The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-12-02
DECEMBER 9, 1859.

From the Missouri Democrat November II.
Dismemberment of California --Collora.
do Territory.
NEW SLAVE STATE IN PROSPECT.
The provision mado at the last session OF
the legislature of California for submitting
to the voters of tho southern portion of thai
state the question of segregation from the
northern counties, has resulted in an affirm
atiSo two o.third vote upon the subject. Tho
vote stands, according to tho account before
Us: For the new territory, 2,457 against,
$50; though possibly the official results NAV
alter these figures somewhat. The act Of
the legislature provided that, upon the ex-
preston of consent 10 this manner. that tho
yoto should DO certified to the Governor,
and proclamation for convention in the
district forthwith issued, but legal proceed
ings will probably be taken to restrain tho
Governor from taking such step, and tho
validity of the act, giving the consent of the
people TO tho proposed dismembcrment Of
tho state be fully tested. The constitution
of California provides for no amendufnt to
that instrument, except upon the approval
of two-th;rds of all the voters voting at q
general election, when the amendment ia
submitted. As tho boundaries of tho state
arc defined by tho constitution, it follows
that any change therein becomes an amend
ment pro tormG. California, at its recent
election, cast over 100000 votes, and IL
seems absurd, on its face, to say that the
people will consent by tho expression of
1900 voters to givo away six or seven valu-
able counties. Upon this point the whole
question hinges, and il can be easily brought
boforo the Supreme Conrt of the state by
injunction restraining tho proclamation de-
signed to bo issued by the Governor. II is
unfortunate that one of the Justices of tho
Suprc:ne Court who will be caIlod upon to
pass on TINS cucstion, should havo been a
member OF tho legis .ature which adopted
tho act asserting TO disrnurC bermenf, and
himself voted for the propostivc. OF
course, in ordinary cases, q judge thus sitIs
atod would not decide the matter, but they
do some queer things on tho bench in CALI
tornia. No rae can be laid down for saw
ing what California judges will not do, by
tho standard of what they ought not to do,
The schcmo of separating tho southern
portion of California from tho northern is
the fruit of several years plotting, and has
boen used unscrupulously by tho leading
politicians of tho state at every election.-
Tho section proposed to be set off is intonse.
ly democratic, and the pressure q. state con-
vontions has nevor been lacking Tho dol
egates have from timo immemorial refused
to vote for any man for any Office who has
opposed their pet sch emo of separate
territory, and when few such baro been
nominated, by hard scratching, as in 1858.
they have withheld votes enough to secure
bis defeat. AS natural democratic So
quenco the candidates have yielded, and the
southern domagOguos, cliDging to their idea
of ha oF lko
havo received the cooperation Of the mis-
called national democracy. This feeling
will probably operate upon the Supreme
Court and decision affirming tho legality
of the proposed separation would not be at
all wonderful. Even here the sohome might
bo thwarted were the REPRESENTATIVES in
Congress from California other than the
tools of the southern pro.slaveryists, like
Toombs, Slidell, jeff Davis--but nobody in
California seems to suppose that, when tho
malcontents for the creation of the territory
OF Colorado (Which is the name By which
they propose TO designate tho embryo ter
ritory) comes before Congress, either Scna.
tor Gwin. or any man who is elected rs
Brodorick's successor, or Scott or Brrcb, tho
representatives in the lower House will raise
voice TO protest agains, the dsmember-
ment of the state they should stand up to
speak for
We hayo heretofore classc6 this whole
business US an effort 80 plant slavery upon
the Pacific. and build up another slave state
to offset tho admission of Kansas and Ne
braska on this sido of tho continont--and,
as it has a bearing upon the national politics.
VIC believe the subject should be thoroughly
ventilated, and 1.-The duplicity and cunning
used to consummato it thoroughly exposed.
Tho people of California have heretofore
regarded tho affair as a farce to broad for
serious consideration, and now that they are
powerlcss without q prompt decision from
tho Supreme Court, have duty to per-
form in exposing the trickery which has led
to tho present condition of the business
Tho next Congress is safe againOt all such
schemes, fortunately, but backed up by
democratic southern power there is strong
probability that tho trickery exercised so
successfully In California will be transferred
to Washington. II is deep laid plot, and
tho sooner it is exploded the bostor for tho
friends of free labor everywhere.