Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-29
Tuesday Morning, January 20, 1850.

great sectional controversy which now monopo-
Lies the thoughts Of Congress. Without enter
ing, at present, into the for the differences
we have drawn, we shall present the latter very
concisely.
When Congress assembled, at the beginning of
December there was fixed determination, on the
part of Northern members, of both parties, to carry
through the House, Immediately after its organi-
zation laws prohibiting slavery in the Territories,
and abolishng it in the District Of Columbia
The manifestations from the South ofa purpose to
resist these measures at every hazard, had appa-
rently produced no impression upon Northern
men. The sentiment was openly avowed, as that
of the whole North, that the power OF the Federal
Government must be exercised in every possible
mode to curb and eventually break down the in
stitution of slavery 1t was in view Of these
alarming facts, that Measrs. Toombs, Stephens and
three other Southern Wing members promptly
took the resolution not 10 cooperate with the Wing
party of the North in effectng an organization Of
the House. They believed that the impractcabe
course upon which they determined would by the
delay it occasioned, exert beneficial influence
for the North would have time TO become con-
WINGED of the fact, which it had hitherto disbe-
leved and secuted, that if the measures deemed
obnoxious, by the South, were passed by Congress
and persisted in, the integrity Of the Union
must be sacrificed The expectations of those
gentlemen have, thus far, at least, not been
unrealized. 1t is unquestonably true that
some of the Northern majority are beginning
TO hesitate And, now, we' may almost VEN
rure to predict that the Wilmot Proyiso will not,
during the present session, receive the sanction OF
either House of Congress. The most sagacious
Northern leaders, however, have taken another
tack. fhey now appear to see, what they might
have seen long ago, that, as regards the Terrific
Tiea acquired from Mexico, the North has the
game entirely in its own hands, by simply remain
ing quiet Gold has, in the year 849 accomplish
ed more for the cause of Free Soil than all the
Abolition conventions that ever assembled Ii
has filled Western California with free white
population, who, whether they tie granted the
costly honours of a State Government or not,
must sooner or later. secure admission into the
Union. The other acquired Territories noun
famous and barren, and are considered unsuitable
10 slave labour Hence the North may well be
content to admit California now, and quietly await
the admission Of New Mexico and Deseret, when
they shall have respectively the requisite popula
zion. We incline to the opinion, that sufficient
number Of Northern members of Congress will
be found content to acqniesce in this policy, to
prevent the enactment of the Wilmot Proviso for
she present at least But the District question is
unaffected by these considerations, and we have
seen no evidence of disposition on the part of
the North to desist from pressing it, except that
we believe conviction OF the earnestness of the
South is rapidly gaining ground.
What the policy of the South should be, in the
present condition of affairs, is question of some
difficulty, but Of vast and critical importance. For
ourselves, we do not attach the slightest blame to
the President for inviting the people of California
10 form State Government. We believe the
step was dictated by motives of patriotism, and
that it was no such usurpaton of power as ia ar
gued by Mr.. Seldom, OF Virginia But
whether the South should acquesce in the
admission OF California State, with her con-
stitution prohibiting slavery, and when the North
is confessedly looking forward 10 the speedy adj
mission of Deseret and New Mexico with similar
constitutions and claiming for the latter bounda-
~ that conflicts with the claims of Texas, is
different matter. Taken separately, these three
several accessions of sovereign members of the
coptederacy, do not seem to us to give the South
cause for resistance in the last resort But now,
whilst the question is an open one, it is manifest
that the Southern States possess the only oppor-
1unity they win ever have of securing protection
from Northern preponderance. 1t s our deliberate
conviction that the PRESENTS tie moment tor the
whole South to adopt the sentiment of the State
Of Georgia, impressivey quoted the other day by
Mr.. Bntler, of South Carolina, " Equality or In
dependence" We, for one are prepared to place
This mighty Issue, in the language of the day,
i" above party" Before California is admitted, the
Southern States can insist upon final and equi-
table settlement Of the whole sectional conrover-
sy. Unless we can make up minds at this
luncture, to take our stand against the Northern
doctrine that the General Government must use
all its functions TO assail, and not protect, our
property, we may as we'll give up the contest at
once, and proceed to take measures for the pros
pective removal OF our slaves The South is
strong enough now to take that stand effectively.
In few years more, by the aid of such legal adver
Eisessents for foreign paupers as Mr. Webster's bill
10 give every man farm, the great European off,
Gina geatiam will be emplied upon u.s. Oregon,
Nebraska, Minnesota, California, New Mexico. De.
seret and perhaps half dozen more new free
States, will have their Senators and Representa-
lives in Congress 10 join those of the present f-
Teen Northern States in guaranteeing what they
may cali "a republican form of government" 10
the fourteen slaveholding States---we leave De-
laware out OF the case
II the Southern States will now unite in de-
handing as the utimatum of acquiescense all
equitable division OF the Territory, and further