The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-28

mand such Intervention on our part. As to Cali
fornia, Its admission is required by the highest
considerations Of justice and policy. Her action
in relation to slavery is her OWL and it is IRENE
di bic. No delay in responding to her application
can change il. you vote for her admission, you
sacrifice nothing, concede nothing. If you vote
against it, you violate your own professed princi-
pie, the right Of community organizing as a
State to determine the character of its domestic
institutions
In reference to New Mexico, while nOn-action
would cost you no sacrifice of principle or power,
it would not be Of serious detriment to the
Territory. They have now the benefit Of their
local laws, and can soon relieve themselves from
their anomalous condition by organizing the form
Of State Constitution, and applying for admis-
sion into the Union.
lfyou are anxious for the restoration of harmo-
ny in our councils, for the establishment Of the
healthful operations of the Government, for the
prevention Of dangerous sectional combinations,
we have shown you the way to reach these desi-
rable results. We ask no sacrifice from you; all
the concession made is on our part. Further
than we have indicated, we cannot go, and Heaven
only knows how far the people we represent will
justify us in this pacific policy
We hope eur readers will bear in mind that we
speak, not our own sentiments, but what are sup
posed to be the sentiments Of a majority of the
members of Congress from free States. Our pol
icy would be very different. The Ordinance Of
1887 is as wise and just to-day as it was the
day on which it passed, by the unanimous vote OF
all the States of the Confederation. We see
nothing in the condition of the Territories in the
state Of the country in the sentiment Of the great
majority Of our fellow-citizens in the agitation
which prevails in the resolutions Of Southern
Legislatures in the dastardy conduct Of one or
two Northern Legislatures, in the alarms Of su-
perannuated statesmen in the menaces of rhetor-
ical politicians or in the movements for Southern
convention. to make the Ordinance less expedient
now than it was last year. Had we the power,
we would pass it without delay, and feel not the
slightest concern as 10 the consequences. Ii is
the wsvering fstering, time-serving, timid, con-
duet Of certain Northern politicians and members
Of Congressional the pitif>,i -,~s-s~s -.Gsts Of
Northern demagogues, that has emboldened the
advocates of slavery to take the extreme ground
they now occupy. Union, decision, and an un-
waverng front on the part of the professed
friends of freedom, would ere this have settled
the Territorial Question As it is, repre-
sentatives of the North are crouching meekly on
the platform Of non-acton, earnestly asking the
South if this concession be not enough, and the
answer they receive is-No! it is not enough that
you forbear to act out your principles-you must
fOrSrear them; not enough that you agree not 10
act at all-you must act, and act on orr sids!
And this is their reward for laying Roots res
olution on the table! How much more will they
submit to? Southern men believe in their infinite
capacity of endurance and seem disposed to tax it
to the utmost. We wait with some curiosity to
see whether it has indeed limit. The Wash
ington Union confidently anticipates decided
majority in the House in favor of what it calls
compromise; that is, of yielding every demand that
slavery has made 1t may reckon without its
host but it is well enough that the people of the
free States should be apprized of the calculations
of the pro-slavery men. Treay-fre Representatives.
from those States must be found willing to yield to
slavery, before the " compromise" so much talked
of can be carried. Illinois, it is supposed, will
furnish six seven; Iowa, one; Indiana, three or
four Ohio, one or two Pennsylvania, nine or
ten; Maine and New Hampshire, one or two.
Who are they The people should begin to in
t";ro. The o~aaii'~oncy o"sh. 90 awaho. We
might name some who will certainly betray the
free States if they can, and others who are
doubtful. But we forbear, lest We should do
injustice Let not the friends of slavery be too
confident the battle is not yet won There will
be debate--time for consideration-time for the
people of the free States to bestir themselves.
Once convinced that there is danger, and they
will speak in tones not to be misunderstood by
waverng Representatives. 1t is not safe to push
the North to the wall. Now, it is possible to
admit California, and-to do nothing else But
suppose, in demanding more, nothing be done, no.
even California admitted how would the case
stand7 Would the free States slumber on then ?
Never! Parties would be shivered to atoms, and
such an excitement would sweep over the North
as has not yet been manifested. Perhaps the
Southern sgtators are anxious to furnish fuel for
the fire; perhlps they are under the impression
that next year, when California shall again pre-
sent herself, and New Mexico stand beside her,
asking admission into the Union, with the whole
population of the North resolved on their adms-
sion, and incensed by the previous rejection OF
California, they will be able to make advantage
Gus terms for slavery.
A prudent man forseeth the evil Northern
Representatives and Senators now offer them
more than another Congress will dare to do. If
they irish the Territorial Question settled, they
would do we'll to accept the offer and abandon
their inordinate demands