Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-04
MIR. WEBSTER.

All eyes in Washington are turned upon DA-
MEL WEBSTER; for there seems to be an almost
unanimous sentiment that he has it in his power,
at this critical juncture of public affairs, 10 be-
come the great Pacificator of the country
Pledged, by the precedents of his whole life, and
by the loftiest inspirations of his own eoquence,
to the maintenance of the Unlon it peculiarly be-
comes him, the greatest statesman OF the North,
to step forward, and achieve the glorious consum-
nation of quoting sectional controversy and re-
storing harmony to the Confederacy. There is
no doubt that Mr. Webster has been fully con-
scious of the opportunity now presented to him OF
exerting an important influence in favour OF an
honorable and permanent adjustment OF the ques-
tons which agtate the Union. 1t is known that,
for some time past he has been deeply engaged in
elaboration and consultation upon the details OF
some scheme of settlement. We think we can
scarcely be mistaken in assuming that the result
of his reflections was submitted to the Senate on
Thursday last, by Mr.. Bell of Tennessee, in the
preamble and resolutions which we published in
this paper of Saturday morning We shall await
with eager anxiety, the speech which Mr. Web
ster will shortly deliver-probably tomorrow. Ii
he fulfil the expectation which is INDUCED, he will
unquestionably place himself in position as noble
and commanding as was ever assumed by any
statesman of any country. If his effort succeed,
the gratitude of every patriotic bosom will be free
ly awarded to him.
The reader will find, in the remarks of Mr..
Bell, which we insert to-day, very luminous and
satisfactory exposition of the views which have
prevailed in the elaboration of his plan OF COM
promise. Its greatest merit, in our judgment, is,
that it incorporates with an adjustment OF the pre-
sent controversy about the Territories, provision
for the division of Texas into three slave States
1t will be remembered, that Mr. Webster, in de-
Tending the North against the charge of illiberai-
ty to the South, has frequently laid great stress
on the fact, that it consented to the admission of
Texas into the Union, with her prospective SUBJ
division into several States, all Of which, below
$500, would be slave States Mr.. Webster,
therefore, would do nothing more than make good
his own argument, by proposing to carry out the
obligation of the joint resolution OF annexation
In regard to the proposed cession by Texas of
her territory North of the Gath parallel, it strikes
us as being very happy suggestion. The North
releases that part of this Territory, which lies
north of $3.50, from the restriction against slave
~ embraced in the annexation resolution; and
the South yields to probable practical exclusion of
slavery that part which lies south of 36.3o.-
Moreover, the addition of this ceded Territory to
New Mexico would settle the perplexing difficulty
as to the North Western boundary of Texas
Then, the present and prospective establishment
of Territorial Governments, without reference to
slavery, is policy which will be satisfactory to
the South, though it expect to gain nothing from
its adoption but the quoting of hurtfu agitation
The admission of California, i'll connection with
these other salutary measures, should be entirely
acceptable to the South