The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-08
THE NATIONAL ERA.
WASHINGTON, AUGUST s, 1850.
" DRAWING 1T MILD"

The New York TriJnns undertook to convict us
lately of a want of fidelity and candor, because
we did not fully expose the conduct of the
Northern Doughfaces in voting against the adj
mission of Hugh N. Smith, Delegate from New
Mexico. How much he made out of the charge,
our readers who cav our last weeks paper can
determine. But, let US see a specimen Of the
stern impartiality of our captious accuser.
Dawson's amendment is thus properly charac-
terized by the editor:
at seems to me scarcely creditable at dis
lance from Washington, that such a proposition
should be seriously entertained, much less en-.
acted. New Mexico east Of the Rio Grande is
six hundred miles long by an average of one
hundred broad, contains at least sixty thousand
civilized people, is threatened with invasion and
suhjugation by Texas, is surrounded and con-
stantly harassed by savage enemies and utterly
isolated from all sympathy or assistance. We
are under solemn treaty stipulatons with
Mexico to extend to her people the blessings of
civil government as speedily as possible. Yet
here is proposition not merely to refuse Gov
eminent to the New Mexican people, but abso-
lutely to deprive them of that which they have
under the pressure of an imminent danger estab-
lished for themselves. And yet this monstrous
proposition was crowded through the Senate by
one m0jOrity-yeas 20, nays %"
Well-who concocted this "monstrous propo-
sition ~ A caucus of the special friends of the
bill and was not MIR. Cooper Of Pennsylvania one
Of them7 Beyond all doubt. And who sanctioned
and supported it HENRY CLAY, the idol of the
Nero York Tribune. What has the editor to say
of this conduct of his master? Not a word
And what of Senators Cooper and Phelps Hear
him
Among the yeas were Mr.. COOPER of Penn
sylvania who voted under misapprehension of the
question, and Gen. SHIELDS of Illinois, who was
goaded into changing his vote from nay to yea in
opposition to his own deliberate judgment Judge
PHELPS Of Vermont also voted for it-for what
reason | cannot imagine. ! should as soon
thought of Vermont Senator voting to establish
Slavery amoug the Green Mountains But the
mischief was done, and can only hope that it
won't stay done"
Who draws it mild now2 "Mr. Cooper
voted under Misrepresentation of the question"
We don't believe it. Mr. Cooper must have
knowa all about this odious amendment-its bear
ings, its design, its alleged necessity. 1t was
matter of previous consultation-and If he was
under misapprehension, he stood alone in the
Senate Chamber. We don't believe it, MI.
Tribune. Judge Phelps also voted for it-for
what reason cannot imagine" Is it possible
And then Mr.. Clay-Ah, friend, forbear-touch
not that sacred name!
But while the Tribune editor is dumb as to Mr..
Clay's sins, and tries to smooth those of Sen
tors Cooper and Phelps, towards MIR. Benton,
who from the time he took his position on the
Territorial and California Questions, position
known TO be favorable to Freedom, has not
moved one hairs breadth, defying opposition at
home, and the denunciation of the whole South,
he is implacable. Read the following, and then
say, in view Of the loud professions of the editor
of the Tribune Of devotion to the cause of Free
dom, what kind of moral sense that man must
have who can denounce Thomas III. BENTON for
his consistent adherence to position in which
he was sustained by every Senator Of the North
known to be a real enemy of Slavery-Exten-
sion, and glOrify Henry Clay, for his deserton of
that position and in the face of the fact too that
he sustained a "monstrous proposition" for strip
ping New Mexico Of all protection against the
aggressons of Texas
"Now he (Mr. Benton) and Mr.. Clay have
met again, both Senators from moderate slave
States DO h friends Of California and anxious for
her admission; each opposed TO the extension Of
slavery, and each originally in favor Of admitting
California by herself But Mr. Clay became con-
WINGED that she would not surely be carried In as
part Of a general system of organization and
Government for the Territories, and he waived
his own choice to try that which seemed the more
promising course. Col Benton, on the other hand
protesting to concur In and heartily assent to each
particular measure embodied in the Omnibus
admitting California, organizing New Mexico
and Utah without the Proviso, settling the dis
puted boundary, and buying off the claim OF
Texss-has yet fought the measure with despe-
rate energy from first to last, and now rejoices in
its defeat, because proposed 10 do altogether Jou
things whieh separately he heartily opposed! IL this
is not faction, but craftsmanship, let me bea block
head all my days But not is, it must be spleen
and childish nonsense. Old Bullion is evidently
not long for this latitude Thepeope Of Missouri
will not spare him so far from home year
longer
Mr. Benton thought it q wrong principle to
conglomerate in one bill several distinct, incon.
gruous measures, and that each measure would
be thereby delayed He thought II a wrong
principle TO make the admission Of California, a |
right measure In ITSELF depend upon the amount
Of money that might be voted TO Texas. He !