Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/609

 compromise line, shall be admitted into the Union with or without slavery, as the people of each state asking admission may desire.'

"The committee were unanimously of opinion, that whenever one or more states, formed out of the territory of Texas, not exceeding four, having sufficient population, with the consent of Texas, may apply to be admitted into the Union, they are entitled to such admission, beyond all doubt, upon the clear, unambiguous, and absolute terms of the solemn compact contained in the resolution of annexation adopted by congress, and assented to by Texas. But, whilst the committee conceive that the right of admission into the Union of any new state, carved out of the territory of Texas, not exceeding the number specified, and under the conditions stated, cannot be justly controverted, the committee do not think that the formation of any new states should now originate with congress. The initiative, in conformity with the usage which has hitherto prevailed, should be taken by a portion of the people of Texas themselves, desirous of constituting a new state, with the consent of Texas. And in the formation of such new states, it will be for the people composing it to decide for [sic]themslves whether they will admit, or whether they will exclude slavery. And however they may decide that purely municipal question, congress is bound to acquiesce, and to fulfill in good faith the stipulations of the compact with Texas. The committee are aware that it has been contended that the resolution of congress annexing Texas was unconstitutional. At a former epoch of our country's history, there were those (and Mr. Jefferson, under whose auspices the treaty of Louisiana was concluded, was among them,) who believed that the states formed out of Louisiana could not be received into the Union without an amendment of the constitution. But the state of Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa have been all, nevertheless, admitteed. And who would now think of opposing Minnesota, Oregon, or new states formed out of the ancient province of Louisiana, upon the ground of an alleged original defect of constitutional power? In grave national transactions, while yet in their earlier or incipent stages, differences may well exist; but when once they have been decided by a constitutional majority, and are consummated, or in a process of consummation, there can be no other safe and prudent alternative than to respect the decision already rendered, and to acquiesce in it. Entertaining these views, a majority of the committee do not think it necessary or proper to recommend, at this time, or prospectively, any new state or states to be formed out of the territory of Texas. Should any such state be hereafter formed, and present itself for admission into the Union, whether with or without the establishment of slavery, it cannot be doubted that congress will admit it, under the influence of similar considerations, in regard to new states formed. of or out of New Mexico and Utah, with or without the institution of slavery, according to the constitutions and judgment of the people who compose them, as to what may be best to promote their happiness.

"In considering the question of the admission of California as a state into the Union, a majority of the committee conceive that any irregularity, by which that state was organized without the previous authority of any act of congress,