Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-04-20
RICH MOND, VA.
wednesday Morning, April 10, 1910.
TAE TRuTA ELlCIIED.

Mr. Sbenhard refused 10 vote fof MI. D"ue
r. cera,or ON account OF his unsouho Sie"'
on The slavery question. AS MI. baogei
gro analogous 10 those OF Mr.. Bolts anu
M, peudle,on OF Virginia, who are now cdnu'
'.,,ss far N. trus, and confidence OF their LIS
rricls. il is not unimportantto quote aisins u,u
ed Wings criticism OF a Wing Senator iol No
backsldngs on vital question. W.T. 9"s pa
rise. above party, takes his stand Tor Inc SCUM
and tearIessly rebukes leading memoer Oh Mo
own parry Tor having deserted 'he oou,n at .
critical moment. What he says oil MI oausei
will apply with entire force, eetsris parl0t', 10
Messrs. Bolls and Pendleton OF our Stale.
Mr.. SHEPPARD being assaied by Mr.. Stanley
for not supporting Nj. Badger SETS forth his rea-
sons al length The last North Carolina Legs
lature passed nti-Wilmol Proviso resolutions,
although Mr.. Stanley denounced them as "fldl-
culous" and Mr.. Badger was elected al the same
time. Mr.. Sheppard, abiding 10 the iacI, says
i, is NOT for him no reconcile the absufdily Of
eecling man 10 the Uniled States Senale and
then passing resolutions in direct conflict with his
opinions"
Like MIR. Pendleon, Mr.. Badger voted aeains!
the Claylor Compromise Bill,-like Messrs.
Bolts and Pendlelon, he ayows The constitution.
ally OF the Proviso. The slric ures, therefore,
OF Mr.. Shepherd upon MIR. Badger, whom ne
dubs "A Southern man with Northern p!inci-
pies, are justly applicable to The course and po-
si,ion o! Me.srs PendIeon and Bots. We ask
attention, also, 10 what he says OF the proposition
OF Walker Of Wisconsin. which Southern Wing
papers nave described as no better than Web.
sier's. and between the Two Of which Gen. Taylor
had no choice. For this measure, so dis'aselu
10 The fanatics, lne gallant Walker has been de-
nounced by ihe Frce-SolleIs, and actually re.
quesled 10 resign by Free-Soil Lesislalure!-
Coming rom an able and prominent Wing, MIR
Shephard's conclusive structures, from which we
deem il proper 10 make copious extract, mus
have weight in the South. He speaks The words
Of truth, and sweeps away he preiensions ol
such politicians as Badger, Bolts, Pendleon and
K. E. Scott. He says:
In order to examine this subject fairly, let
us fist understand what was this famous Com
promise Bill, about which we have heard so
much, but which is so little understood have
not the bill within my reach but think eau
state It's meaning very accurately. When the
bill 10 organize Territorial Government for
Oregon was before the Senate, violent contro-
versy arose between the Northern and Southern
Senators, upon that feature OF the bill which
excluded Slavery-the controversy became SO
warm, that all moderate men were very much
alarmed for the safety OF the Union, and with
view of an amicable disposition of The sub
iect, The matter was referred TO committee OF
eight members, four from the North and four
from the Soulh-this committee met, and after
consultation reported through It's Chairman, the
Hon. AT Clayton, the present Secretary oil
State, the Compromise Bill. This bill was re-
garded as a peace-ofering, and nearly all the
moderate aud considerable men, both 10 Congress
aud in the country, were in hopes it would
pass and calm this endless and dangerous dis
Gus ion of Slavery upon the floor of Congress.
What we're the features of compromise when
this bill embodied The Northern Senators had
commended that they had the right TO extend the
Wlmol Proyiso over the Territories Of the
United States, aud that it was the imperative
duty of Congress TO do it-this the Southern Sc
Ralvrs denied. The Compromise Bill yielded thi:
question on the part OF the North, and posed or
Congress The duty Of non-interference Here wa:
one point gained by the South Again, many
of The Nor hern Senators conlended that The inhd
bIIanIs OF the territories bad tie right 10 resric
slavery within their limits which the Southern
denied; The compromise bill prohibited errIoria
.'oui passing any Ia " ritner 10 PROM
bit or establish slavery within The territory This
was another roin! Of concession 10 the South
Inc Northern Senators insisted on raIiyins The
SI.nx al Ia xrc nt nj tph tch
uned slavery; The Southern Senators objecled.-
the compromise bill declared such laws SHOULD
continue IN force only until three months alter
the flfSl meeting OF The territorial legislature -
Here Wss third point OF concession yielded by
the North. these three questions being settled
oy the bill, The controversy between lie North
and the SouIh was narrowed down 10 single
point; and tnat was, whether, under the guaran
ties III The Constitution and the avs OF the Uni
led States, The cilzens Of the South possess The
right TO carry their slaves into our Territories
The Southern Senators maintained The affirma
live, the Norhern The negative OF this PROPOSE
lion; 10 reconcile which difference il was agreed
10 the compromise bill, the question should b.
submitted 10 the Supreme Coutt. II the Consti-
luton under circumstances guarantees the rights
of the South, The Court would so decide; If il
does not, the South would not have resisted; all
THIS is plain, and think fair slatemen,
OF The conditions OF Inc compromise bill; aud
no man, il seems 10 me, can doubt, that il woult
have setled this vexed question, upon terms hon.
orable 10 all sections o! the Union.
IL WAS against this bill, that Mr.. Badger voted
in company with, | write from memory bui
two other Senators from slave States, viz: Mr.
Underwood from Kentucky, who said his Stare
was uesirous Of gegiiag rid Of Slavery, and Mr..
Benton, who Is Sno"n 10 ne peculiar.
Such howeVei, was the desire OF the Senate
OF the United States, 10 dispose Of the exciting
topic, that The bill passed The Senate by majority
OF Think three 6tths Of the Senators. The bill
LEFT The slave question where The Constitution
lett il; this was the leading feature of the bill,
and every friend OF The peace and quiet Of his
country should regret that il did not pass the
House Of Representatives.
Mr. Badger, in his printed speech, assigns his
reason ior voting against The bill, to be, that The
South gained no,ning, but surrendered every
thing; ne says i, IS his deliberate conviction thai
slave holders should BIZ allowed 10 settle in Cali.
lorna, and then makes an ingenious and techni.
cal argument TO prove, that Congress have the
right 10 exclude shareholders from doing So
Knowing lhen a. he must have known, tha,
there is no probability Of Congress ever passing
any law 10 that eieci, why did he oppose The only
plan which probably ever will be offered TO the
shareholders, oi doing what he says they ought
to be allowed 10 do7 Mr. Badger argues in his
speech, that slavery having been abolished by The
laws OF Mexico, The Supreme Court would de-
eide against the slave-noider carrying his slaves
into The Territory Even if Ibis were So which
many able men deny, why did he moi give the
shareholders The benefit OF he doubls and per.
init them, il they choose, 10 run The risk, TO car
nv their properly with them 10 New Mexico and
California; Tney would have been no worse of
then, than they are al present. What the South
surrendered BY the compromise bill, | am unable
10 petcevei lne question Of Slavery in he Terri
tories is either political or judicial one, il po-
litical, il must be settled By Congress, where We
have every assurance the Wilmot Provso will
prevail; il judicial question, The Supreme
Court must ultimately decide il. Ii is The opin-
ion OF some OF our ablesl Constitutional lawyers
Including Mr. Webster, thai Congress has no
right 10 acquire foreign territory, that II is a ca
sus omissus in The Constitution. II this opinion
is sound one, ISL not monslrous that Congress
g.,