FREE BooT-ERs ARREsTED-At Norwich,