Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-05-31
From the Washington Union.
Letter of the Hon. Robert Strange, of N. c.

expressing them upon most subjects believing that they
would the opinions Of an humble individual without
possibly think them entitled to the that
responsibility of making them public. Demanded of how
they in the character of personal friend can
you shall make of them 1t proper however, for
to observe that long since have had anything to
with public affairs although have been attentive look
er-on quite great devotion to labo
rious profession to Washington at this time pro
sccnd formally to ask what thought public mat
ter In the excited state of the public mind little
liberation be expected from those with whom you may
chance differ and who utters opinions upon the great
subject to which your letter refers must JOCK TO n0Jda
for public favor should think prudent to
to , aeG appeal n G" not nHd any
from just appreciation of sentiments that really en-
to talk those that
made in the formation of that admirable constitution
no others are to be relied on become of the Mis-
compromise as caed and what has been its
ty that slave property be holden in territory OF the
United States south 81 degrees minutes has
eecuay closed the door against its introduction not
81 Pea om the tariff stion Has it been regarded as any
thing more than so much blank paper What guaranty
that future compromises will receive more
conceive of none. The making OF compromises
then me very idle business unless it be such
compromises made and executed at the same moment
The constitution work its results
and though like everything partakng of human impertec
tion its operation bear hard at times upon Par
and sections of country douo'
whether anything will be gained by compants-cer-
tanly nothing by mutual examinations and
Whenever wrongs are inflicted on particular o I'M
constitutional legislation of Congress- it is then very proper
for the injured party to entertain the question: whether
will submit the wrong the lesser evil whether the
of character as to make necessary an aP
to the EXTREMIST for its redress put nere are
some wrongs under every system OF aw that ADMIT OF no IT,
dress but by the voluntary act of the aggressive party In
the language of the law, it is dannm absq"e 1y-
Enforced redress for such as these cannot De
obtained for the law itself protects the aggresso and he
who seeks by force to redress them becomes himself an a
and will be counted dstur of the pubic peace
Within constitutional limits therefore, we are all bound TO
submit to the will of the majority, whatever that Will may
be- and however dstaefu to the minority But when I'M
passed. however large the
comp blamed Of and resisted by those who suffer under
them TO apply these principles to the subject before
The Wilmot Proviso is unconstitutional measure demon
strated to be by speech of great power by
WS ben hs the wes likely be
put upon the country force r would have been
awess act carried out by the mere strength Of MAJ
of redress from the Unon
may not hope from northern breth
that is at least that ITS
tionay doubtful and that they will not again trouble the
country with its Advocacy But other questions now press
themselves upon consideration and the alluded to
der consider ton in the Senate and upon you desire
my views cannot but repeat my regret that those p9tl-
and hav thereby derived much than their share
of advantages ON our federal compact should on TINS
sion avail themselves of accidental circumstances to deprive
the South of what the spirit if not the letter. of the eonsu-
intended to securethat they should refuse the adoption
of such would throw the whole territory won from
Mexico to the occupation of all whose blood AM treas
law in regard to slavery in force in that territory
question that will not to decide or even to discuss
Congress should have relieved the southern people from the
effects of that doubt by declaring well to the slave
tce and of sound policy This it refused to do but even
threatened positive restrictions and the consequences
that territory Hence California has been occupied exclu
slvey by nonavehoders The spirit of the federal
pact has been violated though its letter be untouched and
nnU m n a and one of the Questions
he he ed no
tuonat in this It is one of exPedeney alone re, we
forward California in her present atudeo claim admission
But that is past Can that evil be remedied by refusing
greater evils Is it not important to the South to remove
this slave question soon possible from the field OF de6ate
perfectly certain that the South has no thought of
up her right hold slaves and that unconstitutional In
with that right is the Rubcon of dissolution Blu
equally certain that she obtain anything NOR
lie than She is entitled to ictissim Jvis Argument Cal
avail nothing before the audience she must address Sh
rights she hope for accessons unless they ma
acquired amid the concatory spirit of political calm
Very important her. then the speedy restoration of re
" pose. Delay in admitting California may rebuke our noth
will that avail anything! Alas so far as interests
well expect by stern rebuke to chang
the skin of the Ethiopian the spots of the leopard An
down those opinions would be wild an attemE
that of 1erxes to bind in chains the raging
Fanatcsm cannot be rebukedcannot be reasoned with
i'll that you ask of the fanatic mailman is that he
keep his hands off You cannot prevent him from
of will say territory proposed is too large for
" state What is that The nonsaveholders Of Cal
critically the details of the sO-caed
and speak therefore only of its general principles 1t the1
of wringng from the necessities
those opposed to recognition of those claims OF equat
that they refuse to accord to justice and gener0l
conatenty by delay should be in favor of del unes
indeed thereby endanger by prOtracted agitation rg
that enjoy without dispute. Upon this branch OF tt
question there great difference Of opinion and for
part incline to the latter Entertaining this opinion ha
should give it in favor of all those measures, take
together, which constitute the great system OF comproml
under consideration not a compromise but sy
of expedent under existing circumstances
rights of the South in humble Judgment rendered mo
than they possibly be under continued agltatO
The admission of California is generally considered the mo
interesting the series and concerning that,
have neither time space for further remarks.
Then as to the Territories. Ought Congress to gil
them government "a government without the unconstt
onal element of the Wmo Proviso Would that mort
friends could be induced spirit of ustl
and hberaty go step further and expresy declare tn
shall be longer under supposed Me
prohibition against the introduction of slavery and tn
them equally the occupation OF every citizen
Union Hut, if there be hope of that, should do
than leave them under unauthorized militia
government with that Mexican bugbear staring us
,o the face.
les Next as to the the surrender of fugitive slav
to the States which look part of tt
SYSTEM though speak of its details Ought not co
or egsae subject which is of the elemen
he federal compact! Experience has shown that
themselves will adopt adequate legislation upon
rights of the South, and the duty of the North, equally
mand that Congress should supply the deficiency do
he altogether like that portion of the system relating to
Texas boundary and could only to vote for 1t
inseparable from the other Sti
me it only proposal Texas which she either
modify, reject she thinks proper She, think mi
be trusted with her she rejects 1t will not affect
he other and if she accepts it is by cera
how dmnlShl