The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-07
Mr.. CLAVS RESOLUTIONS AND PLAN OF CON.
PROMISE.


PROMISE.
We have been at pains to present such a report
of the debate in the Senate, on the 29th of jan
uary, on Mr.. Clay's plan Of compromise as the
reader may find time to examine. His resolu-
tons, in brief, propose to admit California as a
State, with reduced boundaries; to institute Ter
ritorial Governments for New Mexico and Desc
ret, mIhom the Wilmot Prorpo to bny out the
claim Of Texas to large portion of New Mexi-
co to make the abolition of slavery in this District
dependent upon the consent of the people of Mary
land and Of the District, and upon just compensa-
ion and to prohibit the importation of slaves into
the District for sale or residence to provide more
stringent laws for the recapture offugiiyes and to
deny to Congress the power to regulate or abol-
ish the interstate slave trade.
We have no doubt that Mr.. Clay is actuated by
patriotic motives in submitting these resolutions,
but it will puzzle our readers to find out where
the compromise is, said to be proposed in them
They demand ofthe free States to exclude large
portion of the State of California from the bene-
fits Of its ant-slavery Constitution, to continue
their sanction to slav, ry in the District of Colum
bia to give increased facilities for the recapture
of fugitives from service or labor, when the Con-
sttution does not bind them to take any part in
their recapture, and to abandon the Wilmot Pro
viso, in other words the Jeffersonan policy of the
Ordinance of 1887 ! And what is the considera-
ton which they are to receive for these extraor-
binary concessions? We should like to see it
pointed out
The subject is one that admits of no compro-
mise What rights has Slavery in the territories
acquired from Mexico7 1t did not exist there
when we acquired them-it was prohibited by
law-it has not since been reestablished. The
Territories are free in law and in fact What is
there to compromise What can Slavery give in
return for an abandonment Of the Territories to
its sccursed pretensions2 Blight, and mildew,
and blasting and eternal discord. The question
~ Slt between North and Sacth-for the citizens
of all sections have an unquestioned an unques-
tonable right to settle in the Territories, to enjoy
equally their richest benefits. It is question
between Liberty and Slavery-between institu-
tutions which make the laboring man, property.
and institutions which seek to make him prop
y-holder-between a system which seeks and
promotes the interests of all men in all sections,
and system which tasks and degrades large
class, for the exclusive benefit of small class,
to the detriment of all other classes THE sys-
tenn which has no rights, save those created and
guaranteed by special law, Mr.. Clay proposes to
tolerate in Territories now free by law and in
fact from its presence And this is called compro-
mise
The resolutions, 80 far as they relate to the
Territories propose practical Non-Interpemtion-
the Non-lntervention, not of General Taylor, but
Of General Cass For this gentleman, as inter-
preted by the Washington Union, while finding no
express grant Of power in the Constitution, infers
the power of Congress to give government to the
Territories from moral necessity, which also must
be the measure Of the power-and that, as there
is no such necessity for legislation on the subject
Of Slavery, Congress has no power over the sub
ject, and ought not to pass the Wilmot Proviso
MT. clay REACHES Pr~ursery the game concru-
sion, though by different process Both unite
in this that Congress ought to establish Terri
torial Governments, but impose no restriction as 10
Slavery Precisely this issue was passed upon by
the People of the United States at the late Pres
Dental election General Cass stood forth The
distinct representative of the principle of Non
Mterrention, as embodied in Mr.. Clay's resolu
tions, against q candidate non committal on tn,
subject, and on tina, issue he was defeated, tn,
great majority even oil his supporters in the FREE
States, while voting for the man, protesting
against the principle he represented
And now, distinguished Wing Senator intro
duces, as platform of compromise in the Senate
of the United States the very doctrine and policy
which were so signally condemned by the grea,
majority of the voters of the country little more
| than one year ago!
The sentiments of Mr.. Clay, generally, were
better than his resolutions. They divided him
evidently, from the extreme Southern men II
will be observed that his plan was promptly dis.
avowed by them in emphatic terms. There is nc
limit to their demands. They insist upon reject.
ing California, because her people have decided
against slavery. They demand that the Terrific
ries shall be thrown open to slavery. They as
sert that slavery is not excluded now by law from
Cnelr Douuudrits inty ailIrm tuaJ COnRrtSs
c,nnot touch the subject of slavery in the Dis.
trict They insist that no free Sta'e be admitted
into the Union, without being coupled with a
slave State They would convert the free States
into hunting grounds for the kidnapper, and use
the whole corps of postmasters and custom house
collectors as catchpoles for the STAKEHOLDER.
Practically the resolutions of Mr. Clay yielded
| all that they demanded but they denounced
them, because the concessions were placed upon
reasons which they feared would not furnish
grounds in future for more extensive demands.
There is but one way Of dealing with this sub
ject Concede not one inch Of the free Territorie.
of the United States to Slavery if there be any
act of the Federal Government authorizing i
anywhere, repeal that act Non-Laeruention, il
its true constitutional sense, is the policy b,
which these audacious demands should be met
And as for conseq uences, are willing TO abd
| them.
HOW TO SAVE THE UNION.