The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-06

Bear and ForbsarI
We lay before our readers this morning communica-
ton from the Hon. Richard X Meade, of Virginia 10
which we invite the special attention Of our readers In
making this publication, we take occasion to say,
that columns are not and will not be closed to any
temperate objections which may be made to the proposed
Adjustment, provided they are contained in articles Of
such length that other imperative engagements do
not force decline them We mean only to deny the
Of paper those rabd and Incorporate fanatics
who have brought the present dangers upon the coun-
try; for with such men we hold no terms Mr.. Meade is
far from reaching yet the iorrd zone little excited
he may have become-a little smitten he may be with a
particular but impractcabe mode OF settling the ques.
tion-not quite anxious the people Of Virginia to
give peace to the country. and TO the Union from
the rocking Of the baements but a patriotic man he
is, devoted to his country, and gentleman and a
friend, whose high character we appreciate, and whose
goodwill we should be most reluctant to lose.
In publishing Mr. Meades communication, we are
forced, in justice TO ourselves. and to truth ITSELF to
make few comments; but we will endeaver 10 dis
charge that duty in kindly spirit as possible We
desire that everything shall go before the people which
may tend to explain and illustrate the terms and effect Of
the proposed Adjustment. We most heartily sanction
that arrangement, with those amendments which are
known to be practicable; but still we are not willing
to see that. or any other measure which involves so
much, adopted through misapprehenson or mistake
We pass over without comment those expressions of
Mr. Meade which might be regarded as uncourteous;
being willing to attribute them to the haste Of compost
ton rather than to any other motive We therefore take
up the first point which he makes against us II is: that
in article of Tuesday incorrectly reported the pro.
visions Of the Clayton compromise
To this we have to say, that, looking to our files, we
copied the provisions Of the Clayton compromise,
uerbatim, from the draught printed in the Union
Thinking that amendments might have been made,
we searched files up TO July 9th, ls4s, and
found mention Of the passage Of any amendment ex.
cep that proposed by Mr. Johnson, OF Maryland. the
present Attorney General Under these circumstances,
thought ourselves safe in copying the clause relative
to slavery il was originally reported by Mr. Clayton
Since receiving Mr. Meades communication, we have OBJ
tanned copy of the Senates Journal and in that journal
find mention OF any amendment Of the clause re-.
ferred to- These facts present full justification
OF ourselves while We say at the same time, that by
amendment OF which there is official record the
language of the Clayton compromise made TO read
Mr. Meade presents it We learn this fact by examining
the bill il sent to the House OF Representatives
This error, which have thus explained. Mr. Meade
calls gross error" Be and yet we ask how can
Mr. Meade and his associates escape from the position
in which we have placed them Mr.. Meade admits
that il the Clayton compromise had said the ter
nonal legislature should pass no law respect.
ing slavery" it would have been identical with
the terms Of the proposed Adjustment and consequent
y, that he and those senator's and representatives who
voted with him in s4s could not consistently oppose this
particular feature Of the proposed Adjustment Let us
see According TO Mr. Meade and according to the re-
cord ITSELF the Clayton compromise il was sent TO the
House Of Representatives provided that mo Law SHALL
BE PASSED RESPECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OR THE
PROHIBITION AFRICAN SLAVERY" II for this pro.
vision that Messs. Meade, Burt, venable, Sc, voted
when they sustained Mr. Clayons compromise against
Mr.. Sephenss motion.
Well, let again. II will be remembered that on
the 2ist day Of May, in the year 1850, Mr. SouIe, OF
louisiana who forward the leader Of the south
em gentlemen opposed to the Adjustment, after MIR.
Cemenss Notifying failure, took the ground that the
Adjustment did not give TO the territorial govern.
ments OF Utah and New Mexico the privilege OF
passing those police regulations which might be
necessary 10 protect the STAKEHOLDER, il il should
be decided that slavery can 60 to those Terrific
res. In reply to Mr. Soule, Mr.. Clay said that
he was perfectly willing to amend the proposed Adjust
ment by making provide that law shall be passed
"repeefing The Establishment or exclusion Of slavery"
Now we ask, is not this identical with the Clayton
compromise Can Mr.. Soue or Mr. Meade deny
IL No, they cannot. Yet, are the southern men,
bers who act with Mr.. Meade willing TO take this
amendment offered by Mr.. Clay behalf OF the friends
OF the proposed Adjustment n they are moi, how can
they pretend to Justify themselves for their present
What right have they to dwell objections which will
be given up to them How they reconcile il to them
selves TO distract the country by nice distinctions which
have no practical bearing Mr. Meade admits that the
draugh, Of the Clayton compromise, amended, met
with bis sanction, and commanded his How, then.
LET ask can he oppose the proposed Adjustment, when
its friends willing 10 give him THE VERY TERMS
Of the Clayton compromise for which he voted on the
2sth Of JULY sisi But guard against the possibility
Of error, quote from Mr. Clays reply TO Mr. Soule
The exrac, is as follows:
8JC the viii be satisfied with striking out the
clause, will strike IL out, because against
putting 1t in OF would to its being modified
declare that the territorial legislature shall neither
admit exclude slavery which will leave open to pc.
ce regulations II the will be satisfied with that
am content But " the desires, by any indirect
means by any clause which goes beyond It's poessed Oh
iec by any implication which resutfrom that clause to
either that slavery exists in that country that
n Ia ful carry under constitution