The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-23
INTELLIGENCE BY THE MAILS.
WASHINGTON, July %. 1913.

WASHINGTON, July ~, 1873.
The Compromise Committee and Mr.. Calhoun.
learn that Mr.. Calhoun will oppose the bill re-
ported by Mr.. Clayton, as chairman of the Compro-
mise Committee. He denies, understand, hav-
ing acquiesced in some of the principles embodied
in the bill, and enunciated in Mr.. Caytons speech
on Tuesday. He has certainly approached Mr..
Clayton with declaration that the spirit OF the
bill is not in accordance with the understanding
he had OF the proposition accepted by the commit
tee. On this point there is ecided difference of
opinion between Mr.. Calhoun and the other men,
bers OF the committee, all of whom, believe, de-
clare that the bill was reported with the acquies-
cence Of the South Carolina Senator. It is further
declared that he took the legal advice of three
Southern Senators, said to be learned in the law,
Zone from Maryland, one from North Carolina,
and one from South Carollna,) before he decided
upon acquiescing in the report. What may have
happf ned since, to induce him TO withdraw his
cent to the provisions OF the bill, Is subject of
conjecture. The inhibition of all interference on
the part OF the government of the territory with
the subject of slavery, would seem to embody his
views exactly II, as he maintains, the extension
of the constitution over the new territory will
alsne suffice to legalize slavery there, then Mr..
Calhoun's views could not be more fully carried
out than by the provisions of this bill Knowing
those views previously expressed, and those of the
other members OF the committee, one would be apt
had prevailed
Did slavery exist in California and New Mexico
at the time of their acquisition by the United
States 7 This will be the question most strenu-
ously argued, and OF greatest moment Beyond all
doubt, slavery existed in the Spanish colonies.
In 1924 the Congress of Mexico abolished the
slave trade, but not the domestic institution Of
slavery. In 1929 Barrasas fitted out an expedition
against Mexico from the port of Havana. In this
emergency Congress invested Guerrero, then Pre-
sldent elected in October, 1929 with dctatorial
powers, to enable HIM to adopt such speedy and
decisive measures as would ensure the public
safety. II was on this occasion that Santa Anna,
having totally defeated Barradas at Tampico de
Taumaulipas, in September, 1929 Guerrero, du-
ring his dictatorship, actuated doubtless by pru-
de- ntlal motives, issued decree aboishlng negro
slavery in Mexico. This decree was then re-
garded as the law of the land, and has ever since
been acquiesced in by the people of Mexico. So
far appears there has been attempt to nullify
tistcal estimate represents the number of blacks
In Mexico in 1910 as amounting to not over six
thousand.
1t is commended, first-that the general govern
ment Of Mexico had no right to interfere with the
subject of slavery In the States: and secondly
that dictatorial powers were, conferred on Guer-.
rero merely with view to the prompt adoption of
measures necessary to the public safety and that
therefore his decree abolishng slavery, not being
a measure necessary for the public safety, was an
unwaranted stretch of power, and consequently
null and void. But, on the other hand, it will be
urged with much force that the legality of this de-
cree has been acqulesced in for nineteen years by
the people of Mexico, and that during that time
slavery has never existed legally in that country.
Peonism, as have said in former communi-
cation, cannot be regarded as slavery, but rather
servitude for debt GALvIENsIs.