The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-31
From the Richmond W'hig..
The California ResoI utf ons.


In his speech upon the bill making provision for
the recapture Of fugitive slaves, delivered in the
Senate few days ago, Mr.. Butler, of South Caro-
lima. took occasion 10 allude TO the present perous
condition Of the country, and TO observe, that he
had forescen the storm that would arise from the
acquisition Of new territory after the Mexican war
On that account, he added while he had voted dur
ing its progress for men and money, from sense
of patriotism, he had steadily opposed the acquisi
ton to which we have alluded. In such opposition
MIR. Butler proved himself to be not only patriot,
in the most enlarged sense Of the term, but man
of sense and foresight II is greatly to be amented
that larger number Of those who belong to the
party with which he is politically associated had
not taken the same enlightened view of the conse-
quences which the signs of the times and the tenn
per Of the majority plainly demonstrated as inevi-
table
The wings, as party, claim to have gone much
farther than Senator Butler. They believed, from
the first, that the would result, inevitably in
the addition Of immense tract of country to the
already enormous domain Of the Union, and, re-
membering the days of the Missouri question, Of
that question which reused sectional passions so
hercely, that their fury struck upon the car Of
Thomas Jefferson 'shkc fire- bell al night shrunk
with fear and trembling from the contamination.
They opposed the war for this, among other and
powerful reasons, though there no other equally
powerful with this. They regarded the Union Of
the States as Of far importance than the acqui
sition Of any territory, however extensive, even
though the very sands oft valleys were gold, and
the rocks Of its mountains pure and unalloyed
chrysoltc. They foresaw that storm OF angry
passions would be let loose and even though some
magician should srirc potent enough To lay IT, they
dreaded lie effects upon those feelings Of fraterna
afe Al, he ,tf.vcI h.
live in the same political bonds They deprecated
such n trial OF the disposition of tho American
people, because they knew that every quarrel,
either between individuals or nations or sections
always leaves a sting behind.
The northern portion Of the Wing party, ON this
occasion, acted in manner worthy Of those whose
political association IL founded upon broad national
principles, not upon sectional feeling. They de-
clared frankly that, IL more territory were intro
duced, they should be compelled 10 vote against the
extension Of slavery fhat Il would be impossible
for them to resist tho unanimous sentiment of their
constitoents-thas by Offering such resistance they
might, indeed, succeed in destroying themselves
but not IN rendering any eectusl assistance the
South-that others would be substituted for them.
who ould not hesitate TO do they were directed
They perpetualy made Of this argument. 20
induce the abandonment Of the war and annexs-
sCOrn-
ful manner, by those whose heads were full Of
"manifest destiny" and who placed implicit reli-
snce, not upon the South herself but upon her 'ns-
tural allies in the NORTH
Even after the war had been brought TO close
the Wbigs, for the same reason, protested against
taking the spoil, but their counsel rejected with
scorn. and Mr.. Folks organ gave good and
substantial reason why should clutch IT, that the
old, monarchical governments of Europe ,rould
laugh at us IL we rejected IL.
All Che present dificulty has been brought upon
the South by Looofocossm The Mexican war and
the spcls Of victory lie at the bottom Of IL all The
honor Of bringing that contest TO hssty conclu-
sion belongs TO two Whig Generals; but Locofoco-
ism s entitled 10 all the glory Of having brought IL
on, and all the responsibility Of tho dangerous crisis
in which VIC are now involved n the non slave
holding States acquired by the introduction Of new
States, a prepondersnoe which must render the
weight of the South nothing in the scale, she has
nobody 70 thank but Locofccoism. The whir-
plainly foressw the state Of things which actually
exists Southern Locofocoism coudnot, or would not
see IL, or lift did, trusted 70 be rescued by its ina
tprsl sllies" Those "sllies" acted with the most
Deliberate trcacbery from the very first They
knew that they could not, IL they we're disposed,
resist the unanimous sentiment OF their constito-
cnts. They knew that they burst not vote with the