Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-08-05
THE TERRITORIAL BILL.

II is a striking circumstance that already is THU
country beginning 10 experience some of that reri
button which, in the established order of Jus
Providence, fails visit national aggression
and injustice. The War of Conquest which this
Government, in evil hour, waged against the
weak, distracted, and semi-barbarous sister repub-
lie of Mexico, resulted in the acquisition of vast
territory, which, worthless in ITSELF and worse than
worthless to this Union, is already proving bone
OF contention and dscord among ourselves, exaspe-
rating public councils, and threatening fatal
alienation between different portions of this hitherto
united and fraternal family of States.
The evil, however, being upon us, it is our duty
as good citizens to meet it in spirit becoming the
crisis, and TO alleviate, as far as possible if we
not avert its bitter consequences. In this spirit it
was that hailed the birth of the bill which, after
most laborious and trying debate, last week pass
ed the Senate, but which has failed to meet the
assent of the other House of Congress. Looking
al the composition of the able committee of the
Senate which matured and reported that bill-em-
bracing all the extremes and shades of opinion on
the subject all parties and all parts of the country,
and understanding that had been reported with tho
unanimous assent of the committee, we could but
regard il as the offspring of mutual concession of
opinion and patriotic compromise, which should,
and probably would, meet the general consent OF
Congress. Under these impressions, we hoped
from the measure speedy and harmonious settle
ment of the agitating difficulty. We could but re-
gard with confidence and favor what such men as
CLAYTON, PHELPS, CALHOUN, BRIeHT, CLARKE,
ATcHIsoN, DICKINSON, and UNDERWOOD, represents
ing the Northern, the Middle, and the Southern tiers
of States, could agree upon, and could but antci-
pate for it the favor of all others than those whom
seeled against conviction, nothing can satisfy.
The fact turned out, however, that the bill
did not receive the support of the entire Com
mittee, any more than it did the general con-
currence of the Senate itself. Yet one thing was
still in It's favor it did not array sections, or even
States, for or against it, Both the North and the
South were divided on it; and it was supported
and opposed with equal earnestness and vehemence
by both sections. For ourselves, having all along re-
garded the question more as abstract than prac-
iical one-more an adherence, on each side to
cherished principle, than affecting really and prac-
ucaly the scope of slavery the social institutions
of the new Territories, we should anxious to
see the question harmoniously settled than caring
much how twas settled-have been glad to see the
measure become law. The House of Represen-
tatives, however-either dissatisfied with the provi-
sions of the bill, having confidence in it as SET
Element of the question, considering the moment
OF an excited Presidential canvass an unfavorable
one for adjusting SO delicate and so grave mat
ter-have decided TO postpone any action on the
bill respecting the Southern Territories of New
Mexico and California, and to limit their action al
this session 10 the maturing Of a Government for
Oregon, whose high northern position excludes any
reasonable cavil about the admission or exclusion
of slavery. We confess, there is weight in this
latter view of the subject, and reason for the de-
cision Of the House, especially Congress will re-
assemble four months hence, when the Presidential
election storm will have blown over and the matter
can be taken up calmly and disposed of free from
ths influence and prejudice of extraneous questions.
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