New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-01-17
The Southern Caucus-The Bearings Of the
Movement.
Correspondence of TIE Tribune.

Correspondence of Tie Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Monday, Jan. Is.
The adjourned meeting Of the Southern Mem
bsrs Of Congress with reference 10 legislation sf-
fecting Slavery is held this evening in the Senate
chamber, and Mr.. CALHots reports to it his A3-
dress, which was adopted on Saturday By ma
jority Of the Committee Of one Member from each
Slave State. 1t is thoroughly South Carolina
manifesto aud Il understandj PalPably Profier'
the alternative Of Slave Extension or Disunion.
/ close this letter without learning that It has
been adopted and put forth by majority Of
the adjourned Meeting, though an inclined to
hope i, has been. In times Ike these, there can
be no harm in knowing what those who differ
from YOU have to say. We might have had the
Union dissolved before now had il not been threat
ened so much.
shall not attempt to give the division in Com
mittee on the adoption Of Mr. CALHOUS's Ad-
dress, nor shall be foremost TO make public the
vote thereon. Let each come out through some
one who obtains bis information on this subject
through channels and under circumstances which
impose On him no restraint as TO their prOmUga.
ton. But this much ,ciH say, for II is truth that
ought TO be generally known-Ihe Southtrn
Wigs uH be party neither an uord nor doed
TO any attempt TO dir,de me Union teeanse of me
EXCLUSION Of SlaUery from the New Ieultor7es.-
They know well that such exclusion IS a fixed
fact-a part Of the necessity Of the csse-and
they are fully resolved not TO sever the Union on
account Of it. They would greatly prefer that
the Wilmot Provso in terms should not be en-
acted by Congress deeming such enactment a
needless irritation and alarm Of many OF their
constitute nts-but, Proviso or no No Proviso, they
never expect 10 see foot Of Slave territory west
OF the Rio Grande. At least half Of them would
not have Slavery extended if they could They
resist the Proviso strenuously for the reason
above mentioned, not because they expect or
wish TO extend Slavery.
No--the real, vital question to be yet settled is
not Proviso or No Proviso-though it is greatly de
sirable, for the sake Of the principle and our Ma
tional hosor, that the Proviso should be enacted
the vital question is Shall Free Nec Mcric0 be
sualloned by Stare Teras' An but few blind
fanatics understand by this time that Slavery can
not get across the Rio Grande, but It may grasp
new Territory as large as New England by sb-
sorbng three-fourths Of New Mexico under the
pretence of organizing Upper Texas. Let all who
feel an interest in the preserv alton OF Free SOIL
from the curse of Slavery keep their eye fixed on
this point for here is the real ground OF contest
Victory will he achieved or defeat endured here
But for what it may be asked, did the Wings
Of the South engage in this sectional caucus /
answer, simply to help bully the North out OF the
abolition OF the District Slave Trade. That has
been effected by the success of Mr. Stuarts mo-
tion to re consder. We shall never get in sight OF
Mr.. Colts resolution again. 1t is suspended be-
tween heaven and earth like Mahomets coffin, and
there will remain till the resurrection But Mr..
Gott will be here next Session, and more such
and there will DO another resolution This dis
graceful traffic must seek another and more con
genial refuge.