The New York herald., 1848-12-20

SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AS the
best method for disposns OF the agitation IN rela
ton the abolition OF the institution of slavery IN
the District OF Columbia, we see II suggested that
all If the District, with the bare exception of the
grounds on which the public buildings are erectes,
should be retroceded to the States by which it was
originally granted. If those States were willing
TO take back this territory, We would like to see
the retrocesson carried into effect. Year after
year, the houses OF Congress have been bothered
with petuonsfrom every part OF the country, pray
ing the members TO abolish slavery In that District;
and more time has been taken up with the subject
than It Is worth.
Ii is curious fact, connected with this matter,
that in none of the almost lnnumer erable petitions
which have been presented on this subject, has
there been any indemnity proposed for the owners
of the slaves In that District. The number is not
great, and If the abolionists throughout the
northern and eastern States were actua!ed by
sincerity and philanthropy in their crusade against
the institutions of the South, they have had an
cellent chance of proving 1t to the world, by ap-
pending to their petitions offer to indemnify the
owners for the loss of their slaves. But they never
attempted anything of the kind, and never will,
for their kindly feelings towards the slave do no
extend to their pockets.
We like the suggestion that has been pu. forward
for getting rid Of this agitation, as far as the Dis
trct OF Columbia is concerned, and see no good
reason why it should not be adopted. II carried
out, it would have the effect of deprving the
Northern fanatics of half of their thunder, and
leaving them nothing to battle with, after the SUBJ
ject Is disposed of, in come ction with New Mexico
and California, but the constitution of the United
States, which the Boston fanatics say must be torn
to pieces.
The SENATE REPORTS IN THE WASHING TON
PAPERs.-We find that a good deal of complaint
has already been excited by the reports of the Se-
nate debates which appear in the two daily papers
issued IN the village of Wa shngton, and we have
just learned the cause of some of these complaints
We gave, the other day, full graphic and life-lke
report OF an interesting debate IN the Senate on
the presentation of memorial from the people of
New Mexico, praying for the speedy organization
OF civil government. Of the accuracy of this
report, Mr. Westcott, one of the Senators from
Florida, has complained; and we have according
ly made some inquiries about the matter The
result OF these inquiries has elected the curious
fact that Mr.. Westcott reported himself in both of
the Washington papers, and tn at his exhibition OF
himself is somewhat different from that made by
our reporters. The perfect accuracy of our report
is fully sustained; and it Is necessary for us only
to remind Mr.. Westcott, and all others, that we
never permit any interference with our reporters,
on the part of public speakers. Our reporters are
fully competent for their responsible work, and
members of Congress must not expect that in an
Independent journal like the Herald, they can re-
port themselves as they please, and as they are In
the habit of doing in the Washington journals. We
give reports of public proceedings and of publ
speakers, they are heard, and as they are the
Washington papers report them as they suppose
they ought to be, or as their masters choose to
have them.