Newspaper Page Text
SOUTHERN TRIBUNE.
tlin.il AND FIB I.ISII Cl> Htmi, t»
Wn. U. il V IS l£ 1 M 091 .
The following is a Message from the
President of the United States, in reply
to a cal! upon him hy the House <.f Re
presentatives for information concerning
the Territory of California, its Govern
meat, &rc.:
'l'o Pie Huns:: oj' Represcntatircs of the
United States :
1 transmit to the llimse of Representa
tives, in answer to a tesolution of that
body, passed on the 31st of December lust,
the accompanying reports of heads of de
purtineus, which contain all the otlicial in
formation in the possession of the Execu
tive asked for by the resolution.
On coming into ollice, i found the mili
tary commandant of the departments ol
California exercising the functions ofcilv
il governor in that Territory; and left, as
1 was, to act under the treaty of Gaudu
lupe Hidalgo, vv i bout the aid of any leg
d.-dative provision establishing a govern
ment in that Territory, 1 thought it best
not to disturb that arrangement, made un
der my predecessor, until Congress should
take some action on that subject. 1 there
fore did not interefere with the powers of
the military commandant, who continued
to exercise the functions of civil governor
as before, but 1 made no such appoint
ment, conferred no such authority, and
have allowed no increased compensation
to the commandant for his services.
With a view to the faithful execution of
the treaty, so far as lay in the power of the
Executive, and to enable Congress to act
:it ihe present session with as full knowl
edge and as little dilliculty as possible on
all matters of interest in these Tonitorics,
I sent the lion. Thomas Butler King as
bearer of despatches to California, and
certain officers to California and New
Mexico, whose duties are particularly de
fined in the accompanying letters of in
s rue ion addressed to them severally by
1 lie proper department.
I did not hesitate to express to the peo
ple of those Territories my desire that
each Territory should, if prepared to com
ply with the lequsitiuns of the constitu
tion of the United States, form a plan ol
a State constitution, and submit the same
to Congress, with a prayer for admission
into the Union us u Stale ; but 1 did not
anticipate, suggest, or authorize the cs
tablislunciit of any such government w ith
out the assent of Congress, nor did 1 au
thorize any government agent or officer to
interfere with or exercise any inlluence
or control over the election of delegates,
or over any convention, in making or mod
ifying their domestic institutions, or any
of the provisions of their proposed consti
tution. On the contrary, the instructions
given by my orders were that all measures
ol domestic policy adopted by the people
of California must originate solely with
themselves; that while the Executive of
the United States was desirous to protect
them iu the formation of any government,
republican in its character, to he at the
proper time submi.tcd to Congress, yet it
was to be distinctly understood that the
plan of such a government must at the
same time be the result of their own de- !
liberate choice, and originate with them-j
selves, without the inteifereiice of the
Executive.
1 am unable to give any information as
to laws passed by any supposed guvem
inc-m in California, or of any census taken
in either of the Territories mentioned in
the resolution, as I have no information on
those subjects.
As already stated, 1 have t:i t disturbed
the arrangements which I found had ex
isted under my predecessor.
In advising an early application hy the
people of these Territories for admission
us .States, I was actuated principally hy
an earnest desire to afford to the wisdom
and patriotism of Congress the opportu
nity of avoiding occasions of bitter and
angry dissensions among the people of the
United States.
Under the constitution, every State has
the right of establishing arid from time to
time altering its municipal laws and do
mestic institutions, independently of every
other State and of the general govern
ment, subject only to the prohibitions and
guarantees expressly set forth in the con
stitution of the United States. The sub
jects thus left exclusively to the respective
States were not designed or expected io
become topics of national agitation. Still,
as under the consti ulinu, Congress has
power to make all needful rules and regu
lations respecting the Territories of the
United States, every new acquisition of
territory lias led to discussion on the ques
tion whether the system of involuntary
servitude which prevails in many of the
Slates,should or not be prohibited in that
Territory. The periods of exilement
fiom this cause which have heretofore oc
curred have been safely passed; but dur
ing the interval, of whatever length,
which may elapse before the admission of
the territories ceded hy Mexico as States,
it appears probable that similar excite
ment will prevail to an undue extent.
Under these circumstances, 1 thought,
and still think, that it was my duty to en
deavor to put it in the power of Congress,
by the admission of California and New
Mexico as States, to remove all occasion
lot the unnecessary agitation of the pub
lic piiud.
It is understood ihat tlic people of the
western part of California have formed a
plan of a State constitution, and will soon
submit the same to the judgment of Con
gross apply for admission as a £ Ac.
’’ his course on their part, jig, :gh in accor
dance vvitli,■ was not adopted exclusively iu
consequence of any expression of my
wishes, inasmuch as measures lending to
this end had been promoted by the officers
sent there by my predecessor, and were
already in active progress of execution
be fore any communication from me reach
ed California. If the proposed constitu
tion shall,-w hen submitted to Congress, be
found to be in compliance with the requi
sitions of the constitution of the United
States, 1 earnestly recommend that it may
receive the sanction of Congress.
The part of California not included in
the proposed State of that name, is believ
ed to be uninhabited, except in a settle
ment of our countrymen in the vicinity of
Salt Lake.
A claim lias been advanced by the State
of Texas io a very large portion of the
most popu'ous district of the Territory,
commonly designated by the name of New
Mexico. If the people of New Mexico
had formed a plan of a State government
fm that Territory, as ceded by the treaty
of Guadalupe llidalgo, and had been ad
mitted by Congress as a State, our consti
tution would have afforded the means of
ohtaing an adjustment of the question of
boundary with Texas by a judicial ques
tion. At present, however, no judicial
tribunals has the power of deciding that
question, and it remains for Congress to
devise some mode for its adjustment.
Meanwhile, 1 submit to Congress the
question, whether it wou’d he expedient
before such adjustment, to establish a ter
ritorial government, which, by including
the district so claimed, would practically
decide the question advetsely to the State
of Texas, or, by excluding it, would de
cide it in her favor. Jn my opinion, such
a course would not he expedient especi
ally as the people of this Territory still
enjoy the benefit and protection of iueir
municipal laws, originally derived from
Mexico, and have a military force stationed
there to protect them against the Indians.
It is undoubtedly , true that the property,
lives, liberties, and religion of the people
of New Mexico, are better protected than
they ever were before the treaty of ces
sion.
Should Congress when California shall
present herself for incorporation into the
Union, annex a condition to her admission
as a State aflectiiig her domestic institu
tions contrary to t he w ishes of her people,
and even compel her temporarily to com
ply with it, yet the State could change her
constitution at any time after admission,
when to her it should seem expedient.
Any attempt to deny to the people of the
State the tight of self-government in a
matter which peculiarly affects themselves,
will infal.ibly be regarded by them as an
invasion of their rights; and, upon the
principles laid down iu our own declara
tion of independence, they will certainly
lie sustained by the great mass of the
American people. To assert lliatlbey ate
a conquered people, and must, as a State,
submit to the will ol their conquerors, in
this regard, w ill meet with no cordial re
sponse among American freemen. Gieat
numbers of them are native citizens of the
United States, and not inferior to the rest
of our countrymen iu intelligence and pat
riotism; and no language of menace to
restrain them in the exercise of an un
doubted light, substan ially guarantied to
them by the trea'y of cession itself, shall
ever be uttered be me, or encouraged and
sustained by persons acting under my au
thority. It is to be expected that, in the
lesidue of the territory ceded to us by
Mexico, the people residing there will, at
the time ol their incorporation into ilie
L niuu as a State, settle all questions of do
mestic policy to suit themselves.
No material inconvenience will result
from the want, sot a short period, of a
government established by Congress over
| that part of the territory which lies east
j ward of the new State of California; and
I I lie reasons for my opinion that New Mcx
| ico w ill, at no very distant period, ask for
admission into the Union, are founded on
unofficial information, which, I suppose, is
common to all w ho have cared to make in
quiries on that subject.
Seeing, then, that the question which
now excites such painful sensations in the
country, will, in the end, certainly he set
tled by the silent effect of causes indepen
dent of the action of Congress, I again
submit to your wisdom the policy recom
mended in my annual message of awaiting
the salutary operation of those causes, be
lieving that vve shall thus avoid the crea
tion of geographical parties, and secure
tlie hanrn ny of feeling so* necessary to the
beneficial action of our political system.
Connected, as the Union is, with the re
membrance of past happiness, the sense
of present blessings, and the hope of fu
ture peace and prosperity, every dictate
of wisdom, every feeling of duty, and
every emotion of patriotism, tend to in
spire fidelity and devotion to it, and ad
monish us cautiously to avoid any unneces
sary controversy which can either endan
ger it or impair its strength, the chief ele
ment of which is to he found in the legat'd
and affections of the people fur each other.
Z. TAYLOR.
Washington, Jan. 21, 1850.
Letter from Mr. Clayton to the President.
[ This letter tecites the resolution under
which the call was made on on the Presi
dent, and introduces the documents which
follow.]
Letter from J\lr. Buchanan to Mr. Voorhics.
‘ Department of State, f
Washington, 7th October, ]B4S.
William V. Voobiues, Esq., Wash
ington wj,y.
Sir Previous to your departure for
Califoi nia, the President has instructed me
to make known, through your agency, to
tiio cu.zeus of tho United S ales iuhabit
ing that Territory, his views respecting
their present condition and future pros
pects. He deems it proper to employ
you for this purpose, because the Tost
inaster General has appointed you an
agent under the “act to establish certain
post routes,” approved August 14, IMS,
‘to make arrangements for the establish
ment of p.ost offices, and for the transmis
sion, receipt, and conveyance of letters in
Oregon and California.”
The President congratulates the citi
zens of California on the annexation of
their line province to the United States.
On the 30th of May, 184S, the day on j
which the ratification of our late tieaty ,
w ith Mexico w ere exchanged, California j
finally became an integral portion ol this j
great and glorious Republic ; and that act j
of Congress to which I have already re
ferred, in express terms, lecognised it to |
he “within the territory of the United
States.”
May this Union be perpetual! The
people of California may feel the finnes
convitcion that the Government and pent
pie of the United States will never aban
don them, or prove unmindful of their
prosperity. Their fate and their fortunes,
are now indissolubly united with that <f
their brethren on this side of the Rocky
Mountains. How propitious this event
both for them and us ! Whilst the other
nations of the w orld are distracted hy do
mestic dissensions, and are involved in a
stiuggle between the privileges of the
few and the rights of the many, Heaven
has blessed our happy land with a Govern
ment which secures equal lights to all cut
citizens, and has produced peace, happi
ness, and contentment throughout our hol -
ders. It has combined liberty with order,
and all the sacred and indefeasible rights
of the citizens with tiie strictest observance
ot law. Satisfied with the institutions un
der which we live, each individual is there
fore left free to promote his own prosperi
ty and happiness, in the manner most in
accordance with his own judgement.
Under such a constitution and such laws
the prospects of California ate truly en
couraging. Blessed wi li a mild and salu
luious climate, and a fertile soil—rich in
mineral resources, and extending over
nearly ten degrees of latitude along the
coast of the Pacific, with some of the tinest
harbors iu the world, the imagination can
scarcely fix a limit to its future wealth and
prosperity.
W e can behold, in the not distant future,
one or more glorious Mutes of this Con
federacy springing into existence in Cali
fornia, governed by institutions similar to
our own, and extending the blessings of
religion, liberty, and law over that vast
region. Their free and unrestricted com
merce and intercourse with the other States
of the Inion, will confer mutual bene
fit and blessings on all parlies concerned,
and will bind us all together by the strong
est ties of reciprocal affection and inter
est. Their foreign trade w ith the west
coast of America, with Asia, and the isles
of the Pacific, will be protected by our
common flag, and cannot fail to bear back
to their shores the rich rewards of enter
prise and industry.
After all, however, the speedy realiza
tion of these blight prospects depends
much upon the w ise and prudent conduct
of the citizens of California in the present
emergency, if they commence their ca
reer under pioper auspices, their advance
will be rapid and certain ; but, should they
become entangled in difficulties and dis
setisious at the start, their progress will
be greatly retarded.
The President deeply regrets that Con
gress did not, at their late session, estab
lish a lurritorial Government for Califor
nia. It would now be vain to enter into
the reasons for that omission. Whatever
these may have been, lie is firmly convin
ced that Congress feel a deep interest in
the welfare of California and its people,
and will, at an early period of the next
session, provide for them a teiritoria! gov
ernment suited to their wants. Our laws
relating to trade and intercourse with the
Indians w ill then be extended over them,
custom-houses w ill bo established for the
collection of the revenue, and liberal grants
of land will be made to those bold and pu
tt iotic citizens who, amidst privations and
dangers, have emigrated, or shall emigrate
to that Territory from the States on this
side of the Rocky Mountains.
I lie President, in his annual message
at tlie commencement of the next session,
will recommend all these great measures
to C ongress in the strongest terms, and
will use every effort consistently with his
duty to ensure their accomplishment.
In the mean time, the condition oftlie
people of California is atnomalous, and
will require on their part the exercise of
great piudetree and discretion. By the
conclusion oftlie treaty of peace, the mili
tary government which was established
over them under the laws of war, and re
cognized by the practice of all civilized
nations, has ceased to derive its authority
from this source ofpower. But is there,
for this reason, no government in Califor
nia t Are life, liberty, and property un
dei the protection of no existing authori
ties ( This would he a singular pheno
menon in the face oftlie world, and especi
ally among American citizens, distinguish
ed as they are above all other people, for
their law abiding character. Fortunately
they are not reduced to this sad condition.
1 he termination oftlie war lias left an ex
isting government—a government de fac
to in lull operation ; and this will contin
ue with the presumed consent oftlie peo
ple, until Congress shall provide for them
a lerritorial government. The great law
of necessity justifies this conclusion. The
consent of the | irresistibly in
! furred from the fk and Vom
j tnuuity could po. ,
an existing g .verntrit-n*, when the aher
native presented would be to place them
selves in a state of anarchy, beyond the
protection of all laws, and ieduce them to
the unhappy necessity of submitting to the
dominion of the strongest.
The Government de facto will, of course,
exercise no power inconsistent with the
| pro* isior.s of the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, which is the supreme law of
the land. For this reason, no important
duties can be levied in California on arti
cles, the growth, produce, or manufacture
of the united States, as no such duties can
be imposed in any other part of the Union
on the productions of California. Nor
can new duties be charged in California
up*ni such foreign productions as have al
ready paid duties in any of our ports of en
try, for the obvious reason that California
is within the territory of the United States.
1 shall not enlarge upon this subject, how
ever, as the Secretary of the Treaury w ill
perform that duty.
The President urgently advises the peo
ple of California to live peaceably and
quietly under the existing government,
lie believes that this will promote their
lasting and best interests. If it be not
vvliat they could desire, and had a right to
expect, they can console themselves with
the reflection that it will endure but for
a few months. Should they attempt to
change or amend it during this brief peri
od, they most probably could not accom
plish their object before the Government
established by Congress would go into
operation. 1 n the mean time the country
would be agitated, the citizens would be
withdrawn from their usual employments,
and domestic strife might divide and exas
perate the people against each other ; and
this all to establish a Government which,
in rio conceviable contingency, con'd en
dure for a single year. During this brief
period, it is better to bear the ills they have
than lly to others they know not of.
The permanent piosperity of any new
country is identified with the pci feet se
curity of its land titles. The land system
of the General Gevernment has been a
theme of admiration throughout the world.
Ihe wisdom of man has never devised a
plan so well calculated to prevent litiga ion,
and place the rights of owners of the soil
beyond dispute.
The system has been one great cause
of the rapid settlement and progress of our
new States and Territories. Emigrants
have been attracted there, because every
man knew that when lie acquired laud
from the Government lie couid sit under
his own vine and under his own figtree,
and there would be none to make him
afraid. Indeed, there can he no greater
drawback to the prosperity of a cunrry,
us several of the older States have expeii
enced, than disputed land titles. Prudent
men w ill be deterred from emigratng to a
."State or territory where they are exposed
to the danger of strife and litigation inies
pect to the soil on which they dwell. An
uncertainty respecting the the security ot
land titles arrests all valuable improve
ment, because no prudent man will expend
bis means lbr this purpose whilst there
t is danger that another may deprive him
ol’the iiuits of his labors. It is fortunate,
therefore, that Congress alone under the
constitution, possesses “the power to dis
pose of and make all needful rules and
regulations respecting the territory or
other property belonging to the United
States.'’ In the exercise of this power the
President is convinced that the emigrants
will receive liberal donations of the pub
lic land.
Althougli Congress have not establish
ed a Territorial Government for the peo
ple of California, they have not been alto
gether unmindful of their interests. The
benefit of our post office laws lias been
extended to them ; and you will bear with
you authority fiora the Peslmasmaster
General to provide for the conveyance of
public information and private correspon
dence among themselves, and between
them and the citizens of Oregon and of
our States east oftlie Rocky Mountains.
The monthly steamers on the line from
Panama to Astoria have been required
“to stop and deliver and take mails at San
Diego, San Francisco, and Monterey.”
These steamers, connected hy the Isthmus
.it’ Panama with those on the Atlantic be
tween New York and Charges, will keep
uj a regular communication with Califor
nia and afford facilities to all who may
desire to emigrate to that 'J erritory.
The necessary appropriations have also
been made hy Congress to maintain troops
in California, to protect its inhabitants
against all attacks from a civilized or
savage foe ; and it will afford the Presi
dent peculiar pleasure to perform this duty
promptly and effectively.
But, above all, the Constitution of the
l nited States, the safeguard ofal! our civ
il rights, extended over California on the
30th May, 1818, the day on which our
late treaty with Mexico was finally consum
mated. From that day its inhabitants be
came entitled to all the blessings and ben
efiis resulting from the best form of civil
government ever osrablished amongst
men. 'i hat they will prove worthy of this
inestimable boon, no doubt is enter
tained.
W hilst the population of California
will he composed chiefly of our own kin
dred, of a people speaking our own lan
guage, ami educated for self government
under our own institutions, a considera
ble portion of them were Mexican citizens
before the late treaty of peace. 1 liese,
our new citizens, ought to he, and, from
justice and generosity of the American
character, the President is confident that
they will be, treated withe respect and
kindness, and thus lie made to feel that bv
changing their alegiance they have be
come mu ■■ prosper- us and Dippy,
a outs, very respectfuliy,
JAMES BUCH\NAN.
hitler from Hr. Clayton to Mr. King,
Detartmext of State, 1
Washington, April 3, 1549. J
lion. Thomas Hitler Kino.
Appointed agent of the United States in
California .
Sir: The President, reposing full confi
dence in your integrity, abilities, and piu
dence lias appointed you an agent for the
purpose of conveying important instruc
tions and despatches to our naval and
military comtnuaders in California. It is
Ids desite that you should lose no time in
repairing thither, by the best and most ex
peditious route, in the prosecution of the
duties devolved upon you, which 1 shall
proceed to explain in the following in
structions.
'1 he situation of the people in California
and New Mexico has already, at this early
period of his administration, attracted his
attention. By the late treaty with Mexi
co provision was made for the future ad
mission of these Terri ories in the Union
as States; and, in the mean time, the
Government of the United States is bound
to pioctect the inhabitants residing in
them, in the free and entire enjoyment of
their lives, liberty, and property, and in
the exercise of their civil and religious
rights. Owing to causes with which you
are fully acquainted, the Congress of the
United States failed to assist the Execu
tive, by a passage of a law establishing a
Government in either of the new Tcirito
ries. You are aware, however, that an
act was passed at the lust session to ex
tend the revenue laws of the United States
over the ternitcry and wathers < f upper
California. This act creates aeollection dis
trict in California. And you also know
that by another pievious act, certain mail
facilities have been extended to the same
Teritories. W batever can be done, by
the aid of the of die Constitution of the l -
nited States, the treaty with Mexico, and
the enactments of Congress to afford to the
people of the Territories the benefits of
civil government and the protection that is
due them, will be anxiously considered an
attempted by the Executive.
You have been selected hy the Presi
dent to convey to them these assurances,
and especially the assurance of bis firm de
termination, so fur as his constitutional
power extends, to omit nothing that may
tend to promote and secure their peace
and happiness. You are fully possessed
of the President’s views, and can with
propriety suggest to the people of Califor
n a the adoption of measures best calcula
ted to give them effect- These measures
must, of course, originate solely vvitli
themselves. Assure them of the sincere
desire of the Executive of the United
States to protect and defend them in the
formation of any Government, icpublican
in its character, hereafter to lie submitted
to Cong:css, which shall be the result ol
their ow n deliberate choice. But let it lie,
at the same time, distinctly undo stood by
them, that the plan of such Government
must oiiginate with themselves, and with
out the inteifetnance of the Executive.
The laws California and New Mexico,
as they existed at the couclusi nos the
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, regulating
the relations of the inhabitants vv ith each
other, will necessarily remain in force in
those Territoiies. Their relations with
their funner Government have been dis
solved, and new relations created between
them and the Government of the United
Mates; hut the existing laws, regulating
t lie relations of the people with each oth
er, will continue until others lawfully en
acted shall supersede them. Our naval
and military commanders on those stations
w ill he fully instructed to co-operate with
the friends ot older and good government,
so far as ther co operation ca.i be useful
and proper.
An important past of your duty will he
to acquire and to transmit to this Depart
ment, the best and fullest information in
regard to the population, the productions,
and the resources of their country; the
extent and character of all grants of land
made by Mexico prior to the late treaty ;
the quantity and condition of the public
domain, and especailly of those portions
which are tendeied valuable hy their me
tallic and mineral wealth ; and the general
fitness and capacity of these new acquisi
tions for the great purposes of agricultm e,
commerce, and manufactures, 'i he devel
opment oftlie resources of this vast and
interesting region, in all that concerns the
interest and welfare of its present and fu
ture occupants, is a cherished object of
this Government; and all informatou
which you can obtainin relation to these
subjects will be most acceptable to this
Department.
It is desirable to know the numbers of
the various Indian tubes which form a por
tion of the population of the Territories ;
their power, character, and modes of life ;
and the number of Mexicans held as cap
tives there hy anv savage ti ibes, whose re
lease and restoration to their own country
this Government is bound to exact by the
4th and 11th articles of the tieaty ; also,
as neatly as may Lie, the number of Mexi
cans who, within the year alter tho ex
change of the ratifications of the tieaty,
have withdrawn from the Territories, ami
the number of those who have declared
their intention to preserve the character
ol the citizens of the Mexican Republic,
agreeably to the Stli article of tliej* tieaty.
Ji is not ciedited by this Government
that any attempt w ill he made to alienate
cither of these portions of the territories of
the I nited States, or establish an indepen
dent Government within their limits.—
But should the existence of any such pro
ject he detected, you will not fail to bring
it to the immediate notice of your Govern
ment, that measure l ? he made for the pro
::’ ' 1 in -i ' -.f the people of the
j nited States may le promptly adopt
' ed.
V< u are fully authorised to confer
our Military and Naval Commanders »A
in these Territoiies, who will l e Ufa j
ed to assist you in the
the objec's of your mission. w
Y our compensation will be at the
of eight dollars per diem, fiotn the
your departure on the business of v >
mission until your return home, and *
will be allowed your travelling and
expenses during youi absence, fer w j
you will be careful to take vouchers in "
cases where they can le obtained.
The sum of one thousand dollars h a i
vanced to you on account.
1 am, sir, very respectfully, your obedi
ent servant.
JOHN M. CLAYTON
A CON, G~aT~~~
SATURDAY MORNING, FBB. 2,1K0~*
Father Mathew —This great Apoule of
Temperance, arrived in this city on Tliursd
evening last, and will he the guest of Dr. M°-
Goldrick, during his stay in the city. He is on
his wav to the \Vest,vin Columbus, N.Orle ans j.,.
We have been requested to state that Falter
91 athi vv will celebrate .Mass, Tomorrow .Mm n .
ing, the 3d instant, at the Catholic Churcli
this city, at half past iO o’clock. He vn\VW\ vj
Preach and administer the Pledge to all w|,
wish to take it.
O The lion. li. A. llAKALsmTwill p| ease
accept our thanks fur a copy of the Patent Offic,
Report for IH4B.
Ftr We have received through the courtcsj
ofDr.E.L. Stkoiiecker, of this t-itv, a l, o * 0 f
“Coral Dentifrice,” a compound prepared hy him
for cleansing, whitening and preserving the
teeth, and imparting a delightful fragrance to the
hi cat . . It is a very desirable article, and the
Doctor has “a few more left of the same sort.’
Washington Hall Messrs. Brown &
Harris having withdrawn from this establish,
nunt, it was re-opened yesterday hy Messrs. E.
8. Rooms, of this city, and James Mf.aiu, fut
merly of the Pulaski House, in Savannah. We
wish them su'cets, and have no doubt that the
good mime of the Hotel will he abundantly sut
lained under their management.
Convicted.—Urinklet Bishop was round
“Guilty on 1 hursday last, of tl e n.order tjf
To t o S.vinu, some time since, and will prolt.
aLly he sentenced to-day, previous to the m l .
jonrnmont of the Court, hy his Honor, Judto
Starke, who is intbl.d to the thanks of iho
coit.mt nity for his efforts to clear the dockets
t *Ei rue Baker was also found guiltv vrstcnkr
of Larceny from the Honrs.
The i! outhern Question.
The security of our rights in relation to
shivery has become a question to which the
people of the South seem at last to be awake;
and il i"s often asked “ What shall we do to pro
tect them r”
To arrive at a correct answer to tfiis question,
perhaps it may 1.0 well to see in the first
place, what wo have done and what good lots
result! il from it. Then what have we donei
\\ hy wo have begged, vve have entreated, we
have remonstrated ; vve have got into a passion,
i hroatoiied, gascoua led, got cool, submitted and
oompiOiiiisod.—That is the history of the past
anil what have been the compromises? Wliv
that the North has demanded what she had no
shadow of right to—vve have kicked and blus
tered, she talked about “the spirit of conces
sion and compromise," agrees to take half of
her demand; and vve, good kind souls,y ield and
call it a compromise.—When did we evei ask
ol the North more titan our rights? Wliendid
we refuse to y ield all that was hers ? Tliecon
cessions have all been on our part, the compro
mises as they' are called all at our expense —
“The spirit of concession and compromise’’! 1 '
\\ here is it to end ? According to our notion?,
the time for concession and compromise passed
away with tha adop ion of the Constitution.—
Before that time each party was at liberty to dic
tate the terms upon which he would become a
party to it—while the States were making'll?
bargain it was mutter of interest— each line then
had the right to say—‘ it is not my interest toen
ter the l nion upon these terms’—but wlientliu
find settled anil agreed upon the terms, who
they had severally conceded and confiriwdi
until each was satisfied that her interests wen
sufficiently secured and the bargain was com
pleted, then that compact became a matter of
right and no one parly has the right to say to
another, “ you must concede to me something
to which the contract entitles you.”—The'off
object of the contract is to settle vvliat eaih
one is entitled to —“ concession” is llierefow**
an end.
But when is “ concession” to stop ? iVchave
conceded vvliat is termed the “ 91 issouri Com
promise.” What did the North “ concede’’ »
that comprotn se ?—They sought to cx« lode
slaves from all territory.—We yielded more
than half and called it a compromise.— vve repe-t
it—“ what did the North concede ?” Now they
demand that slavery shall he excluded from all
territory, that it shall he abolished in the Dis
trict of Columbia, and that the trade between
the Stales shall lie prohibited.— No doubt if " e
will concede the exclusion of slaves from tl |U
territories they will kindly compromise np ,,n
that for the present—but a few short years will
find them again vvitli increased strength and
tenacity invading our rights, and vve may g ll0l!
conceding and compromising, until vve
have nothing left worth contending fur,
neither power nor spirit to contend for what " e
have.— They will then pause to regard our t®" 1 '
plaints or our threats, no more than they now da
to regard our rights.—Whether vve look to d‘ e
history of the past, the appearances of
present, or the prospects of the future, wc can
not escape the conviction that such is to bo th®
conclusion of the matter, unless vve not only
chock but strangle the spirit of fanalicisiHi ant *
what is worse the lust for power, which ism l "’
urging the North onward. Then the ques'-m"
conics, “ How is tliis to he done ?”
T’po this branch • r tin <o;!ff rt wc shall £ ,r(
peril.q. or . • • I ; xt, and sltall
the subject freely—for it is time llrt’
people of the South look at it, in alt it® j>b ,l,c *
