The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-03-27
Compromises.

Many of our distinguished statesmen have
brought forward plans, by which they propose
to compromise the great question which now di-
vldes this Union into sections; but neither of
them, as we believe, suggesting anything better
than the Constitution itself for the settlement of
difficulties. This instrument is broad enough,
and comprehensive enough to cover all questions
affecting the rights of the States, as we'll those
of Individuals and it is just absurd, and as far
beyond the power of Congress to entertain ju-
risdiction in affecting the rights of the for
mer, as it would be for that body to erect itself
into tribunal for the trial of questions affecting
the rights of the latter. This latter they will
hardly presume to undertake, though Judging
from what they have done, there is nothing too
absurd for them to attempt. To settle this ques-
ton, all that Congress need to have done, and
onght to have done, was to provide governments
for the contemplated Territories, and leave the
Supreme Court to settle all such questions as
come properly within the jurisdiction of judicial
power One or two trials at Court would settle
this vexed question forever, and this would have
been done without arraying sympathy againt JUS
tice If slavery could not exist in the Terrific
ries without positive legal enactmcnts, the Su-
preme Court would so declare, and so far as the
south was concerned, that section was willing to
abide that decision, nor did they look for any
thing stronger in their favor than the constitu-
ton. They did not ask that slavery should be
established by an act of Congress. All they ask
ed was permission to try their right in the Su-
been refused The Wilmot proviso was thrust
upon them by men, who, by their own argu-
ments proved, if they proved anything, that its
application wholly unnecessary, as, accord
ing to their own views, slavery could not exist
without positive law. Here, then, was a fair is
sue between the two sections of the Union-the
South contending that the territory was open to
the free emigration of shareholders, with their
slaves-thc North maintaining a contrary doc
trinc, but unwilling to leave the decision Of the
question to the proper tribunal The unwilling
ness of the North to settle this question by law,
Showed one of two things. They either feared
the law would be against them, and under this
apprehension, they sought by force, to impose a
new condition or compromise upon the South,
or, they determined by the same overt act to put
the South out of the pale of the Union. If they
did not fear that the Constitution would be against
them, why did they ask positive law, (the Will
mot proviso) prohibiting slavery And if they
believed that the constitution protected the rights
of the South, why did they seek to invade those
rights, and violate the constitution? Fanaticism
and demagogueism did the work, and what acas
4 simple abstract question for the decision of
court becomes question to be settled by the an
cry passions and conflicting interests of twenty
allions of people. These passions and interests
when welded against the weak by the more
powerful section of the Union, bids defiance to
precedent, law or justice, and nothing but the
dread of their own ruin seems to prevent them
from crushing beneath their power the weaker
members of the confederacy. Such was the po-
sition Of this question previous to the announce
ment made to Congress by the President, that
California had erected herself into an independ-
ent State, and was knocking for admission by her
assumed a new feature, and here, too, the South
abandoned their first, and tenable position under
the constitution, adverse to their own definition
of constitutional right. The storm of passion
and fanaticism is raging above and around, while
beneath them yawns the fiery sea of rebellion
and devastation. Is it not time for both sections
to pause-to consider the ruin which antagonsm
must inevitably produce, and draw from their ST.
lent reflections and the solemn warnings of their
immortal fathers those LESSONS of prudence and
and which has kept them united through ma
ny perils and dangers. And returning to frs,
principles, is it not proper that the same lessons
of wisdom should guide them in the settlement
of a question growing out of their unity as ma
ton, and their identity as people. If they be
willing to settle the controversy on the broad
principles of right and justice, there is no neet
of compromise. The constitution defines the
rights of all, and if it be obscure to the blind,
incomprehensible to the ignurant, there is tri
unlearned may be instructed. Away then, will
compromise and propositions, and return to the
compact of the Union and the Constitution.
o. The county of Polk, Iowa, is only SO in
debt What other county in Iowa, can say the
same? Not Dubuque we trow.
CAL1FoRNIA--The late floods in Caiforni;
though of much damage, serve to develope the
golden stores which fill her mountains as we'll a.
to demonstrate the modus operandi Of their diff
fusion throughout her sandy plains. We lear,
from the California papers that the dust was car
ried into the streets of Sacramento by the flood
and that many might be seen washing gold i,
the immediate vicinity of their residences.
The Legislature of this golden State is some
what embarrassed in it's financial affairs, and
project for issuing state scrip was being discuss
ed. A bad beginning, surely.
The arrival of passengers at San Francisco
from the 18th. of April l849 to January 18th
1920, were 5o,S8s OF these, 9,l22 were for
eigners-the residue Americans
Jackson County Convention.
The Democracy of Jackson County met il
- I'D ro,,. or, tho C0tL an,