New Constitution—Every State to Its Fancy
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NEW CONTITUTIONS—EVERY STATE TO ITS FANCY.
The new State of Oregon, the 33d of our Republican Union, is now in process of being received by Congress, at Washington, on an equal footing with all the others.1 One point about the case of Oregon deserves special notice. She too adds to the proofs, becoming more and more numerous every year, that the old true Democratic theory of State Rights, or as it is now called, when acting in fresh Territories, “Squatter Sovereignty,” is to become the established policy of the Union, and govern the admission of all future States. They are to be eligible to prepare pretty much such a Constitution as suits themselves—which is certainly no more than fair—as they are to live under that Constitution; and it is of not so much importance whether outsiders are suited or no.
Every case depends so much upon the circumstances that belong to it alone. Situated as Oregon is, those who convened together to form the Constitution, put before the people, for their approval or rejection, a proviso which they thought necessary, to the effect of excluding not only Slavery, but negroes altogether, and also the myriads of Pariah Chinese that have of late poured upon the Pacific shores of the United States. These prohibitions the people confirmed.
But when Oregon presents herself to be admitted with this Constitution, certain of the “abolition” members of the U.S. Senate object to the prohibitory clauses, and demand to have the whole thing sent back to the people—or else the State kept out of the Union. They are joined by several ultra Southern Senators who, in their innermost hearts, would like to keep a Free State out anyhow; and thus the chances looked for a time as if, between the two discordant oppositions, Oregon admission would fail.
Yesterday, however, threw a different aspect over the affair. On a motion to take up the Oregon Bill, there was a tie vote, and the Vice President, Breckenridge2, went in favor of the motion. Douglass of Illinois then made a good speech, in favor of popular rights. The Oregon Bill was then passed, 35 to 17—a very summary and unexpected conclusion. In the House of Representatives, it is generally conceded, the Bill will go through in short metre.
We repeat it, this is another marked triumph of “squatter sovereignty,” and independent State Rights. It may now almost be considered settled that a New Member of this Union is to be privileged with almost unlimited latitude to form its Organic Law as to it seems best, according to the circumstances of its case. Well—we have to say that all this suits us; and, what is of more consequence, we think it is going to suit the people.