The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-16
The Present Aspect OF the Slavery Question

The Present Aspect or the Slavery Question
In the South-The Southern Convention.
The caucus, or convention, of Southern mem.
bers, which was appointed some time ago. to
take into consideration the course of action most
advisable to adopt with reference to the recent
agitation on the slavery question, were to have
made their report yesterday. We have not up to
the present time, received any intelligence from
Washington respecting 1t; bat In all probability
we shall be able to give synopsis of 1t in to-mor-
rows paper. From several indications, however
that have lately met our eye, romIvarous quarters,
we incline to the opinion we have already SO fire.
quently expressed, that moderation, prudence, and
sincere love for the constitution, will animate the
influential portion OF the Southern representatives
The intelligent and dlsnterested people, both Of
the North and the South are beginning to have
clear and thorough perception OF the views and
purposes of the ultras of both extremes and they
are determined that neither the disappointed am
bition of Mr. Calhoun on the one hand, nor the
restless scheming, and hollow purposes of Mr..
Giddlngs, and the motley alliance of male and
female popularity hunters OF which he is proml-
nent leader, the other, shall ever be able to con-
summate the openly aYowed results of their folly
and ianatacism.
Mr.. Calhoun is very able man; but with all his
ability, he has not and cannot and never will be
able to rally round HIM Southern party infuen.
tal enough to effect any OF the objects of his ambi-
ton, much less obtain the confidence of the
country. He should by this time be well aware of
that himself. Since his quarrel with General Jack.
SOD, after his election TO the Vice Presidency in
1928, how often has he tired to regain his former
position? But every successive effort has left him
more powerless than before, and manifested to
the world that disappointed ambition and envlous
rivalry were the actuatng principles OF his energy
and hostility. 1t is astonishing, therefore, that the
very sense OF his impotency does not induce him to
take opposite to that he has hitherto DIR
sued TO we should think that to man of his in
tellect a capabllity, 1t must be an excessively
Irksome ask, to be continually pulling down and
never building up, to be continually dividing and
never uniting, to be always exhaustlng his ener-
gles In what he can never accomplish and for
ever dIscharglpg
Telum imbece sine ictu.u
/, would appear, however, that this perverstv
of man is strongly implanted In our fallen AZURE.
and is peculiar to no age or country Without
looking back to remote times, we find the
counterparts OF the honorable member for South
Carolina IL Lord Stanley and Lord Brougham, of
these noble personages has been somewhat similar
to that Of great Southern Nuifier, but the good
sense of the British people very quickly deprived
these able, ambitious, and self seeking lordlings
of all political power Their whole lite appears to
have been ever since devoted, to carplng at their
more fortunate rivals, to sowing dlssensloA wher
ever and whenever opportunity offers, and to
pnashipg their teeth in incessant and impotent
malIgnity.
We have ne doubt that had it not been for the
evil influence of such men IN the South, and the
still more mischlevous influence of the fanatic
abolitlonlsts of the North, many of the Southern
States would have long since manumltted their
slave population. But have the most unfaltering
confidence that whatever may be the course chalk
ed out by the Southern caucus whether they yoke
themselves to the chariot wheels of Mr.. Calhoun's
ambition, adopt the and more temperate
measures tor which we are inclined from recent
indications, to give them credit, the prudent, sem
sible, and moderate portion OF the community
both in the North and the South, will take care
that the harmony and integrity OF this great repub-
lie will continue sacred from the assaults of all
enemies, internal as well as external Should
the crisis however be precpitated, now that the
new administration is just coming into power, the
example OF ancient Rome in the days of her diff
Guilty and danger will be followed, and the welfare
of the republic will be committed into the hands OF
the first consul-"the old hero who never surren
deIed"-wIth an injunction, OF old, that no evil
shall befal the country, "me qu,d respbitca detr,-
menti oop,ot."
We do not believe, however, that such an ex-
tremity will ever be forced upon the Executive of
this country The ultras of one portion of the
South have already had small taste from one
General, Of what they might expect from another,
should they ever attempt to carry out their mis-
chievous designs and we may venture to say,
that the hero OF Buena Vista Is too well known
throughout the country, to have his patience and
determination put to a similar test As for the
fanatics and disunionIsts of the North, they NAV
90 on with their eternal talk the prompting oftbe
willy state sman OF kinderhook-they NAV 90 nm
and pass their resolutioDs-" that the Exodus of
the slave must be the ruins Of the American
Church and the American UnIon"-they NAV
recruit new patches of rights of woman" wo.
men, under the guidance of the amiabe Lucretla
Mett-but of one thing they may rest assured,
that the rational and patriotic people OF this coun-
try will never tolerate the least attempt they may
ever make to carry into effect their fatuous and
insane agitation. As long, however, ss they con-
fine themselves TO talk, they will only meet with
the rIdicule and contempt which they have hither-