The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-16

b, q new
on TO the
on of sla-
very in the new territories. The first symptoms OF
this new trouble appeared in curious letter pub
Hshed in one of the Washington papers, over the
signature Of Senator Fremont, of California, and
addressed 10 the Hon. Henry Clay. In that letter
Col Fremont indicates very clearly that he and his
friends in California regard very little the admission
of that territory State, and indicate that they
mink they able TO take care Of themselves, and
form an independent republic the Pacific, with
all the contingencies thereto belonging. Another
branch Of the same element, and originating pro
badly in the same motive, is TO be found in the
course OF Mr.. Benton in the Senate, as exhibited
during the last week. in opposing, in every form and
way, the compromise movement made under the
auspices of the great statesmen Clay, Case, Web
ster, and others Of that dignfed body. In this
new and singular movement, hostile to the settle
nent Of the slavery question in all the territories,
We find united, the influence Of Mr.. Benton, in the
Senate and Of it, the California Spectators the
free sellers of the North, and singularly enough,
the imbecile and contemplate cabinet which has
been inflicted on General Taylor and the country
for the last year and more
For more particulars Of the present extraordinary
and dangerous state Of things in Washington, and
this obstruction TO the settlement Of the ter
ritorial question, refer our readers TO letter
hom Washington, froma well informed and clo-
quent correspondent which will be found in our
columns to-day, and whose views are clearly, pun
gently, and most emphaucally given on this new
hrm which the present crisis has taken.
The position Of affairs at Washington and the
dangers which menace the confederacy, aeem 10
Increase and multiply, the birds begin TO sing
ard the summer TO approach, and as the modera-
ton and good sense Of the people Of the North seem
b indicate wish for some permanent arrange.
nent The Southern members hava declared their
nnaierable resolution have the whole territorial
question settled at the same time in reference TO
the principle of slavery; and their demands on the
subject are founded on good sense and wisdom o
the most undoubted hind. II no such agitating
question that Of slavery could be left open by
the admission Of California alone as a State, there
might be objection 10 the policy Of letting her
IN, separate and distinct nom the others. But tho
admission Of California would by no means settle
This question, but would leave il in a worse position
than il is now in. regards the Southern States
the dangers To the Union. and 10 the integrity Of
the oonfcdeacy. Why, then, should not the whole
question affecting thoac territories be- settled al
once Did not all these territories become the
property cf the United States by the same treaty
and why cannot the disturbing questions, in relation
10 their local government, be determined in the
zane way in which they were received from Mexi-
60, by one Law and one legislative movement in
Compress
The course Of southern members, in insisting on
general settlement Of the whole question il. there
fore, founded ret only on the treaty with Mexico.
bnt on coed sense and discretion. The motives Of
the opposition ofthc fec sellers to such policy can
easily te imagined. They want The slavery qucs-
lien lcf open Tor future agitation. The suicidal
policy cf The miserable cabinet Of General Taylor
seems 20 concur in the same object. and from the
sane motive az that OF the free coil agitstors and
Northern disunonisis. Bui. worse than ell. We
now see "a new element Of destruction. a new in-
fucncc. a new power. knocking IT the door Of
Congress, and adding ia DESCENDANT and tratorous
notes e. those q the free eoer- end mb-cile oab-
net, aCgIst general settlement Of this Disturbing
question and in fvor o. allowing California TO
cone in alone a. a STATE leaving the other terrific
nes ofen fer future sgtiticn.
The mcives ~ the Bcntor Influence can bc
tnccd only 10 two sources. Tie one il described
iy our correspondent ~ Swinging from extensive
land spccuaiions In California, and the other from
che ambitious desire Of Mr. Benton himself 20 drive
thc Soutlcrn Steies into disunion TO sspsratc tho
several parts cf hs confcdcracy and 90 erect Cali
fcrnia and Oregon. on the Pacific coast into an
independent rrpubhc, where he could stand az "a
thcr. grandfather. AMI head cf ths whole with al
thc influence be could muster IA that direction II
such mo,ivcs are At the foundation of the new po-
lcy cf Mr.. Benton, he has not only abandoned the
original rrUund on which he attained HE eminent
runk as a stsicsman. hot h. has followed in H.,
wake # Nauin Van llugcr. OF kinderhook, and
not cnly that. bat s'cppcd beyond Lindcnwsld
kiatcsmanship. ard cmulli'd that q Aaron liurr.
az past age. Gone, destroyed, cut up, annihi-
lated, in Missouri, he now, IL would seem, seeks
20 pursue such course during I've remaining term
IN the Senate, will all the influence which he can
muster in COMPRISE and out 81 Il. 60 urge such
course ofpolicy. 70 push forward srch a movement
as can end in nothing but Disgusting and separating
the Southern Stutca. and throwing the whole of
this great and mighty confcicucy, nos welding
an influence fom the Atlantic 10 the 10 .lhc, into
separate. unfricndly. and warning republics, thus
desroyirg the glorious destiny oi each and all,
well "a their pfoepccis and their influence on the
frec5,m or The human race IN both hemisphere,
Cor all future time.
The frfrrc movements ~ both houses Of Con
urree on this new QUESTION. coupled with - many
instructions. will bc watched by the country al
large with the prcacss interest II this sirang' and
sh< niineble coalition Of Northern disunionisi',
cree soil,rs, and the miserable cabinet Of General
Tsvlor, in connection with the land spccula'o's
Of California, should prevail in dsofs lnizng legs
sssssn. and breaking up the eonicderscy, then we
s-ss