The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-08-01
Letter from. HON. ". Nc W.IIiel
VasAington. June I'd. 1s50.


received.
] assure you that the present crisis
ia our affairs is by far the most alarm
ing that | have witnessed. 1t is likely
you have read the speech which / deli
vered early in March, on the slavery
question. If SO, no doubt you were
impressed with my apprehensions for
the safety Of the South; and also for the
permanency of our institutions. Since
then, Lshave seen nothing To lessen
those apprehensions-but on the Con>
trary much TO increase them. AT that
time thought that the body of public
sentiment at the North had but to be
aroused, and that its patriotism would
do US justice, and that the edemagogue,
ism, that thought saw here in many
Northern members, would be rebuked,
and some basis Of adjustment mlght be
adopted to which we could submit
without dlshonOr and ruin. But in this
| believe, / was mistaken. And ono
Of the circumstances on which found
that opinion, is the fact, that no north
ern whig so far as am informed out Of
Pennsylvania, and but minority Of
northern democrats, has dared to come
up to the support Of Mr.. Webster, who
1t is true, made very patriotic speech,
80 far as sentiment is concerned, but
which certainly conceded nothing to
the South. | believe that Mr.. Seward,
ofsNew York, is much more the expo.
nent of Northern sentiments than Mr..
Webster. 1t might be that not many
Wilt be so bold in their avowals-but
their are very few that will fall short Of
him IN their U0tes and actions. YOU will
perceive, at once, why infer that this
Northern anti>slavery sentiment is far
in advance Of Mr.. Webster. You are
aware that Mr.. Webster is emphatical-
Iy the great man ofthe north>east--of
whom New England; and even the na>
lion may be justly proud, and that he
has therefore been looked to as the ex-
ponent Of opinions, Of at least the wings
Of New England, ifnot of the whole
North. Notwithstanding such are his
talents aud such his influence, not one
even a. his own colleagues has dared
to support his position. To-day IN
The Senate all his views and opinions
we're denounced by his colleague, MIR.
Davis, os nothing but concessions to
the South, to which he could never
yield his support. This speech Of Mr.,
Davis's was made to day, on what is
faniiliarly known as the 'Compromise
Bill" Even to this Mr.. Davis was
utterly opposed. as conceding too much
TO the Southland so is almost every
Northern whig and much the greater
portion Of the northern democrats, so
for as can learn. Now for the pur-
pose oflesting Northern sentiment, let
US consider whatthat Compromise bill
is-as il may in most respects be look.
ed to as the embodi- ment Of the op-
iniOns of Mr.. Webster, with some COM
mentaries which he makes uPonit nj
his speech.
This bill admits California with all
irregularities; with her constitution aud
boundaries. This is no concession to-
the South-for if You could strike out
oftbe constitution, the clause prohibit
ing slavery. do not believe that there
are FIVE, if one, Of that majority who
are now IN such hot haste to have her
admitted into the Uthon, who would
vote for her admission. They are the
very Same men who, at the last and
proceeding session of Congress, would
not give to her territorial government
unless it was accompanied by the Will
mot proviso.
Then next important feature Of the
Compromise, is that in relation to the
Territories Of New Mexico and Utah.
Now / do not look upon II as any con-.
cession to the South; that Congress
should do its duty. bv tho establish
ment Of Territorial governments this is
our bounded duty, which nothing has
heretofore prevented but the Wilmot
proviso. II is true that the bill does
not impose the proviso on those Terri
tories--but I would ask ifthis is con-
cessiDn to the South7 Why a man who
hal threatened to rob me Of my purse,
might as well claim that he had made
3 concession to my rights, as an indivi.
dual when he omitted, or from fear, Of
the consequences was deferred from
his objects, as for the North to claim
this as concession to tile South. Il
is no concession. In the most enlarged
sense, it is no more than Congress now
doing what il ought to have done two
years since But letus enquire what
sort eta concession Mr.. Webster, Mr..
Clay,anI every other northern man who |
supports this compromise billsconsider
u. They with one voice tell us that
we are excluded from those TerTIto>
ries by tho Mexican laws, which iheyI
" q 4 IL \ ~