Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-07-08
From the ". Y. Express.


In visit of eight ten days at the Capitol which
we left Monday night we laboured diligently to ir-
form ourselves OF the sentiment OF the public men OF
the country, oa grades of office and from all sections
OF the Union to the probable conclusion of subjects
OF great public moment now before the Houses of
Congress- Such inquiries have been far from satisfac-
tory, and entirely without promise of a satisfactory
national adjustment Of the questions at issue between
the two sections OF the country In what we have said
in our correspondence of the difficulties at Washing
ton have fallen far short OF the great reality and
our aim has been and is rather to say what we hone
than what we fear; what we think ought to be done
rather than what we have any good for expect
ing will bedone,
There are a great many men in Washington who
glory in hedea that they firm determined, uncom-
promising and unyelding. They are Northern men,
and they IRE Southern men. They are "Wilmot pro-
viso abstraconists upon the side and "36 30 alb
-scborss upon the other and it is the pride of such
SenatQs and Representatives TO fight upon these alb
stractius the point ofhonor they call It, and TO
sacfic@sst neea he the Union selt n ta defence s
need 1ot say that we have no sympathy with any g
extremes, and the time we feel called upon 10
warn men who hold 10 them OF the consequences Of
such folly. Unhapply they are not in the majority
who steer The middle course OF the Constitution, and
Congress and we fear, in all the States but few men
upon whem even in the spirit Of affection for the
Union Pig mantle OF Washington of Adams, oil Frank
lin and their compeers rest He who will turn to the
debates the convention of 1887 and to the debates in
the Congess OF 1885, with here and there exception
will hardly find anything saidor done now worthy of
hose who atorene laid the broad foundations of this
free government and, as they had hoped, laid it in
spirit OF cbncession compromise and undyng affec-
ton for the Union of the States.
But cannot bring ourselves to the belief that all
their abos and sacrifices are to result 10 the greatest of
human calamities: the separation OF the American
States Forbid it, heaven forbid it, patriotism forbid
it, all who cling to the American example as the hope
and refuge OF tolerance OF religion, of liberty and Of
aw
But THERE'S danger We have heard the purest The
cames and the best men OF the nation declare within
few days st,not in the heat OF debate, but in the
privacy OF conversation, and speaking with dimmed
eyes and swelling hearts they gave utterance the
thoughts which weighed upon their mnds-that this
s9oernment mas practically at an end. How, and
where! we asked. In the temper of the people's re-
presentaves of both sections of the Union in the pen
up feelings of who when they speak, denounee the
Federal Government, deny its parental character its
equality in the diffusion of rights of favors and of JUS
tee, and who beg IN no measured unmeaning Ian
guage to be delivered from what they call its hraldom
and oppression, There many such men in Congress-
and they declare, and with some show OF authority
for men do not oten counter to the will of those
whom they represent-hat they do but speak the will
OF their constituents.
That any large number of the American people are of
this way OF thinking. we do not believe: but it is la
inevitable that this should be the opinion of any, and
still more amentable that such should be growing
opinion in the United States. A desire for disunion
has been publicly expressed in Congress, but is urged
privately in w ashington by public men, and advocated
openly, as we have recently seen, in the States
Theremedy, or the means to restore good feeling we
have from time to time pointed out wei as we could;
but every day unfortunately has made bad worse The
Texas boundary question is the serious obstacle in the
way OF Northern men; and the efforts Of New Mexico
to settle that question for herself and add another to
the Tree States, with populaonaneither homogeneous
nor republican, intelligent national, is the new South
ern difficulty, though both but incidents to
old evils, all OF which hang upon that fatal measure
the annexation OF Texas
When. we say that the National Wing Party is bro
ken up for the time if orever that the National
Democratic Party is in like manner dsseryered and
that these two great parties, are fast resolving them
selves into sectional parties point out the real evil
and that one which the Father Of his Country especial
y feared and against which he warned and admonish-
ed the people fond parent would his beloved chill
dren. L is this calamity we dread more than any
other. The South is fast becoming one against the
North, and the North is and more ready TO be-
come one against the South. This is the true state
OF TACT in regard to action the of Government
Whatever opinions may be expressed to- .he eontrary
and 1t is the existence of such state of fact which
prompts us to invoke the wisdom, the moderation the
good sense and the patriotism of the North