The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-02-15
TMEm POST
FROM WASHINGTON.

w ASHINGTON, Ja:'. OIL.
The compromise proposed by Mr.. Clay,
ofal the questions with which slavery is
concerned, is now before The country; and,
so far as the members of Congress and the
people hereabout have expressed any opin-
ION upon it. that opinion is favorable
There is no one point made by the South
ern Senators in opposition to the plan
which canno. be reconci!ed with it, and
with Mr.. Clay's consent. Judge Butler
says, for stance."-"The way to settle
the question is for the North 10 Withdraw
its pretensions TO right to legIsla'e in ali
frmatlon of laws, which we are told, ali
ready exist, and not 10 insist on doing "a
way a mere useless thing. "l' is easily
settled in this way, sir" "Why sneak
of compromise, when the wIthd'asl Of
this unreasonable pretension is all that is
necessary" This does not conflict with
Mr.. Clay's views. He does not suppose
that if all men were philosophers, they
would insist on useless name, when they
have already obtained the substance.
Then, again, Mr.. Jefferson Davis, one
of the most extreme Of the supporters Of
Southern rights, says-T here assert, that
never will | take less than the Missouri
compromise 10 the Pacific ocean, with a
specific admission Of the right to hold slaves
there, until they have been admitted into
the Union" There is no reason to believe
that Mr.. Clay " i'll no, assent TO the line Of
his own making. Mr.. Clay in reply to
Col. Davis, said
81 say. sir, in my place here, that it is
much better for the South that the whole
subject should be open on both sides Of an
Imaginary line OF Sc deg. so min. than that
slavery should be in.erdicted positively
north of 36 deg. 80 min. with freedom to
admit i, south OF 36 deg 80 min. at the will
Of the people; and that The proposition |
have made is infinitely better for the South
than the proposition the Senator has sugges-
ted unless he could persuade Congress, with
the proposition, 10 declare, positively and
absolutely, in favor Of the right to introduce
slaves south OF Sc deg. so min."
Mr.. Clay supposed the latter alternative,
a declaration by Congress Of right 10 es.
tablish slavery south Of the line 10 he lm-
possible; and, subsequently, Mr.. VIM. r.
King and Mr.. Davis, disclaimed that idea
as they themselves held that Congress had
no right 10 establish or inhibit slavery
What the South claims, is that south Of
that line slavery shall be inhibited. Mr..
Clay was understood TO assent 10 this. In
fine, there is no Insuperable obstacle TO
Mr.. Clay's propositions, so far as slavery
iu the territories is concerned; and, if the
territorial question be settled, every thing
else will follow.
hear many different opinions as to the
probability Of Mr.. Clay's success; but
there is scarcely doub, that his scheme
will, IN some shape, be sanctioned BY the
Senate. In the House, opposition to it is
expected from the extreme North, as well
as from the extreme South; but more
cheerful temper already manifes's itself IN
Congress. since MIR. Clay undert ook the
task Of Cancellation.
The Revenue proposition Of the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means Of the House,
is more liberal than that OF the Senate
II gives about S255, 900 more than the
Senate resolution. 1. gives enough, ac-
cording TO Mr.. Meredith's estimate, i. e..
about 2,3O0, 900, for the expenses of COL
iec.ing the revenue the presen. fiscal year.
WASHINGTON. FEB. 2.
The receipts Of the United States Treas
ury, in the quarter ending 3lst Decem.
Der last, were ss. 1906, PAP 72, and the ex-
psndi,ures slO, ,29O. .OS5 56-abou, two and
q half millions Of which were on account
ofPublic Debt and Treasury notes.
The Secretary Of the Treasury has de-
sermined not to rescind his order for redu-
clog expenses in the collection Of the reve-
nue, even il Mr.. Balley's Bill should pass.