Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-07-21
TIE GREAT QUESTION.


So important is The crisis, so deep The interest
felt by the public in the settlement OF the Terri
,orial question, that We publish from the Union
all that refers 10 The subject. We call attention
to Mr.. Clayton's lucid statement OF the action o;
the Senales committee and OF The result arrived
al-aso, to the following article from The Uni n,
which throws much light on The subject Not
having The bill before US, We cannot give posi-
tive opinion on The mater, though we see much 10
induce The hope that The compromise may be sa.
tislaclory 10 all true patriots, AM that this "pes
liIefous" question may be consigned TO The tomb
o. the Capules. Two important principles are
recognized upon which The South has sood-we
refer 10 the doctrine OF non.inteherence, and The
prohibition to the Territorial Legislatures OF he
power Of legisatins on the subject OF Slavery.
But the question is full of interest," and we advise
or readers 10 examine Tor themselves the follow.
ing article OF the Union, and the excellent speech
OF Mr.. Clayton:
THE RAINBOW OF PEACE
Il is no longer The Missouri Compromise, but
il is still compromise between different sections
OF our beloved country. We shall equally hail
il as The rainbow Of peace, which stills agilalion,
arrests excitement, and gives peace 10 our people
and stability TO our Union.
This scheme OF compromise has emanaed
from The commiuee OF eight BY ballet of The Sc.
nate on Thursday las,-iour from one section CT
the Union, and four from The olher-half OF them
Democrats, half Wings; The Wing member from
Delaware also chairman OF the committee, being
from Safe situated in the middle Of The UniJn
nett er, in tact North nor SouIh.
This committee have been assiduousy engaged
in their momentous duties day alter day, ever
since their Appointment. They have displayed
The finest spirit-suggested and rejected various
schemes ofcompromse finally settled dom
on a proposition which was yesterday reported TO
the Senate, and ordered 10 be printed.
We heard scheme similar In many respects,
and bottomed on The same legislative principles,
proposed by Western member a few days ago.
To understand il the better, we must remark, that
some OF the Territories Of the United States have
had Two Territorial forms OF government-thc
first is when The governor, ju 'ees, &C., have
formed laws for the Territory, subject TO the SUBJ
seouent action OF Congress. These few federal
officers formed in these Territories, of course, The
legislative power. Such was the original form
of Illinois, Indiana, SC. After certain period
of probation, the people had the power Of eecting
the;r own delegates, who formed their territorial
LEGISLATURE. Last OF all comes The Stale govern
ment.
Most OF our Territories have passed through
these various forms. One or Two OF the last Ter
rilorcs Wisconsin,, for example began with a
Territorial legislature chosen by the people Them
selves.
Ii is though, best by the committee, as The In
haban,s OF New Mexico and Upper California
are made up Of persons not acquainted WIN le'
gi.laliop, to give them the first form oil lessla-
lion-leaving i, 10 lime 10 ripen Them iof The
other The only restriction upon their lesisla-
lures is, that they shall not pass laws upon Ger,
far. is upon ,ha principle OF pon.inIervenIion.
The bill which The select committee OF eight
reported yesterday, establishes governments in
The Territories OF Oregon, California, and New
Mexico. The chairman, MT Clay'on,) on re-
porting the bill, stalled thatil had been agreed up,
on by The committee, with great nnan'mhy; sno
we understand the committee were unanimous 10
| the report-one member from northern anc one
! from \ southern S,a.e having reserved 10 !hem-