Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-06-19

South, therefore. aim al a law governing
the territories without the proviso. and by
this means to open adeor to slavery there
which in the present state CT things Is
closed against il. The Presidents re-
commentator is against this policy. and
for .non- action" on the part of Congress,
until the people of the territories. who
are we'll known to be opposed TO The IN
PRODUCTION of slavery. shall adopt con-
,titution Under such circumstances then.
10 what ends should the efforts OF the
I friends Of freedom here be directed!
answer: Isl, To the unconditional adj
mission Of California. Cd. As the pro-
viso cannot pass Congress.) TO the defeat
of anv territorial law which does not en-
brace it, These ends accomplished. we
must hold fast TO them, until constitutions
are formed by the people, excluding >la-
very, or until such renovation of the Uni-
ted States Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives may be made by the North. as
will ensure the enactment of territorial
laws with the proviso. With the seduct
i've influences of compromises at work
amongst us-with the desertion of North
ern men here, from their true positions
with the active exer,ions and overshadow
lug power vi SuCil IIiSii 40 CAhs o''A w -
ster. Cass and Buchanan against the ac-
comp!ishment Of such ends, there is not
one real friend Of the proviso here. who
would not. think, now rejoice. were we
able 10 close the labors of the present
Congress on the slavery question. with
the unconditional admission of California.
and the postponement OF all action on the
territorial laws, until the people of the
North may have an opportunity of repre-
senting their sentiments more truly III the
next. Our labors, if ifsuccesstul, tend 10
this practical result, which is the same as
recommended by the President al the
opening of Congress. and which if adop-
ted then, would have prevented months OF
exciting debate. and saved a vast amount
Of our national treasure.
You will not do me the injustice to in
fer from these remarks. that falter in the
least in my support of the proviso. | am
now as always, for its application to all
territorial laws, and against all terrltorla al
laws which do not include il. Nor am
an admirer of the principle Of "non-ac-
tion;" but desire merely to show that
its results, under eIisting circumstances,
NAV be beneficial to US. l should not re-
gard it as prudent to make an assault upon
one much my superior in physical strength
In such a case | would rather adopt. for
the time being. the doctrine Of "non-ac-
tion,' than to take Mrdshing, anil hare
my eyes gouged out! And upon the same
principle would not regard it as prudent
to urge legislation upon a subject, when
it is evident that the Legislature would.
if it acted in the premises. pass a law in
opposition to my desires!
AS it is now evident that not much. if
any thing favorable. can be done by this
Congress, il is our duty to have a watch
full and anxious eye upon the tuture-to
forget the past, except so much Of it as
may teach us profitable lessons. You
have observed, doubtless. that all the
members from the slave States, in both
branches Of Congress, are opposed TO the
passage of the Wimot Proviso. The
members from the free States are not so
united in its favor, in either branch. Their
union is Indispensable to its passage, now
or hereafter, and we cannot if we would.
shu, out the light of this "fxed fact"
The South will again come into the next
Congress united to a man. She will bring
to that Congress, which must in all pro-
bability settle the question, perfect union
rienced by years Of service in our Ma
tonal councils, and whose thorough know
ledge of the rules. and the avenues to
legislative influence, give TO their service
a potency which does not belong to that
Of northern members who come here
generally '.fresh from the people, with a
deficiency of knowledge of congressional al
machinery. the necessary result of that
al,
''rotation in office" and which dismisses
a member from the service as soon as he
is enabled to become useful to his con
s,ituents.
In addition to these facts. look at the
power the South eXerts over that great
lever upon public opinion-the press Of
the Capital. The three daily papers
here, are all against the Provso, and
decidedly southern in their opinions upon
the slavery question Yet because they
are not exclusively devoted to the promo
ton of the cause of slavery, southern
men have recently organized an associa-
ton and subscribed large sums of money
to establish a fourth paper. which is,
we understand. to be devoted solely to the
furtherance of slaveholding interests. and
to the union OF all parties IN the .Sou'h
upon sectional grounds-to promote their
sectional interests.
Is It possible for the free States. under
such circumstances and agains, such in
tiuences. 10 send 10 the next Congress
enough of their representation united
agains, extending slavery. 10 be success
ful1 ] think not. Certainly not. unless
different spirit prevails among those who
are friends to the proviso. and they shall
unite their action at the ballot box Al
ready are the pariizan Democrats Of the
North marshaling their forces for the Pre-
siden,ial con,es, Of 80. in favor of Gen
Cass. as their leader. who declares the
proviso violation Of the constitution
That this influence. strengthened as it is
bv a division. already said 10 be made in