The New York herald., 1849-06-14
Mr.. Benton Oh the ~ iimOt PrOvisO-Grea
Cry but Little Wool.

Sry DWN bituV NSOOAs
The party journals of the day in the Northern
States, whig and democratic, free soil and aboll-
ton, are making great noise about the interml-
nable speech which Mr.. Benton recently delivered
in Missouri, and look upon as one of the richest
discoveries, perfect placer in politics, that has
been made for the last fifteen months, three days
and forty minutes. To the amusement Of those
who can see as far into milestone as others,
we have seen Thurlow Weed, of Albany, and poet
Bryant, of New York, opposite in politics. so
oontradistinguished in afiinities and tendencies,
Joining together in the audations, and making
great clamor over Mr.. Benton's late great,
wonderful terrible speech in Missouri, as if it
were the discovery Of new diamond nine, or
gold placer, in the valley of the West, richer even
than those Of California.
We mean to show tnat what we say is perfectly
correct, and that the wonderful speech of Mr.
Benton is no wonder at all, but merely a rehash
Of opinions, in reference to the Wllnlot proviso
and the California question, which have been
again and again promulgated through the columns
of the Ne,O York Herald Tor nearly year past.
Setting aside the violent personal attacks on John
c. Calhoun, of South Carolina, to whom Mr.. Ben
ton devotes about two thirds of his speech, we
come TO the following paragraphs, which contain
that Mr.. Benton has delivered in that interminable
twenty columns Of personality, violence, turgidity,
common sense ind absurdity, all mixed up to-
geher one meiamgs. Here the gist Of the
matter--
And arrive at substance-at a practical
point Congress has the constitutional power abolish
slavery in territories but she has slave territory
In which to exercise the We have territory
but the remainder OF louisiana north and west of Mis-
Cfrri- hat in NovvA IaNicn and nrann
and the north Of Wisconsin, now Minnesota In Louis-
ana, north aud west Of us. it was abolished by Con-
Eress in 1920. In the territory north Of Wisconsin,
now Minnesota 1t was abolished by the Jefferson pro-
vso of 17e7 In Oregon it abolished by Congress
you please. In New Mexico and California it abol-
ished by the Mexican government in 1929 congrmsd
in 1881 and again in 1874
Thus, there is slavery in New Mexico aud
California; and consequently in any territory be-
longing the United States, and consequently no.
thing practical real in the whole slavery question for
this people Of the United States quarrel about There
is no slavery nov by law in any territory and it
not get there by law except by act Of Congress- and
no such act will be passed, or even asked for The
dogma OF power in Congress to legsate upon sla-
very in territories, kills that pretenson. No legal
establishment of slavery in California and New Mexico
is then to be lookedor Equally certain is 1t that it will
be established in either Of them point fact
The people of both territoriesthe old inhabitants
are unanimously against 1t.
OF the emigrants, all those from Europe. Asia,
Mexico Central and South America aud all those from
unanimously against it. There remains then over
balance all this unanimous only the emigrants
from the saveholding part of the United States-iu
itself the smallest branch Of the grafton and it d.
vided on the ques stion-many going for the express
purpose getting rid savery-and very few SO far
in love with it go that distance for the pleasure
of having lawsuit with his negro and with the
certainty Of coming out second best in the contest
There s then slavery, at this time, either in New
Mexico or California in law or in fact and never will
be either in law ar in fact What then, is all the pre-
of doing what cannot be done the insult the
reigny Of the States where there is insult all
ahsfrao m md mo tfu Suh-fu
in it.
The Romans had class of disputes which they called
de lana cop1ndthat is to say, about goats woo and
the goat has wool the dispute about nothing.
80 1t Is OF this dispute among us about excluding
flaycry from New Mexico ana California There s
1ione there to exclude and the dispute raging is
about nothing.
Now, what does all this amount to Precisely
TO what we have again and again told the sublic,
viz-that the WIlmot proviso question was from
AIS commencement mere preteXt, started by Mr..
Van Buren, for the purpose of ruling and running
the movements OF the democratic party during the
last presidential election. That humbug of the
Wilmot proviso having divided the democracy of
the North during the late general election and de-
feaied General Cass, is now adopted by all the
hunkeIs and the free soers; and it appears, too by
some even in the slave 5tates, such as Mr. Benton
himself in Missouri Poor Cass is new out of the
way; and the free democracy having, by its noise
the Wilmot proylso, and the slavery question
generally, pushed the wings from their own ground,
and appropriated 1t to themselves, are now going
10 work and uniting their various elements with
all the popular impulses of the free States, 10 take
the purse in any future tha, may be run on the
plesidental lace course of the Union.
With regard to Mr. Benton himself, his motives
and purposes easily seen through. Discovering
IN The State Of Missouri strong opposition among
his own party to his reelection to the United States
Senate, Mr.. Benton very adroitly makes great
tuss and clamor against Mr. Calhoun, assails the
Imprudenca and folly of the Southern Statesman,
assumes new ground apparently to the rest of the
country but yet while he is throwing his tremen-
dous speech to catch the whg party Of Missouri TO
his support, he let's the cat of the bag and ac
knowledges that the Wilmot proviso dispute is
mere humbug and never amounted to anything
at all. Yethe expects, by the clamor that he makes
the subject, TO catch the votes of the wings of
Missouri, and be returned to the United States
Senate, and when that takes place, he will resume
hls own ground, and kick away the ladder which
helped him to his reelection, out of sight ever
alter The whlg journals of the North are playing
INTO Mr.. Bentons hands in this matter lie is
merely stocking the democratic cards for a new
deal. end the wing leaders, hero and elsewhere. are
approving his project and luxurating over his ac-
ton, as If he intended to help them in the diiiieu-
ties which they will cncouDter-diiicuities arising
Lem The very movements which MIR. Benton has
assisted and promoted in Missouri, and in other
States, where the democracy are endeavorino TO
unite Their forces, WITHOUT reference TO ,he W,lmo,
proyiho or any other pro'iso.
The effect Of Mr.. Bcnien's movement an,opo tbe
free States will therefore be- 10 bring the two Sec
iCiis of the democracy, the bauburners and Ga.
oio AGnAeIs, heIe and here, iuto the old union