The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-07-25

who are absolute and uncondit ional submis-
siOnists upon principle.
They are deceived, we fear, by the decisive
cognomen Of the bill, protesting, as it does, to
be a Settlement OF Adjustment Of the whole
controversy.
The great mass Of the people are naturally
indispOsed to political excitement. Engaged
in their private affairs, the most Of their time
absorbed with business aVocations, as in the
main it ought to be, they are heartily weary of
the agitation and are willing to get rid Of it
on any terms short Of absolute submission.
This is a natural and correct sentiment. And
did we believe with them that the bill reported
by the committee Of thirteen would have this
happy result, great as we think its concessions
to the North are, we might perhaps believe it
to be our dn ~ to yield it our humble support.
But be who cherishes this hope will find it to
be a delusiye one, should the bill become law.
The concessions on the part Of the South are,
50 to speak, all ereepted; that is, go into effect
instantly those on the part Of the North, if
any, are erecutory, and it will rest with the
good faith Of the North whether these cOnces-
sive provisions are carried out. Our part Of
the bond is to be paid down; theirs to be taken
on trust. California is 10 come in at once with
a prohibition Of slavery portion Of slavehold-
ing territory in Texas tobe given up, and the
abolition Of the slave trade in the D. G. are
our concessions. Territorial governments for
New Mexico and Utah, without the Wilmot
p%rovisO, and what purports in the bill to be a
mere e~fFectual provision for the recovery Of flu
gitive slaves. Suppose that territorial govern
ments are for med in accordance with the bill,
and that the South should have an equal
chance with the North to establish her peculiar
institutions, and that in process Of time one Of
these territories asks for admission into the Uni
on as a slave State, we ask, is there anything
in the bill that ensures her admission? Not
one word. There is nothing that would pre-
clude Northern men, who now support the
compromise, from voting against the admission
of a slave State formed out of those very terri
tories. 1t may be said that a refusal to vote
for its admission under such circumstances
would be a violation of the spirit of the COM
promise. But our Northern friends would cas-
lily say, " it is not SO nominated in the bond"
This bill, protesting to be an adjustment, ought
not to leave so important a matter open to i'm
plication. He must indeed be credulous who
supposes that the north will carry out stipula-
tons not contained in the bill, but only infe-
rental from argument. On the contrary, they
have been reluctant to observe, in good faith,
actual provisions and compromises in favor of
our rights, and are we to expect, at this late
day, they will stretch the argument in our be-
half, and carry put implied provisions; aud not
very clearly arrived at by implication at that.
This is to expect that PuDic will become more
than Roman III it'll. Should one Of these terri
tories form a constitution recognizing slavery,
does any man believe that the scenes of 1920
Will not b~eFe4enOcted in the halls of Congress,
and the same anti-sldvery cry raised by Nor
them Representatives. How then can this
bill be called un adjustment and settlement of
the slavery question, when it leaves SO much
open for future agitation? This is, doubtless,
the mistaken view that has induced some pa
triotiC and right-minded citizens to be some.
what hvorably disposed to the present bill.
The public mind in the South, however, il un-
dergoing a great change on this subject. and
The more it is discussed, the fewer friends twill
have. The popular catch-rords Of settlement
g. ADJUsTMENT bave 1llured some to its support,
but they are rapidly coming to the conclusion
that thesn are but cateh-words. Itis perhaps
but right to add, in classifying the motives of
the friends Of the bill, that doubtless the magic
name Of Mr.. Clay has not been withoutits in
II . zoe in the South in giving il some popu-
lnritV.