The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-05


events, there satisfactory prospect for either
OF the regular nominees, and it seems that the
House cannot be organized without a compromise.
II such is the beginning of the session, what will
be the end?
The Meeting OF Congress-The AdmInistra-
1on-Tne Slavery Question-Conapse or
the Whig Party.
During the last six months, we have repeatedly
discussed the alarming aspects Of the slavery agl-
tation II was no difficult thing to foresee that
what had heretofore been hobby for political
demsgogues, would now present itself in shape
tso formidable TO be triied with any longer. 1t
Was easy to predict, from the tendencies OF public
opinion, North and South, that the meeting Of Con-
press would test the strength of the admnstra-
zion, the unity Of the wing party, and the momen-
ious issues involved in this overriding question of
slavery.
The proceedings IN the wing caucus on Saturday
night last, al Washington, and the continued bal
lotngs for Speaker Of the House. confirm our appre-
hersions. II appears that Mr.. Toombs, OF Georgia,
proposed. as a wing test, that the party in the
House should declare itself opposed TO any law
prohibiting slavery in California or New Mexico,
end that on The failure of the motion, Messrs.
Toombs and Stevens, Of Georgia, IIillsrd, Of Ala
bama, and three other Southern wings, left the
caucus Under ordinary circumstances, this would
be irine, not worth minutes attention; but IN
the present state Of things, il is Of the highest mo-
mer,. II establishes the point that there is a
question in the South, which overrides all the
psares OF PARTY allegiance and party support OF the
administration-it proves the validity OF the late
correspondence between Messrs. Cllngman and
Foote that both parties in the South will resist the
enactment OF the Wilmot proviso. II accounts for
the mir votes for Mr.. Winthrop, out of two
hundred and tweniy.one, and probably reduces
the administration 10 this hopeless minority in the
House.
Such is the beginning Of the end On the first
experiment in caucus, the wing party in Congress
eoIapses and the administration, before the first
meeting of the House, is left in a more deplorable
condition than that Of John Tyler. With a MINOR
ity in the Senate, ard utterly abandoned by the
House, condemned by the late elections, and diu-
ded among themselves, the present cabinet are
truly to be piti,d and deplored. Deserted by the
House where rs last feeble hope depended, what
H. this cabinet 10 dol Il IL impotani, completely
the administration Is powerless, and the wing par
~ is already dissolved A Saturday nigh; caucus
scatters all their prospects 20 the winds.
Nor do we see any loop-hole Of escape to the
administration OF the whir rarity. Settle the qles-
iior as they may, il will b. to their disadvantage,
in one section or the Others and If they fail to set.
lie it, their divisions and dssensoas are widened
in bCih sections Nor is the democratic party in
better condition. The slavery question, in the
shaFe Of free soil, divides and distracts their or
renHation, but in Congress, such division does
them less harm than It does the wings. The wing
parry is in power-the wing party must take, ult-
mately, The responsibility Of government Hence
the dangerous rock on which they must split to
pieces
The difficulty in this slavery business is extra.
constitutional. There Is nothing in the constitu-
ton 10 meet 1.-THE framers II that instrument
never dreamed Of such a contingency as this Of
New Mexico End California. They had diff
culues OF their own 20 settle on the slavery dis
pute, which al one time threatened the Snost
serious consequences. But, on the suggestion or
Dr. Franklin, the convention Of I7S7 beiook them
selves 10 prayer ard a compromise was the result,
and compact binding the States together by
mutual concessions and Obligations. The conven-
ion were thankful, as they had occasion TO be, in
oonoihating their own qusuels on this subject, and
left the future TO provide for itself
In $50, tie Missouri question brought % the
slavery difficulty in a new form. II was settled by
new compromise and, though the whole coun-
ny was thankful for il, not a solitary Northern
man who voted for it, but lost the confidence and
support Of his constituents for his surrender to the
Southern SHAREHOLDERS, as Il was called. So il
mu,t be in this instance II the Northern wings
JON the Southern wings and democrats in COM
promise, the wing party is broken up in the North.
inevitably. Without COMPROMISE the question
cspnot be settled, and the breach between the two
sections Of the Union widens into an impossible
thasm.
But what are parties, what is the administration
and the cabinet, compared with the preservation
81 The Union Nothing-absoutely nothing. Il
~ the danger to the Union which gives this slavery
agitation lie importance, and makes COMPROMISE
matter Of the first necessity And to attain this
end, we can neither rely upon the Hotspurs Of the
South, nor the fanatics Of the North. The cabinet
car DO nothing, for IT is powerless to help itself
We can but rely upon the good sense, prudence
and pafnCfism Of The President anI ma ,h, v,sa