The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-06-04
The Position of Mr.. CLAW.

Much surprise has been expressed at the
attitude lately assumed by Mr. CLAY, in re-
spect to the Administration and its policy
As between this once so distinguished Wing
leader and the President, now thai, by Mr.
CLAY's own iI.-judsed acts, the issue is fair.
j. raised we do no, think there can DO much
hesitation among the people at large. This
was t comparison which Mr.. CLAY could
hardly afford 10 provoke, So far, at least,
as New England is concerned, he will here
after occupy a position FAR less exalted in
public es'imlion, than he would have done,
had he come forward magnanmonsly to the
support Of Wing Administration in its
time of special need Instead of staying
the current which now inevitably points TO
neU generation Of lea iers in the Wing
party, be has only done what was in his pow
er to hasten this very result.
To talk Of settling the Slavery agitation
at oT.e blow-to dispose of the whole matter
in one bills absurd on the face Of it, and
VIA appear still more so in the progress of
events We can only dispose OF the sever
al questions pertaining to this subject a,
they naturally arise. No other plan can
settle this complicated business Califor-
mia asks admission, with free Constitution.
The President says-and SO nine-tenths of
the people will say-admlt her at once. 1t
does no injustice either to the North or The
South. New Mexico is as well of with her
present government, as she could be under a
territorial organization. When she forms a
State government, admit her, Ii she choos-
Is 10 exclude Slayefy-as the popular serti-
ment there has already unquestionably de-
teImined-she has perfect right to decide
upon her own institutions. ard it is 4 great
wrong to interfere, merely because She will
not entail upon her citizens, through com
ing generations what she believes to be a
mildew and curse" This is no injus,
uce to the South for the South has no moro
Jurisdiction there than the North or the
Wes', and can have no proper concern will
her internal affairs at all, after she becomes
an independent sovereignty. And this, until
very recently, has been admitted even by
the same sectional faction that now clamor.
against the doctrine, since it is likely TO OPP
crate otherwise Than they once expected.
We have yet to be convinced that any
new Fugitive Slave law is needed. In real.
iiy, we believe the South cares very little a.
bout il. The existing laws have answered
every reasonable expectation for half cen
tury-And We do not think there is just now
any particular exigency which demands an
alteration. Ii SO, anything the Constitution
requires on this head, VIC believe The gred
majority at the North are prepared to do
There needs no clsmor on the subject. in eli.
,her section of the Union.
As 10 Ulah,-it is folly TO make this httlC
Mormon settlement bone Of contention
No territorial government is specially need
ed there at present. And why are Southern
men so anxious 10 abolish the Slave Trade
in the District of Columbia, yet say nothing
OF .Siarery itself in tina. national domain
This last is the important issue, yet Mr.
CLAY passes it over, in his grand settlement
Of all the difficulties that "aillict the nation"
There is and can be no other proper
course, we repeat, but to take up these sew
sral subjects separately, and on their own
merits, as they naturally arise. No other