The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-28

davits 60 send 10 Eng land be used, most likely,
in the sponaence with our government In
regard TO the Nicaragua question
The Crisis OF Is49-'50--Vhe slavery Guess
t;on in Congress.
We are on the eve OF a most momentous crisis.
Korh and South, the radical and extreme hostility
of pubic sentiment, and the bold and exaspsrating
folms in which this sectional hostility is shaping
ifell, ere sufficient grounds for the most serious
alarm. In the duty of providing governments tor
The vast expanse of New Mexico, Deseret, aud
California, the old, ugly and m schevous question
OF slavery comes Up, IN a mere comp Heated dili-
cult and formidable shape, than any it has hereto
fore as umed. IL is the hydra-headcd monster OF
our institutions and from its last decapitation,
number of vigorous shoots have sprouted, each as
malignant as tie first. In the admission Of Cali
fomia, ia he formation Of government for De-
seret and New Mexico, in the Texas boundary
dispute, in the movement for the abolition OF
slavery and The slave III de IN the District of CO.
umbia, this interminabe dispute on slavery extern
sion aud slavery surFr sson presents itself in the
most AUDI cious attitude Of hostility. Upon any
one Of these issues the difficulty would be sulii-
cieny serious 70 excite alarm; bat upon all toge-
her, presenting tie monsirosity in all Its horrld
shapes at once the danger becomes more manifest,
and The duty Of confronting il is longer to be
thufllcd OIL. Striped of all DISCUSSES, the con-
t,s, simlly involves the perpetuiy or dissolution
Of he Union.
From the formation Of the government, the bane
and blight q our Institutions have been the here
dIisry jeslousies, dis'Ius,s, and disputes growing
out Of the slavery question. AT the close OF tue
Revolutionary war, IN the original convention
summoned together TO draft the federal constitu-
lion, jhr dispute upon slavery endangered eur IA.
uona existence Ii was al this critical period that
the convention, through the advice of Dr. franklin,
betook themselves to prayer Cooler counsels sue
ce,ded mutual cancellations and concessions re-
fulied /; and. under such influences, the constitu-
iion was adopted, and became the organic Law Of
The Union. THIS was the first danger, and such
were the means by which 1t was obyiated. The
Union established, and sprung at into a
career Of prosperity and happiness unexampled, IN
he history Of the world. Such were the results Of
The fret compromse act by the trainers Of the con-
sutuiion. IL is in the organic law OF the land.
Thirty odd years elapsed The infant republic,
bourd together under ITS original compromise, had
vaPcd a successful war with Great Britain, fol-
lowed by peace, with stll increasing and ex-
ysnding prosperity. But here the Missouri agitl-
ton was thrown into Congress-: the most yiolent
Discussion, in the history OF that body, the re-
tult the spectre Of disunion stalked about the
capitol, end predictions Of anarchy aud civil war
spree a panic over the land At this juncture, Mr..
Cisy, Mr. Calhoun and their associates came for.
ard with proposition, splitting the difference by
q mutual surrender on both sides. The harmony
oi the Union was restored, for the measure was
adopted the dispute setled, aud the agitation sup
pressed. This was the second great slavery panic,
ard this was the second compromise.
Another interval Of prosperous activity Of thirty
y,srs succeeded, with but htile to disturb the
national equilibrium. Then the bomoshell Of the
Texas annexation was sprung upon Congress, and
nom the point TIE third and most complex, extern
siye and fearful agitation Of the slavery question
dates lie commencement The acquisition Of Texas
was popular thirg II was gratifying to the popu
PRIDE IN tire expsnslye character Of our Institu-
ions and the glory Of the Union. II could no, be
resisted. The opposition Of Mr. Clay to the mea-
sure defeated his election. The seruples Of Mar
tin Van Buren defeated his nomination; Texas
aud Oregon elected James X Polk the snnera-
ton consummated by Northern votes. The
war with MeXco the acquisition Of vast en-
Tr- Of new territories, the successive chapters OF
the history OF Teas the revengefu course Of Naa
BUren and Benton the Buffalo platform the free
soil party the merging Of all parties in the North
into aboliiionisrn, and the very natural spirit Of re-
action in the South, have done the rest. Such are
he causes and the elements Of the third national
panic on the slavery question.
The course of the politicians, North and South.
during the last six months, has added constant
fuel to the excitement. Free coil is the doctrine
IN the North and the abolitiosisis are wholly ab.
sorbed between the two great parties. With the
irving way Of the hunkers of New York, the
s,uih is completely deserted. The proceedings
in the Southern conventions, the tcne Of he public
joEnss, and the temper Of the Official messages Of
that secuon, are as radical on the other extreme
The North will not yield, aud the South will nc,
submit The issue presents itself ia all its aspects,
distinct in zach, and yet ali combined. We have
che question Of the dom este slave trade to settle,
and the power Of Congress over the institution IN
ihe District Of Columbia we nave the balance Of