The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-30
Our washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, May Is, 1880.
The COMMONWEALTH Stare Property amendment
The IYrl,rot ProUiso-Corpiwg to a Yose-Mr
Clay's Challenge Atoeptsd.
The Senate, to-day, were about 10 try the judy
ment of the body on the amendment of Mr.. Jeffer-
son Davis to the Compromise bill, providing that the
territorial legislatures of Utah and New Mexico
shall not be restrained from legislating for the pre-
fectlon of slave property in said territories.
Mr.. Clay was for :" hurrying up the cakes" that
Is, he thought il was time something was done,
and he wanted to begin to vote. II was time that
some impression made upon the crust of the
bill.
Mr.. Berrien and Mr.. Jefferson Davis thought it
was best to postpone tins vote for day or two,
il was rather important thing, and il was there
fore important TO have full Senate.
Mr.. Dayton, also, thought this vote should be
postposed at least till tomorrow. In the mean
time he took occasion TO say that at the proper
stage of this debate he should be ready to put in
his defence of the Presidents plan, preferable to
that Of MIR. Clay. So that the glove cast down by
Mr.. Clay, few days ago, is taken up, and we must
prepare for demonstration in the Senate by the
Presidents party. Mr. Dayton is a powerful man,
and some do say he is to he followed up by Mr..
Corwin.
Mr.. Chase moved to amend the amendment of
Mr.. Davis, by lacking thereto the Wilmot proyiso;
when the South Immediately rallied to have a vote
at once, and the motion TO postpone the vote was
defeated.
A long rigmarole discussion followed between
Mr.. Hale and Mr.. Dodge the younger, in which
the good sense, and the sound practical patriotism
of the latter stood out in beautiful contrast to the
narrow and contracted fanaticism Of the former.
Mr.. Dodge goes for the Clay Compromise; and II
he can't get that, he will take the Presidents plan,
and such other bills as he may be able TO get.
A legal bit of argument, directly upon the amend
ment come next in order between Mr.. Dayton
(Norih,) and Mr.. Benien, (South,) in which the
necessity of protection 10 slave property in the ter
ritories, (should il be decided by the Supreme
Court to be adDlissible,) was shown by Mr. Ber-
Tien, with his accustomed Gle of the law,
and the logic, TO be an imperative necessity.
The whole subject was at length postponed till
tomorrow.
WASHINGTON, May %, 1850.
The Compromise-M'. Mason and Mr.. CIay--The MIS-
sour Line4 slight NiJ6le Ju, not BiteThe Presiden
ey mired up i,-Mr. Clay and Genera! Taylor, Gen
Csss and Mr. Buchanan, all on Different Taek-BSd
Chonce for the Clay Compromise.
when Mr. Clay, last week, with a degree Of energy,
spirit force and eloquence which in all his long
has been surpassed demanded In his answer to
Mr. Soule. to know what the South wanted and asked
them to show their hand he did not probably suspect
that they had any scheme to propose but that their
whole object not to effect, but to defeat settle
ment of this ugly controversy.
Any doubt, however which may have existed in the
mind Of Mr. Clay spon this head must have been dis
sipated to the winds by the speech of Mr. Mason, of
virginia in the Senate. to-day There could be no.
thing distinct, more definite more emphatic,
than his views upon the Compromise bin brief
index of his objections to the bill and of his own plan
Of Adjustment, will for the present. answer all the
purposes Of his argument.
He objects to the bill of Mr.. Clay,
1. Because it oedes $4,000 square miles OF terri
tory to New Hcxie' now belonging to Texas and sub
jeot TO slavery and because under this oession to
New Mexico the South sacrifice this amount Of terri
tory to the Northern tree solers
Because the boundaries of California absorb all
our coast the Pacific and exclude not only the
South but the vast territories of the interior east OF
California, from communication with the Pacific.
g. Because for these concessions required OF the
South there Is nothing given in return.
The plan which Mr. Mason proposes in lieu OF this
bill, 10 simply
l. To run the Missouri Compromise line from its
present termination in Texas clear through to the Pa
cihc.
q To arrange the Texas dispute and the boundaries
for the territories accordingly.
g. To provide territorial government for that por-
ton Of the present unrcognsed state Of California
south Of the line OF 30 80.
T. To make the admission of the state of California
contingent upon her acceptance OF the Missouri line
is to be declared sovereign State Of this Union by the
Presi6ents proclamation; but shall be limited TO
repret cntative in the House till IL shall be ascerained
that she Is entitled TO more than one.
Mr. Mason was convinced that this plan would be
satisfactory to tho SOulh-that II would settle the
question permanently. Al that was required was
that the North should in good faith, adhere to the
compact Of the Missouri compromise line
Mr. Clay. after cross-examinatiOn Of Mr.. Mason,
thought that ell the Southern Senators
bic to the Missouri eonpromise, then he mi ght agree
to ran II tn 1t touched the state Of California.
Nr Mason No furtheri
Mr.. Clay Certainly not
Gen Csss put in question or two as 70 what vas to
be gained by this Missouri compromise line; but here
Mr. Eerrien quite ready to that the South
would gain The chances OF getting ioOthcli 10 tina.
would he otherwise wholly excluded by the constitu
ton Of California II hcr boundaries are to cover the
whole Pacific coast. a. she has defined them. But
make the Missouri line her southern boundary and
the soil south q territory running four and half
degrees along the Pacific down 90 the Mexican line
and leave open for all the people Of the United states
and every kind Ct property, aud the South viii be
shcd to risk the chances OF another free state the
Mr. Clay aid not like the idea Of splitting California
In half nor did Gen. Cars comprehend the advantage
of running the Missouri line through Utah but stu t
was evident that Sir Masons suggestions had made
their impression upon The senate, and expect the
views ofsfr Underwood tomorrow to strengthen It,
because the Missouri line is old proposition Of his
own.
The Presidency IL mixed ND very thick in this con-
Eroversy 10 l. ibc bone of contention bstwecn Cen.
Taylor and Henry Clay; and between the friends al
Con Cass and Mr. buchanan 70 leading dihc Guilty A
portion Of the Southern democrats favorable 10 the
nemration Of Gen CGss for lSj2-another portion de-
sire the nomination Of Mr.. buchanan. and they are
those who coutcRding fcrthe Missouri sompromise
linc-Nr buchanan this last winter having recon-
mcndcd. while here in Washington. the adoption Of
that line a. tho basic Of a settlement.
While the wings OF the senate Therefore divided
between Cisy Taylor and frcesoil the democrats
divided between Case aud Buchanan SO that even With
the forces Of Clay and Cas- combined the success Of
their compromise Il mighty uncertain.
We are privately adaou he'd that Of the friends
Of Gen Taylor In the Senate. are picking up little
courage from the rm position u the old soldier and
that may expect 20 hear nom them before long,
notwithstanding The challenge of Henry Clay daring
them 10 come 10 tho rescue ~ the President II this
he so how the compromise q Mr. Clay is to succeed.
passes our comprehension. His only hope can be In
Northern democratic votes. and how a sufficient
numbcr Of these u BE- securedis not easily ex-
planned. This Discussion will mostiikely, ~ on for
tie prospect i. thst Deii webster andCooper viii
fall back upon the Presidents plan, the last re-
eort, for California And besides. in doing 50, they
will essurcdly secure the good viii Of the Prcsi-
dent, which Is something not % be despised when
there are such good chances i0r foreign mission or
cabinet appointment
The Southern radicals. learn, viii wait % hear
from Nashville They expect the Convention 10 meet
and 10 adopt some platform upon which they can
stand in the Senate They cen, " they wish. lay
the Compromise III on the table tomorrow. com
bincd with the Norhern opposition % t but the
South will hold g. g. and make something out off,
hposstle-f not. we do believe Mr. Clay sCompromse
IL gone coon. aud believe, In any event. that
the chances are dead against H. Ia the senate
Something nsy turn NJ. God only knows. Men
hut after all Look A the Downs