The New York herald., 1850-02-18

The SLAVERY QUESTION During the debate on |
The slavery question: last week. in the Senate of the
United States, the Hon. Henry Clay, Of Kentucky,
gave expression to a sentiment which ought to be
printed In letters of god and hung up in every le-
gislative hall in the United States, and In every
public place and school house throughout the coun-
try. Ii was a sentiment worthy Of that exalted
and high minded patriot In that debate il was
imputed to him that he owed his allegiance to the
South, and, no sooner were the words uttered,
than the Kentucky statesman rose in his seat, and
dsclaimed any allegiance to the South; that his
allegiance was limited to his own State, and the
Union at large. 1t was equivalent 10 the boast of
an old Roman, that he was Roman citizen. 1t
was In fact saying that he was an American cti-
zen, and nothing else.
1t would be well for the peace and happiness of
the country, and for the harmony and perpetuity Of
our institutions, if this noble, manly and patriotic
sentiment which Mr. Clay delivered, was more ge-
nerally entertained than If it were, we should
never have been reduced to the deporable condi-
ton In which the country Is placed by factlonists
and demsgogues Of all parties, whose only rule of
action and principle is selfshness. There are a
parcel of fanatics, in Congress and out OF it, who,
to subserve their own ends, have set up an alle-
giance to their respective geographical sections,
and MAINTAIN it, irrespective of their allegiance to
the Union and to the nation at large BY the efforts
of these men the country has been kept IN state
of constant agitation and excitement tor mum.
Der of years past. The latest form which this
unfortunate sectional feeling assumed, is an en-
bodiment of the fanatical feeling Of the North
on the subject of the slavery queston-growlng
out of the acquisition of the territories Of New
Mexico and California. No sooner was this ad-
diton made to the territory Of the United States,
than disappointed politicians made use of it to
wreak their vengeance on those who they sup
posed had injured them; and from that time to the
present, it has gone on, increasing in volume and
force, until it now endangers the Union, and
jeopardizes the nesmable privileges and blessings
which we enjoy.
Where this unfortunate and much to be re-
gretted state of things will end, il difficult to say;
but that there is probability OF its resulting In
bloodshed, and perhaps disunon itself, no one can
deny, unless patriots entertaining such sentiments
as that which was recently expressed by Mr..
Clay, make their influence felt at Washington.
There are many ike him, who entertain no alle-
Clance 10 any particular section of the country
who feel, like Mr.. Clay, that they are neither
Northern men nor Southern men-tlat they are
Americans In the broadest sense OF the term
Let those men, therefore, show their hands.
Wherever they are, let them direct and shape
the honest impulses of the community, by call
ing public meetings, at which suitable reso-
luons should be passed. The fanatics in the
North are not idle. They are at this instant
straining every nerve, and adopting every means
within their power, TO perPetuate the present
state of things at Washington, and 70 prevent
any amcable settlement or compromise of the
slavery question. They are now engaged In circu-
laiing petitions in the Northern and New England
States, for the abolition of slavery the District
of Columbia, and for the prohibition of that insti-
tuition in any of the new territories. Let those
fanatics be met by the great Union sentiment which
pervades the whole American people, in every Sec
ton Of the country, and they will soon be put
down, and the perpstui,y Of the Union secured.
Tx UNION MEETING AT TAMMASY HALL-The
union meeting a, Tammany Hall, on Saturday
evening last, would, no doubt, have been the
largest and most enthusiastic that ever was held
within the walls of that building, but for the with
drawal of portion of the party interested In the
movement.
We doubt tire proprrety Of calling party nseo.,ngs
All parties throughou, the country, in every Sec
uon, and Of every name, are In favor of the Union
and the constitution, if we except the miserable
tail-end Of faction IN New England, Of which
Lloyd Garrison, Fred. Douglas, and such like, are
the shining and sooty representatives.. If we
threw overheard the Martin Van Burens and the
William II. Stewards Of the two great parties into
which the country has so long been divided, we
would find that both OF them, we mean the honest
masses, are devoted to the Union, and are ready
and willing at all times TO denounce those who
would assail il.
Why not, therefore, call a mass meeting on
neutral ground, In the Park, for instance, of
citizens generally, without distinction Of party,
for this purpose We are perfectly satisfied
that the respectable men of both parties would
gladly unite on the broad platform of the Union,
and agree on a series OF resolutions tha, would
exercise happy influence in Washington and
every other place.