The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-01

morning Her news will be found on our first
page.
Important from w~shsngton-New Move
ment on the slavery Question.
The public journals for some weeks past, havebee
daily edited by the Washington letter writers, upon
the various plans and expedents of the politicians OF
the South to resist the designs OF the free-soilers
fall these expedients the most prominent one, and
the most generally discussed is secession. 1t has
been stated, that the members from seven States
are all ready, on the enactment of the Wilmot pro-
viso, for California or New Me xico, or on the pass
age of a bill abollshng slavery in the District OF
Columbia, to withdraw from Congress, declare
their States to be out of the copartnershp, and the
Union dissolved.
1t is absurd to disguise the fact, that disunion
has taken hold upon the public mind of the South
AS measure Of policy, to great extent, it is look.
ed upon as good to be desired, and not as an evil
TO be avoided. The introduction and rapid In
crease Of manufactures in the South, will soon
render them completely independent of the North.
Until very recently, they have been almost entirely
supplied by the Northern States with their coarse
woolens, worsteds, cottons, household furniture,
farming implements, iren manufactures, and al
most everything else, the planters scarcely manu-
featuring the simplest fabrics, machinery, or i'm
Plements Of any kind. But within the last two
years, great revolution has been effected. Manu-
features Of all kinds have sprung up all over the
South, and Georgia is probably at this moment Sc
eond only TO Massachusetts, in her cotton mills. In
very short time the Southern markets Of New
England manufactures will be supplied at home,
and the South will be completely independent Of
the North for cotton market. This is a revolu-
dion; and the immense capital which has annually
come to the North, in the way OF trade, in beng
kept at the South, will reverse to great extent the
relative prosperity OF the two sections.
But the basis Of the prosperity OF the South is in
her cotton culture II is the staple article
for her manufactures aud her foreign trade. Break
up her system OF domestic slavery, and the cotton
culture Of the South is prostrsed-her credit, her
enterprise, and everything else. Such is the prsc-
iicsl view OF the case; and in this light,
II is hardly a matter Of wonder that the
South should regard disunion as decidedly
preferable to the Uaion and the schemes OF the
abotions,s Besides, II has been n standing CON-
plant of the South, that they under the tariff laws,
have had TO pay the weight Of the taxes for the
support Of the government. They believe that a
separate government would relieve them Of the
burden Of this taxation. The cry Of dissolution,
therefore, does rest upon the mere abstraction
Of the Wilmot proyiso. IL has become question
Of profit and oss; and when dollars and cents enter
INTO the national dispute, there is reason suppose
that il is not a humbug.
The South are, then, IN earnest. This question
is something more than a bag Of wind. The South
are dependent upon their system Of domestic slave
U They see il is in danger. To save it, they may
probably as a last resort cut loose from the Union
bat we do not aPprehend that that will be the fret
step. The letter from our Washington correspond
ent, which we publish to-day, ioreshadows another
sIpedisnt-ihe resignation and withdrawal of
Southern Senators and members from the capitol,
on the passage Of the preylso the breaking up
Congress, and appeal directly back to the people
upon this exciting question. Such course would
doubtless create an immense panic all over the
country but it might have the eifec, of working
out some compromise, which would for ever settle
this vexed and perpleIing dispute, and restore the
harmony Of the Union.
With regard to the position Of Gen. Cass, ii is
peculiar and yet strictly consistent The action Of
the people Of California upon the slavery question,
tslhes with the Nicholson letter lie must, there
fore, vote for the admission Of California as she
stands. Southern members have indicated mere
extreme policy. The boundary goes below 30 deg.
10 NM, down to 30 deg. They may consider it as
violation Of the Missouri compromise, and resign
II the bill passed But in the event Of terrific
rial government for New Mexico, including the
proviso, Gen. Csss will be compelled to take the
same course, as well as Mr.. Dickinson, and every
other Senator holding to the doctrine Of the Nchol
son letter, which declares that Congress has no
power over the question Of slavery IN the terrific
rice.
The rumor Of this movement is more plausible
than tina, Of secession. The latter expedient could
only result in civil war the other would hardly
fail OF efecting some satisfactory arrangement, by
direct appeal to the people. From the present
complexion Of things, one or the other would seem
TO be as inevitable as the meeting of Congress Let
ss hope for the best.