The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-02
Danger or the UnIon-stats OF Things at
Washington.

Our public and private accounts from Washing
ton of the most gloomy description Congress
has been III session nearly three months, and are
as far from eecting any purposes of practical le-
gislauon as they were during the first week Of the
session. Nor Is there any prospect of progress
The rsmor, attribung to Mr. Webster desire or
Intention to come forward with plan for compro-
missing the slavery question and preventing dis
organization Of the goyernment-such rumor has
very nearly subsidized. Ii seems Mr.. Webster wants
,he moral courage to meet the crisis He is man
of great intellect, but of no energy of purpose or
quick impulse Of heart. He mere counsel of
giant intellect, set in motion by fee. The at
Temps made, through sheer imitation of Mr..
Seward, OF New York, TO bring around him South
em men al a tea party, and TO talk about COM
promise, are only laughed at as being absurd, IL
diculous, and melancholy. This man, with his as
sociates and party rivals in New York and New
England, have, for the last twenty years, by their
intrgues and demagog,usm, brought about the
present state of things; and now, having invoked
the hurricane, having called forth the storm, they
set to work like smpletons to allay the elements of
dsoreanization which beginning to crack and
cIumble about them. Fools fools fools
We learn positively, fron the best sources Of
information, that there is no prospect of settle
ment of the present agitation growing out of the
slavery question, for months TO come. Speeches
will be made, oraons delivered, questions called,
but nothing eigectual will be proposed no plan of
compromise devised, which might settle the pend
ing difficulties, and allow the general government
Of thus great republic TO proceed in its great and
mighty destiny The danger Is now more deep
than apparent, Fifty or sixty Southern members
IN Congress are already pledged to stop all legsla-
ton, all action and all supplies until the Northern
representatives. be brought TO their senses, and
consent to gave the South justice and living qua
rantees for their constitutional rights for all time
to come. DISCRIMINATION of the federal govern
ment, the first step towards disunion, has already
begun in Washington. Already there are fifty
or sixty Southern members pledged to each other
10 stop all legislation and supplies and before two
months will have expired, no doubt, under the
agitation and instruction of the South, every MEM
Der of Southern State wall be united as one
man, and Will act in concert against every measure
OF the majority. The minority have rights TO de-
fend as much a majority Generally, in the
North, the dogma prevails among pollucians, that
majority, IN every instance, possesses absolute
power ia every act of legislation But 1t is no
such thing Such dogma is similar to that
which existed IN the middle ages, when kings aud
Il
minority have constitutional rights, as well as
majority; and when an unthinking, unrehecting,
end uTsnncal majority attempt TO counterfeit or
invade the constitution, then minority. under the
present system Of government, have a night TO
adopt those parliamentary tactics and that COM
mon law-resstance-which characterized the
struggle between the Long Parliament, in Eng
land, and Charles the First. The Southern
nneuhFre crly form "a h,,t,
unite in both houses, least in the House OF Rep
Tesentstiyes, by parliamentary tactics-by COM
mon law privilsge-and stop the supplies, stop
all legislation. stop the wheels of government, It
their constitutional rights are invaded. And they
will do so, until they are respected and settled on
the principles Of justice aud common humanity
Such, we believe, are the sentiments which pre-
vail among The Southern members in Congress,
and they will prevail until such time as this ques-
ton Can be settled on the ground OF political equal
ny IN the Senate, which is the only guarantee the
South will sccept. The admission of California
will be reslsisd by the South on that very ground
that It disiurbs the balance of power in the Senate
end throws the South into the hands of majority,
who viii be under the influence and lanaticism of
the North. In the meantime, the public had bet
Ter pr'Paie iotscenes which will take place during
the present session Perhaps this Congress may
aoiouIn without any action, in two weeks-pcrhaps
In two monihs-perhaps In little less than two
years. One thing Is sure. The present state of
things may lead, not yet 70 the ruin aud dissoa.
ton If The Union-but what is as bad, TO the ruin
OF The commercial, banking, financial, and ship
pine interests Of the North. These interests will
soon begin TO feel the danger 10y which the Union
is msbacec, when they see their stocks fall their
rents sink, the value OF ships melt away, and the
wages ct labor reduced TO one-third or one-haif
Inc oaJ r'm"oy tor this IL an entire revolution in
The sentiments et the North, whereby both demo-
crate and wings might enter upon the details of an
smicaole adjustment Il this preston, upon the
p'nc'pies 81 Just comprorisr, which can only be
gwen and offered by the Northern members. and
accepted by the South. IN the same splr,t. and on
the same principles, licm which the constitution
Of 81 sTose.
Everything seems 10 prognostcate very dread.
ful times during the remaining session a Con.
gress Cur correspondents in the capital are
sleepless, and always watching, aud will give us
the fret intmatisn of the danger. II is time Tor
men Of business, men Of enterprise AMI skill. TO
look around them. and calculate upon the value If
th,ir properly. their labor. and what effect the
ois,fganzstion Of the federal government may
lead to, under the excitement winch has been
brought about by the demagogues Of both parties
at The North
THt Ptts' ~ lsroersSr Marrss conpeis to omit
the First Annual Rsportsf the Ten Govern re ~ the
Al~s house the Celebration of 81 Dsvi's Dsy by 20.
Wshh Society the Proceedings 81 the Groeer. Meet.
ing, Jesisrdsy, ADD some twenty columns Of other
hshJ entertaining reading. all OF which We have in
type and "ill publish at the earliest opportunity.
srLSSpin srrsssHtF LAuScH.--The beautfsi .,s,u.
shgp Baltic the fourth Of Nv 4 4 f,t,u... -,