The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-24

surrender any plan which may have had more VI
less fundamentally in devising.
Sir, know that there is floating idea in tn
Southern nlli.d, such we heretofore have heard
insisted upon, on this floor, of equilibrium oil
power between the TWO sections OF the Union
some balancing power. However desirable some
such political arrangement, II possible to render il
practicable, might be, all know that il is utterly
unattainabe. We all know that the rapid growth
and the great progress of the Northern portion of
TINS country is such, that it is impossible for the
SCUM 10 keep pace with H. and that IL is therefore,
impossible for il to compete with it in power, I'M
less The rule Of all republics shall be reversed, and
me majority be governed by the minority. But be-
cause u Is impossible that there should be an en-
IRE equality IN this respect-because there is not
and cannot be, an entire equilibrium of power be-
tween the different sections of the country
does II, therefore, follow that the Southern
porhon or me unisn is in any danger, and that
the institution in which il Is especially inte-
rested, is put IN peril by that fact trust not
believe not. What are the motives for South
ern rights in that particular institutions In the first
place. there is that sense of justice which pertains
to men-to every man, in virtue of the fact that he is
man. In the next place, there is the constitution
of the United States. In the next place, there is
the oath which we all take to abide by that con-
stltution In the next place, there is the necessity
of the concurrence of the two branches of the ma
tonal Legislature before any act Of legislative in
fiction OF wrong can take place In the next place.
there is the veto of the President of the United
which might take place in relation to this insttu-
ton Last of all, while we refer TO peaceable and
civil remedies, there is the Supreme Court Of the
United States ready to pronounce the amendment
of every unconstitutional law which may happen to
receive the sanction of the executive branchlof the
government. There is also the responsibility of
Representatives and Senators to their constituents
and lastly though | trust in God that we shall
never have occasion to il, there is the final
right to resort to arms and TO make resistance when
oppression and tyranny become intolerable.
Well, again, is the fact that this great interest of
slavery is in minority in the Senate, fact pecu-
liar to that interest! No, sir, not at all. How is
il with the fishing interest! Ii is greatly in the
minority. How is il with the manufacturing inter-
est? That, too, is in the minority. Hew is il with
the commercial interest! In the minority. In
short, when We pursue the inquiry, we find that
every interest is in the minority, except that great
and all prevailing interest of agriculture which
exist from one end of the country to the other.
Well, sir, when all these enumerations are COM
bned together with the possibility of the final resort
TO arms what further securities can be sought
for, or with what would those who are fearful and
disconnected be satisfied! There is all rea-
sonabe security against any abuse Of power-any
intoerable use ofpower, arising from causes which
you can no more arrest than you can check the
beams which are darted daily from that lumnary
of the system of which our planet forms part
than you can stop up, and make flow back again
upon the Rocky Mountains, the Mississippi River
1t is utterly in vain to hope that you can ever pro-
cure that equilibrium of which we have heard
the slaveholding and the non-saveholding States
hope, and believe, that it is unnscessary-but
necessary, or unnecessary, II Is utterly unattain-
able, from causes over which We have not the
slightest control.
conclude by urging that the plan of the COM
mttee proposes to close and heal all the five
wounds from which the country is bleeding, by
comprehensive compromise. / know, sir, what
will be sad--l know that il will be said that
the agitators WILL after the passage of these
measures, continue to agitate the two extremes
with their cry for their respective avorite measures
that the Wilmot proviso will be proposed to be
added, by supplementary act, to the territorial GO
vernmens that il will be required to be inserted
in the constitutions which those territories may
adopt. / have heard it said, even upon this floor
pass all your measures Mr.. Clay, and we will cry
out, repeal, repeal. But think know something
of the nature of my countrymen. | speak also
from the authority and by the aid Of history.
AT the time when the memorable Missouri Com
promise agitation elected more intense anxiety
throughout the country than there is now, the
whole country was in an uproar-one half on the
side Of the exclusion of Missouri, and the other
the side of her admission. Every legislative body
in the twsnty-three or twenty-four States-I do
not recolect the precise number Of States then
had denounced or approved the measure. The
final settlement was carried into the House of Re-
personalities where the great struggle took place,
and the victory won by small majority. What
was the consequence? Everywhere there
joy, exutstion, and triumph, that the unhappy
controversy was quietly settled and the man who
mony which prevailed throughout the country
would have suffered reproach and rebuke from
the indignant voice Of his country. And now, l
venture to say, that If this measure Of COM
promise goes TO the country with the sane
ton and influence which it will carry if il pre-
walls, the opinion of this committee, of Con-
gTess. and of the executive in its favor, and
calculated as il is to bring peace, harmony and
happiness again the people Of the several States
venture 10 say that If il is passed and goes the
country, that agitation lie ended: They may croak
and howl as they please II is only few miserable
traders in agitation-men who live by means Of
agistion-men who are not satisfied until they can
place themselves at the head Of little clique of
followers whom they can attach to their coat tails
and with whom they can come TO the democratic
party, and say " take me, am good democrat
can bring TO you this little capital-or who will
60 TO the wing party, and say to it, i" take mel
have this little balancing power-I will enable you
to triumph over your adversariss''-it is only such
men as will raise a cry against it. will venture
TO say that il this compromise is passed, and goes
TO the country all such agtators will be rebuked
by the public Indignation into silence.
have done. ! will trcspass upon the time of
the Senate no longer, as ! have said more than
intended TO have said when | commenced. From
the Courier and Enquirer.