The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-20
The New Compromise the Slavery Cues
tlOn.

past o'clock, and finished at 20 minutes before o'clock
The New Compromise on the Slavery CUES
In our paper of yesterday, we published excu-
sivey, full report of the extraordinary proposition,
which, after a deal of consultation and inter-
change of opinion, including some glasses Of
lemonade, has been matured by the Senate's COM
mittee, who were appointed to take into conside-
ration and report upon compromise respecting
the institution of slavery in the newly acquired
territories of New Mexico and California. This
committee was composed of eight members-four
from the South and four from the North-equal
proportions of fat and lean and the supposition
was, that In the calm retirement of the committee
ROOM away from the excitements of Congress, a
compromise of this vexed question, that would be
agreeable to both sections OF the Union, would be
the result Much, therefore, was expected of the
committee and the result of their deliberations
was eagerly looked for by politicians of all par
ties, as well as by the masses of the people. The
result of their labors is before the world.
The proposition which the committee of eight
have proposed, is one which was altogether unex-
pected and is to say the least, curious and re-
markable one 1t is perfect specimen of arrant
political cowardice 1t takes the whole subject of
mes out of the hands of the people and their repre-
sentatives, and throws the burthen of It's decision
on the shoulders of the Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States. This is-we say 1t
again-a most singular and extraordinary course of
action to pursue; but probably is what we might
have expected when we consider the ultra views
which are entertained by portion of the people
of the North, and portion of those of the South,
4
material of which the committee was composed.
This compromise will, doubt, cause
great deal of discussion in Congress and the
columns of the newspaper press; and Will be
commented upon with great deal OF severity.
Indeed, we have already heard 1t character
lsed by some cowardly and pusllanl
nous, in the extreme, TO take so important and
vital question out of the hands of the represen-
tatives of the people, and throw 1t upon the
shoulders of the Judges of the Supreme Court for
solution. The reason, however, may be that the
politicians at Washington and the members OF
the committee desired to keep ii from being agi-
taed In the present canvass for President and Vice
President on account of the delicate nature o
that question, as it is now placed before the
country Both the old organized partles-whlgs
and democrats-are in peculiar position as re-
CARDS this question. In the South they are afraid
to take the responsibility of side of the ques
ton, and in the North they afraid to take it
the other Both parties-those who support Gen.
Cass and those who support Gen. Taylor-are IN
The same predicament in this respect.
Under the circumstances, therefore, we must
give the members of the committee, and the poll
ticians al Washington, some credit tor adrotness
in relieving themselves of the responsibility of de-
Gliding this important question, and OF casting ITS
decision from their upon the shoulders OF the
occupants of the bench of the Supreme Court OF
The United States. BY this movement, the polltl-
clans are left take such geographical and local po
sltions as best suit their elecuoneenng purposes,
between this time and the period OF election, the
seventh of November next. On the whole, this
compromise must be characterised as extremely
original, extremely acute, remarkably cowardly,
but promises TO be signally successful IN rellev
ing the existing dilemma of the factions ofthe day
il unfortunately happens, however, that new
party-composed yet to be sure of very heteroge
neous materials, but organized In some force in this
State, by the adherents of Mr. Van Buren,, OF Kin
derhook, and under his advice and sanctlon-have
commenced their operations, and rely upon the
agitation of this very question for ultimate
the attempt to bring forth or decide this new COM
promise. We have no doubt that the barn burners
OF tins and the Northern States will take the same
ground OF opposition 10 this new compromise
which they threatened TO present TO the old Mis-
sour compromise IN the event Of its being adopt
ed and extended TO this new territory. From
what we have seen of the operations and designs
of this new party, il will not hesitate to assume
the responsibility at of testing that question
at the polls, and will not think of throwing the re-
sponsibihty of decision on the shoulders of the
Judges OF the Supreme CouTt-the method adopted
by the Senate committee. We are prepared, there
fore, 10 see from the very successful and ingenious
effort made by the committee in the Senate, new
stimulus gwen TO the movement OF the barnburners
in the Northern States, because they organizing
In opposition to a measure which hasnow assumed
form and tangbility, and that they will agitate
with some effect till next November.
Thus we 60. This is the latest change in the
political barometer. What the next will be, no one
knows II, as some lawyers believe, the United
States Supreme Court must decide, according to
former decisions, that free territory, before com
ing into the Unlon must be free territory after it
comes, then the South have given pthe claim for
IN extension of slavery-the WIlmot provlso has
carried the day, and both the nullliers OF the
South. and the banbumers of the North, are land
on the shelf Of oblivion forever Curious result !
Let us have more light.
News from Europe.