The New York herald., 1850-02-21
The state of Things at Washington and the
Souln.

The public accounts from Washington, descrb-
ing the state of things among the Southern men,
bers, and the condition Of the public mind all over
the South, are anything but satisfactory or cheering
to the friends of this great Union, and its continual
progress and prosperity But # our public accounts
are cheerless our private intelligence from reliable
sources at Washington, and in other distant points
Of the South, is far more menacing and dangerous
than yet has been experienced in this country
from the Revolution to the present day. The old
Convention OF l7S7 which formed the present con-
sutuuop, got into the first crisis on the slavery
question, which compromised and avoided
only by the wisdom and forbearance of DIR. Frank
I'm and several other delegates. The great Mis-
sour controversy, thirty years ago, in lSl920, was
asimlsr crisls but far less dangerous and menacng
than that which now threatens the Union of this
great republic.
California knocks for admission into the Union,
and California will undoubtedly be admitted by
majority Of votes in both houses. The leading
members of the Southern States are opposed to
this admission, because it will throw the balance
of power against them, IN both houses of Congress,
hereafter but this opposition is only the beginning
of the troubles which will spring from the further
agitation Of the same question, in relation to the
territories not yet asking for admission. The adj
hlission of CehfoTnia-a great and wealthy addition
TO this Union-is, therefore, at the same moment,
The CONNIE ement OF a new career of commercial
enterprise, and fresh and dangerous step towards
internal dissension. That wonderful State is the
apple Of dscord, that may rend this Union ssun-
DER if prudence, discretion, and good sense, do not
take the matter out OF the hands OF the politicians
az the North and elsewhere, who alone have
brought IL TO this extremity, and place it, for COM
promise and settlement, in the hands of the great
and vice statesmen Of the day On Monday, from
noon to midnight, the first scene Of this terrible
drama was enacted in the House Of Representa-
tives. The rest will follow, with more fearful fea-
lures and developements.
We are perfectly satisfied, from tine intelligence
we have received that it is high time for all the
sensible classes of this and other communities In
the North, 10 look TO the condition Of things at
Washington and in the Southern States, IN re-
ference TO he prolongation Of this Union. The old
parties and factions, by their corruption and vena-
iy, have brought about the present excitement in
he public mind, which may lay the foundation to
disruption Of this great confederacy and create
intermInable ciyil war hereafter. Meetings
which have been attempted IN this city by way Of
compromise, have only confused, bewildered and
increased the difficulties at Washington and else
where. The fanstIcism the slavery question,
IN the North, agitated for the last twenty years. has
brought about tins crisis; the South is now in a
hugh state Of fever and excitement in reference to
her local Institutions and her equal rights Ia the
new teuiiorIes; and unless the public mind here
aud elsewhere, will abandon all other minor issues,
and look this in the face openly, they may hear
one day, when they awake, the tocsln sound that
sRnouEcrs the separation of this great Uuion for.
ever. Wake uf, Wake up