Newspapers / The North Carolinian (Wilson, … / Feb. 23, 1850, edition 1 / Page 1
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In advance, per year,$3 00 Not paid in advance, 2 50 Not paid until six months have expir ed, 300 Not paid till the year has expired, 350 sip r " ill tftx am CHARACTEIt IS AS IMPORTANT TO STATES AS. IT IS TO INDIVIDUALS J AND THE GLORY OF THE STATE IS THE COMMON PROPERTY OF ITS CITIZENS. TJSlljttS OF .1; ABVERTXSrtfb ; j Onesquareoftwenty-srse lines or less, for one inser tion, GO cents ; every sub sequent insertion, 30 cents except it remain in for se v- ieral months, when it will he charged $3 for two 'months, jjr-j for three, &.c, 110 lor twelvemonths. No subscription received. ur a less time than a year,' anless the price be paid in, nT TT7WT Tt. advance. BAXBTX3 1 FAYETTEVILLE, C.,-FEBRUARY 23. 1850. SEWGOODSi JfEAV STORE- WILLIAM S. LATTA Has taken the Store lately occupied by S. T. Hawley &. Son, nearly opposite 11. &. b. J . Lilly s, and has an entire JVew Stock of (xoods, Selected from the Philadelphia and New Yoik markets, and purchased at vry low prices. In the assortment will be found general and extensiTe supply of STAPLE AND FANCY DRY GOODS, Hats, Caps, Shoes and Boots, Every variety of Hardware and Cutlery, Family Groceries, viz: Coffee, Tea, and Brown Sujar; Clarified and Refined Sugar, . Winea and French Brandy, China, fine Crockery, and Glass-ware, Paints, Medicines, Oils, &.c. Travelling Trunks, Pails, and Brooms, Also, an assortment of Saddlery. Also, 500 sacks SALT, 300 bushels Alum Salt. All of which will be sold low for Cash or Coun try Produce. January 5, 1650. 507-y ILOST ! The Subscriber ha lost his Pocket Book containing about ix hundred dollars in cash, mostly ou the South Carolina Banks, and the following Notes, J adgim-iits. Receipts. Sic: One Note on Aaron William & Aaron Tyson. $1264 60 One One One One One One One One One One One One One One One One One One One do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do One de on Alfred Brow or, 40 00 on Ponald Short, 100 00 do do 100 00 on Je'se L Bryant. 100 00 do do 75 00 on Jacob Stutts and Henry Stutts, 300 00 ou James Shields. 350 00 on J M Sowell. Jesse Ci Sowell. and Jesse Muse. 75 00 on Donald Strwet & Duncan Murchison 2;"i0 00 on do do 32 00 on do do 10 00 on Dempsy Sowell. 40 UO on Mulcom D McNeill &. -Alex Kelly, 100 00 on d do I'.G 60 on M D McNeill and Bradley Brady, 25 00 on Noah Brevrer &. Wm Stutts, 10 K0 on John McNeill, 100 00 on do 5 00 on Jesse Spivy, E Mcintosh, and one McDonald. 300 00 on Angus Martin. John M Black, and John M Curry. 150 00 on Matthew Davis, 144 00 on Adam Brewer, 244 00 on Joseph Tompson, - 40 UO on Abrain Stutts. 10 00 on Andrew York. 100 00 on Martin Turner. 0 00 on William Stewart. 150 00 on William and Knoch Stewart, 50 00 on William. Knncb and John Stewart. 75 00 on William Davis. Philip Wilson, and Hugh Matthis. 60 00 on Levi Wright and John Dunlap. 60 00 on Samuel C Uruec, 50 00 on Wm Danielly and Michael Cockman 75 00 on Jas Hillard and Joel llillard 60 00 on Jesse Wenible, 75 00 on Lewis Manrssand Geo M Honeycut 10 00 on John Dunlap. 10 00 on Duncan Mcintosh. 27o 00 ou William J Viclntesh, 20 00 on W Mrlntosll. ' 2 OO Jud-'uieuts nr:t:nst A A P" Kowell to the amount of 45 OO One receipt on .Alfred Brower for about f.1000. Sercral Constables receipts for papers put in their hands for col l.'ction: aud many other valuable papers not now recol lected. ' Not at this time recollecting the precise dates of the Note. Judicments.8i.c. 1 have not attempted to state them. 1 will give a reward of ONK HUNUKBU DOLLAKS for the delivery of the Pocket Book and contents. I also hereby notify the obligors in said Notes, Judg ments and receipts. &e. not to pay the debts herein de seribed to any other person than y.iyself or my lawful agent; and all persons are forbidden from trading for the money or papers The last place that T recollect having my Pocket Book was at the Bridge on Bear Creek, at Mechanic's Hill, about two hours by sun on Saturday evening the 2!Ub ult. Any person tindin? and delivering ny rocket Book will be additionally rewarded, if required. JOHN li. RITTER. Carthage. Moore county, Jan. 1. 1S50. 567-tf One One One One Out One One One One One One One One One One One One One One One do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do d J do do GARDEN SEED. A large supply of Garden Seed of the growth of 1849. consisting in part of White Dutch Turnip, Cabbage, a great variety, Beets, Radish, Lettuces, Tomatoes, Peas, Beans, Cucumber, Carrot, Parsnip, fee. Sec. Price, 5 cents per paper. Also, Collard Seed, Jut received and for sale by Feb'y 2.1850. 571-tf S.J.HINSDALE. TREES, SHRUBS, And Plants for Sale. Just received from the Nurseries of J. &. T. Liuuley 1000 KRUIT TREKS, at ?10 per 100. -rr , C. LUTTKUI.OH. Agent. I have also choice collection of Green House and hardy Plants: Roses and other Shrubs; Hyacinths at lOto 50 its; Tulips 10 to 30; Dahlias 2" to SO; Tigridia 5 to 10. a beauti ful flower, continues in bloom all summer: Strawberries 50 t 75 cents per hundred. Also, a number of Kiowcr Pots. c- L- Jan'y 19.1830. 509-6t Buckwheat &. Butter, A fresh supply, just received and for sale by Jan. 1-2. GEO. McNEILL. State of N Carolina Cumberland County. Court of Pleas and Quartrr Sessions Decem ber Term, 1M'.. Joseph Thames, adm'r. of Susan Plummer, vs. Ski tiki a Plummer. Original Attachment levied on a negro girl Earned Patience, about IS years of age. Tt appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that Skinkin Plummer. the defendant in this case is not an inhabitant of this State, it is therefore ordered, that pub lication be made in the North Carolinian, a newspaper printed in the town of Fayette ille. requiring tho defend ant personally t appear at the next term of the Court ot rieaa and Quarter Sessions, to be held for the county of Cumberland, at the toun boiisc iu rjiiu.c. u vuv first Monday in March next, and replevy and plead to is sue. Otherwise the slave levied on will be condemned for the satisfation of the plaintiff 's recovery. Witness John MeLaurin. Clerk of our said Court, at of fice, the 1st Monday in December. 1849. 570-6t JOHN McLAURIN, Clerk NEGROES WANTED. We want TWENTY NEGROES for a southern plan tation. Liberal prices in cash will be paid, if offered soon. t , , ,ot J. 8c T. WADU1LL, Hay street. Jan'y 12. I860. 558-tf NOTICE. The undersigned, in the name and on behalf of Lafayette Division, No. 2. of the Sons of Temperance, will eive $25 for the best ORIGINAL KSSAY on the Eviu, or Iw TCMrcaANCK and the Remf.dv. This Essay must be writ ten by a North Carolinian, or a resident in the State ; most not exceed thirty pages duodecimo, and must be forwarded free of charge, en or before the 15th of June next to Rev. R...T. Heflin.S. W. Whiting, and C C. Rt ooteao. Esqs., Raleigh, N. C, who nave kindly consented to act as adjudicators. The manuscript must be accom panied with a sealed letter containinr the address ef the writer. The award will be adjudged on the last day of feb'l &tb,1850. C P. JONES. DR. J. N. BAIRD, Of the firm of McKcnney 8r Baird, Dentists, JVbrfofk,' Fo.) Respectfully announces that he will be iu Fay etteville the third week in March next, for the purpose of tendering his professional services to the citizens of the place and vicinity. 0C5- All orders left at the Fayetteville Hotel will meet with prompt attention. Norfolk.Feb.il. 573-tf A ITERS' CHER R Y PE C TORAL, For sale by Feb'y 1G, 1350. S. J. HINSDALE. 2( Bbls. Irish Potatoes, for planting. ' U. ROSE & SON. Fcb'y 16. 1850 New Crop Molasses. OA Hhds prime new crop Molasses. 20 Bbls V'ellow planting Potatoes, 20 Bundles choice Hay. ' 50 Bbls. super, fine, and cross Flour. For sale by COOK & POWELL. Feb'y 16. 1830. 573-3t JUJUBE PASTE, Feb. 10. For sale bv S. J. HINSDALE. LAST NOTICE. ALL persons indebted to the late firm of Tay lor & Anderson, either by note or account, are requested to come forward by the 10th March, and make payment, as further indulgence cannot be given. D. S. TAYLOR. Feb. 1G, 573-2t T. J. ANDERSON. FRESH CANDIES. (Successor to David Shaw,) H AS opened a CONFECTIONARY I'.STABLISHMENT on Green street, where he makes all his own Candies of the best loaf sugar. Country merchants wishing an as sortment of good Candies can always procure them fresh and pure. Orders promptly executed. Terms low. Fayetteville, Keb'y 2. 1S50. JUST RECEIVED, pr stmr Evergreen, A supply of Crackers. Soda and Lemon Biscuit; Raisins in whole, half, and quarter bxes; fresh Figs; soft-shell Almonds; Filberts; Knglish Walnuts and Brazil Nuts; Ciunamon: iince: Cloves: Laguira. imperial, youne hyson and black Tea: Rice; Cheese; Suar aud Coffee; chewing Tobacco: best brand Segars: Molasses; Mustard; Pepper and Alspice. Also, a beautiful assortment of refined Cof fee. Sugar, crushed Sugar, and double-refined Loaf Sugar, all of which will be sold low for cash. CHARLES BANKS. Fcb'y 2. 1S50 570-3t FOR SALE. 800 acres of the best kind of Turpentine Land on Beaver Creek. ix miles from FayetteviMe. Inquire at this office. February 2, 1S50. 571-tf Just Received nnd for sale by Wm. S. Latta, Hhds. new crop MOLASSES. J 10 bags prime Coffee. 5 cases dress and water-proof Boots, 2 hhds N. O. Sugar. 1 qr. cask Holland (iin. 2 do. Jamaica Rum. very fine and old, 3 do. French Brandy, 3 do. Maderia Winw. 2 bbls. Crushed and 2 do. Refined Sugar. And a general assortment of line China Crockery and Glass-ware. Feb. 9. 1850. 572-4t $25 REWARD. Runaway from the sub scriber on the 21st January, 1S"0, a negro woman named PEGGY ANN, carrying off with lier a child aVout 4 years old. The woman is about 5 feet 2 or 3 in ches hisih, dark complected, and about 2(3 years old. She former ly belonged to Mii J:io. T. Gil- rnore, who sold her to J. S. McAlpin, and the latter gentleman sold her to me. She is either lurking about Fayetteville or the plantation of Maj. Gilmore on the River. I will give the above reward to any person who will deliver the said woman and child to me, or confine her in anv jail in the State so that I can tret her. NEILL CRAWFORD. Feb'y 9, 1S50. 572-3tpd SNOW BALL POTATOES, A superior article for planting, for sale bv J. R. GEE. Feb'y 9, 1S50. 572-3t 1--lTIWJfi A. &- McEETHAN Still continues to carrv on the CARRIAGE BUSINESS in ail its branches, at the OLD STAND. He re turns thanks for the liberal patronage he has heretofore received, and hopes, by a strict atten tion to business and a desire to give entire satis faction," to merit a continuance of the same. He has on hand a very fine assortment of Carriages, Barouches, Buggies, Rockaways, AND SULKIES, finished, and a very large assortment of work partly finished, which, for elegance of shape and finish, will compare with any other work. Persons wishing to buy, would do well to call and examine the work, as he is determined to sell low for cash, or notes on short time. fjCf- All work warranted fr twelve months, and repaired free of charge, should it fail by bad workmanship or matei ial. (jfj- Repairing faithfully executed at short no tice, on very reasonable terms. January 19, 1850. Valuable Lot for sale, AT AUCTION. On Saturday. March 16th. 1850, will be .sold t . Mar ket House, that yaluable Lot. comer of nd.M"j streets, known as the property of Jaa. W. England ana Wm. M. Johnson Terms at sale. .J.lm ' S. W. TILLINGHAST, Aoct r. February 2; 1830. , 570-ts . i -W : i -; " ' J ' NOIlTil CAIiOIliMAfl. Wm, II. Bayne Editor and Proprietor. FAYETTEVILLE, N. C. PEBHXTAR7 23, 1050. THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION. Monday, Feb'y 11. In the Senate, another long debate on the sla very question occurred. The question before he Senate, was, "shall a petition from Pennsyl vania, askins peaceable dissolution of the Union, be received ?" Mr Chase, free-soil democrat, (we hate to write those three words,) Mr Hale, an other, and Mr Seward, whig, of N. York, spoke and voted in favor of receiving it; while Mr Cass, Mr Clemens, and others, spoke and voted against it. It was not received, only the three above named having voted for it. Mr Berrien of Ga., then made a speech in op position to Mr Clay's "compromise" resolutions. Without concluding his speech, he deferred till to-morrow, and the Senate, after some ordinary business, went into Executive session. It was said that the nomination of James Watson Webb was rejected almost unanimously. In the House, the joint resolution to limit the expense of collecting the revenue for the present fiscal year, was taken up for consideration ; and after several attempts to amend, all amendments rejected, the House adjourned without taking a tinal vote on the resolution. Tuesday, Feb. 12. In the Senate, 21 petitions were presented, from citizens of Maine, praying Congress to abol ish the practice of dealing out spirits to the sailors in the Navy. And numerous others of the same character, were presented from other parts. Arid also asking that flogging sailors be abolished in the Navy. Mr Hale presented the petition of 14S3 w omen of Dover, Massachusetts, praying that slavery may not Ie authorized in the new territories. It excited considerable debate. Mr Douglass main tained the position of Mr Clay, that the laws of Mexico prohibit slavery in the new territories. Mr Davis of Miss., maintains the opposite. That point will be discussed hereafter by these gen tlemen . The further consideration of this petition was then postponed, and Mr Eerrien concluded his speech on Mr Clay's resolutions. It was then announced that the House had amended and passed the joint resolution limit ing the expense of collecting the revenue. It was referred to the committee on Finance. In the House, the joint resolution limiting the expense of collecting the revenue, was again un der discussion, and after more attempts at amend ment, was passed, and sent to the Senate. The House then went into committee of the whole, and Mr Brown, of Miss., addressed the committee in af ew remarks on the position of Gen. Cass on the subject of the Wilmot proviso. Mr B. said : Having already taken his position against the President's recommendation of the California constitution, and having ex pressed his abhorrence of the whole series of movements which led to its adoption by the people in that country, he should not further allude to the President or cabinet in that connexion. A new character had ptesented itself as one of the champions of tins new and extra ordinary political movement. He alluded to General Cass, the late democratic can didate for the presidency. That distin guished gentleman had redeemed his pledge, and the pledge of his friends, on the subject of the NVilmot Proviso. He had spoken against it. He had expressed his determination not to vote for it. With this he was satisfied; he would go further, and say that the speech, so far as it rela ted to the Proviso, challenged his admira tion, anil excited his gratitude It was replete with sound views, eloquently and happily expressed; and no one could read it attentively without conceding to its au thor great ability. If the distinguished gentleman had closed his speech with his argument against the Proviso, there would not have been a man in all the country more willing than himself to award him the highest honors. But the speech was mar red by the expression of opinions in its closing paragraphs, to which he (Mr B.) and the southern people generally would dissent. General Cass had (if Mr B. cor rectly understood him J avowed his opin ion to be, that the people of the Territo ries have the right to exclude slavery; and he w as understood to sustain the ac tion of the people of California in forming a State government. - Against all these parts of the speech of Gen. Cass he (Mr B.) entered his solemn protest. He felt bound to do this, because in the late pres idential canvass he had, as the friend of General Cass, given a different interpreta tion to his views, as foreshadowed in the Nicholson letter. True, he had not done this without some misgivings, at first, of its correctness. But gentlemen nearer the person of General Cass titan himself had interpreted' theNichuUon letter to mean, that when the people of a Territory l , -t - 0 1 . were uuiy aninorizeu 10 iorm a owie tuu stitutton, they could then admit or exclude slavery at will, -and whether they did the one thing or the other was not a matter to be questioned by Congress. He now con- T VOL. 10 CO. Libera 1 deduct Ton f'"r Ure advertisement "Xa Jm O Js. ji by the year or six month. ceded, -'as he had done in the presidential canvass, that whenever a people, duly au: thorized to form a State constitution, have exercised this authority and asked admis sion into the Union, it is not properly a subjecof inquiry whether their constitu tion admits or excludes slavery from the proposed State. But he understood Gen. Cass as going further than this to the ex tent ofjgiving to the people of the Territo ries llij, right to exclude slavery during their territorial: existence, and, indeed, before government of any sort hatl been es tablished by Congress. He understood the doctrine as advanced by General Cass to be tbat, the occupants of the soil where no government existed, as in New Mexico. California, Ueseret, &c, had the right to exclude slavery, and against this doctrine he raised his humble voice ; and though he tniglt stand alone, without one other southttfn representative to sustain him, he would protest against it to the last. In the late presidential canvass, men of all partpes had assailed this doctrine. The wrhigs charged General Cass with enter taininthese views, and the democrats had vindicated him against the charge. The doctrine was universally denounced by men of all parties in the South ; and now we were startled with the intelligence that Gen. Cass and General Taylor both ap prove it. For himself, no earthly con sideration should keep him silent on such a question : no consideration personal to himself; no party ties nor political obliga tions should seal his lips, when his coun try was about to be betrayed and sacrific ed. He had denounced this doctrine be fore his constituents ; he now denounced it before the House. He would not con sume time, and prevent other gentlemen from speaking, by going into an argument on the subject. He had felt it due to hU own position, to the cause of truth and justice, to make known, at the first con venient moment, 1 hat what he condemned in General Taylor he equally condemned in General Cass; and having done this, he was satisfied. Mr Inge of Ala., then addressed the House up on the subject of the slavery question in general, but upon the policy of the administration in re gard to the new "territories in particular. He reviewed the whole policy of sending Thomas Butler King to California, the instructions given to him. and to Gen. Riley, prompting the people of California to hold a Convention form a con stitution, and apply for admission, &c, and con demned the proceeding as unauthorized, and as a palpable wrong to one-half of the States. He concluded by declaring that the south ought sever to abide the Union, should the north pass the Wilmot proviso. The southern States, he said, with 800,000 miles of territory, and nine millions of people, would be far better off than were their ancestors in 177G; and if they had to fight, they would not have a sturdier foe to con tend with. But, there would be no cause for civil war, in his opinion. A peaceable separa tion could be effected. Without transacting any further business, the House adjourned. Wednesday, Feb. 13. In the Senate, the petition from 1400 women, which was debated yesterday, was received and referred to the committee on territories. The joint resolution from the House limiting the expense of collecting the revenue, was amended and sent back to the House. A number of petitions for the reduction of postage, and various private favors, were presented. The bill to carry into effect the convention or j treaty with Brazil, was passed. A message was received from the President of the United States, laying before the Senate the Constitution of California. Mr Douglass moved that it be referred to the committee on territo ries. Mr Benton said he hoped Mr Clay would make a motion to refer it to a select committee. Mr Clay said that although he had no objection to its being so referred, he did not wish to take the lead on the subject, and therefore must de cline making the motion, Mr Benton said that such had always been the disposition made of such business, and he thought the precedent should not be -departed from. Mr Foote moved that the subject be postpoecd till to-morrow: which was agreea to. j Mr Davis of Miss., then addressed the Senate for an hour in reply to Mr Clay's speech and re solutions, on slavery in the territories. Like those who have preceeded him, he will make two days of it, and finish to-morrow. The Senate closed doors for short time, in ex ecutive session, but opened them again, and Mr Foote offered a resolution, proposing that the California constitution be referred to a commit tee of fitteen Senators, to be ckosen by ballot by the Senate, and that that committee take into consideration the whole subject of slavery in the territories, as well as the admission of Cali fornia. This resolution lies over one day, under the rule of the Senate. Nothing further was done. In the House, Mr Burt of S. C. from the com mittee on military affairs, reported back-to the House, with a recommendation that it do not pass, the bill from the Senate refunding to North Carolina the amount of meney advanced, and transportation furnished to the volunteers of that State in the Mexican war. The bill was there upon committed to the committee of the whole, and will be disposed of hereafter. A message was received from the President, declining to publish the papers called for by the House, in regard to British interference onTigre Island. Also a message laying before the House thel Constitution of California. Mr Stanton of Tenn., then made a long speech ou the slarery question. J The House then considered and concurred in the joint resolutioa, as amended by the Senate, limiting the expense of collecting the revenue. Thursday, Feb'y 14. In the Senate, Mr Badger presented the peti tion of the citizens of Wilmington, setting forth the present condition of the Cape Fe ir River below that town, and asking for an appropria tion fer its improvement. The memorial was referred to the committee on commerce. Mr Hale presented a batch of abolition peti tions. Mr Davis of Mass., presented a petition pray ing Congress to print all their speeches and re ports in phonotyphy a system of spelling ac cording to sound whereby the English language can be learned in one-fifteenth of the usual time. It was referred to the committee on printing. Mr Davis, of Miss., then concluded his speech on Mr Clay's resolutions or " compromise." Mr D. having concluded, the subject of referring the Constitution of California to some committee was next taken up, and a discussion between Mr Clay and Mr Foote, and others, occupied the balance of the day, without taking a vote. In the House, the joint resolution passed yes terday, allowing anotner Clerk to the Supreme Court of the United States, was reconsidered and rejected, although it had passed the Senate. Soon after this, a scene of grc.it confusion arose, and the House presented something like an angry multitude ; but there was n fighting or quarrelling. Order having been restored, Mr Hilliard (whig) of Alabama, adJressed the House at somt length, reviewing and censuring the course of the administration in regard to its in termedling with the Californians. Mr b itch (dem.) of Indiana, made an anti slavery speech. Friday, Feb'y 15. In the Senate, Mr Butler of S. C, spoke in op position to Mr Benton's resolution w hich refers the subject of the admission of California to the committee on territories. Mr Badger also spoke in the same vein. The question was then postponed till Tuesday, and the Senate adjourned till Monday. In the House, several long speeches were made on the slavery question. Nothing else was done. From the Charleston Mercury. CONGRESS MR CLAYS SPEECH. Mr Clay's so-called compromise resolu tions came up for consideration on Tues day last, when he led oft the discussion by a two day's speech, which altogether fills eighteen columns of the National Intelli gencer. Of course we can do nothing with it but refer briefly to its positions. Mr Clay's resolutions, already publish ed, formed the topics of his speech. They embrace these points : 1. The admission of California into the Union. 2. The establishment of Territorial Governments in Deseret and New Mexico 3- The determination of the boundaries of Texas. 4 Slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia. 5. The recovery of fugitive slaves. 6. The transfer of slaves from State to State.. We dispose of the two last briefly. Mr Clay's remarks upon these topics were in all respects excellent, and such as might be expecteil from a wise and patriotic Southern Senator. In regard to the power of Congress over slavery in the District of Columbia, we do not understand the force of much that he said. The power of Con gress he alfiruis strangely, on the ground that the Constitution confers the right of exclusive legislation in all cases what soever" over the District. But then he admits that the sole object of the power, was to secure the seat of Government from the intrusion of State authority. Moreover he admits that such a use of the power could never have been contemplated bv those who made the cession of the District, and that it would be an act of bad faith to Maryland. And he should have ad mitted also, that it would be a declara tion of hostility on the part id" the Federal Government against the institutions of" fif teen States of the Confederacy. After these admissions, it is hard to sec , what this pretended power can be made to rest on. But Mr Clay insists that the power to abolish slavery in the District must be somewhere. It is not in the States ; there fore itmust be in Congress. Suppose, he says, Virginia and Maryland were to abolish slavery : will it be pretentled that we must keep it up forever here r And this seems to have puzzled Mr Clay. There is no ground for fear. In the case suppos ed it would vanish of itself, and that cir cumstance, so simple and so certain, is an effective answer to all arguments in favor of the existence of the power, because there never could be an exigence in which its exercise would be beneficial or called for. But suppose slavery abolished in Vir ginia and Maryland, what sort of Federal Government would Mr Clay call that, where a Senator from Kentucky, going to Washington, to discharge the duties of high office, and taking with him his ser vant, should be told that the laws of Con gress, at the seat of his own Government, stripped him of his possession of what the Constitution ot the United States recog nises as lawful property in the State which sent hi in there ? Would the Senator from Kentucky, thus plundered by his own Government, while discharging public duties under it, be satisfied by the assurance that it was all right, because Congress has the power of exclusive legislation'1 over the District ? Would he not rather say. if they have this power, then nobody but Congress is : responsible for robbing me, one of their number, at the seat of my own Government, while I am here in the dis charge of my duty as a Senator If they have this power, then they hae indubitably the power to protect me in the possession of my property. Why do they use it fet the purpose of wronging and defrauding me? Some such scenes as this would be likely to occur, if the power contended for by .Mr Clay should be exercised, even in the extreme case of the abolition of slavery . in Virginia and Maryland. And they would show most conclusively that then the Federal Government will have become the Government of the North, not of the whole. Will Mr Clay maintain that such a state of things can be brought about by Constitutional legislation r Mr Clay's first subject is the admission of California. His resolution affirms that with suitable boundaries" it should be admitted What these suitable boundaries are, is left to become as fruitful a, subject of strife as that ol the admission itself. And in his speech he does not even allude to that matter, and indeed evades every substantial ground of controversy in the whole question. lie sees nothing, but that the people of, (in, California, have by some means adopted a constitution aud ask to be admitted into the Union. They have eternally interdicted slavery, and this, he thinks, should satisfy the North, because it gives them in effect all they askj atid it should satisfy the South, because the interdiction was not pronounced by Congress, but by the people, acting for themselves. The fact that these constitution-makers were not a people a com munity, in any proper sense of tne term; that they had no legitimate authorities over them ; that had no boundary aud conse quently no civil right to act together for permanent government; that they had no law of citizenship fixing the term of resi dence for votes ; that they were organized into a quasi civil community by an officer of the army without authority of law ; that they called into Convention and the quali fication of voters fixed, by his proclama tion; that they were cajoled and threatened into submission by assurances of Executive Agents, that Congress could not give them a government, that their only hope wa4to make one for themselves and that it they acceded they thereby secure the favor and. utmost support of the Administration, and finally that the above officer of the army presided over the Convention thus irregu larly called together these facts, we sav, embodying the merits of the whole question, and calling so loudly for the condemnation of a people who profess toh.-dd laws as the i iunuation oi an irue social oruer auu all desirable liberty, are all passed over by Mr Clay a if they had no existence or no import Hence this part of his discourse is utterly worthless, and does not touch tiie real issue. The next resolutions declare that slavery does not exist and is not likely to be in troduced into Deseret and New Mexico, . anil therefore it is expedient to provide them territorial governments neither intro ducing nor excluding slavery. That Con gress has the power to introduce or exclude slavery by law, Mr Clay strongly maintains. He has two arguments for if. As a land holder. Congress has the right to dispose of the lands to the best advantage. It might appear that the iiitroi'iictionof slavery would enhance their value, or that its ex clusion would have that effect. Would not this "ive it Hie riu.l t to introduce or did he not go on of the worshin of exclude -lavery ! Why thus : the establishment Juggernaut, or of the old Aztec Gods, might contribute to the sale of the lands ; would not this "ive the riht to enact' idolatry ? The second ariiument is like the first. There is no doubt, says Air Clay, that Mexico had the power to es tablish or to forbid slavery in these regions. But by the treaty of cession, all the lights and powers of Mexico were transferred to the United States, and consequently this unlimited authority over slavery exists in the Federal Government. So if we should acquire the Russian possessions, inasmuch as there is no doubt of the power of the Czar to send political offenders into Sibe ria, the President would thereby gain the right of banishing all persons to the North Pole, who might incur suspicion of disaf fection to the party of Taylor and Fill more ! ' Finally, Mr Clay seems to have become t aware that he was fast driving upon the grossest absurdities, and he carelessly qualifies his argument, as if it was altoge- : ther only a matter of form, by admitting that the powers so acquired could not of. course transcend the Constitution. Thus ' having zealously elaborated his argument, he ends by crushing it up and throwing it into the fire. But he does it with the air of a man who, has demonstrated his pro position. Why the very essence of the whole dispute, is the constitutional power of Congress to legislate on the question of slavery And on this seems to hang the decision of the point whether the Mexican law abrogating slavery is of any force now. It seems bevond question that all laws in a ceded district, which it would be beyond the competency of the government taking the cessicH, to enact, must be considered abrogated by the very fact of cesion But :dl this Mr Clay eludes, and, except in the letty view of the powenTof the government as . landowner, noticed above, he has not l approached the discussion of the authority of the Federal Government under the con- stitution. ,
The North Carolinian (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 23, 1850, edition 1
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