Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-02

RICH MOND, VA.
Thursday Morning, May I'd, 1850.
- SEE FIRST PAGE.
"THE REPUBLIC"

articles recently pubShed IN Wnlcn II
voted paragraph its edition Of the 9th inst p? Wash
angton. Republic OF wednesday.
We have no difficulty in complying with the
Republics request; and we do so the more readi-
ly, because we believe it to be due to the Southern
friends of the President to be distinctly informed
whether the articles in question are to be regard
ed as indicative of his present position with res
pect to the sectional controversy. We shall pre-
face our references to the columns of the Repub-
lie with brief recapitulation of events that have
transpired since the opening of the present Con-
gress.
1t will be recollected that in consequence of the
prolonged failure of the House of Representatives
to elect a Speaker, the Presidents annual mes
sage was not communicated until nearly the end
OF December. In that message he propounded no
spec tic measures for the settlement of the slave
ny question, further than a general recommends
ton that Congress should abstain from the discus
sion of distracng sectional issues, and should
look to the admission of the Territories as States,
as the best mode Of avoiding the chief cause of
strife. 1t was then expected that both California
and New Mexico would soon apply to be admitted
into the Union. In a short time, information
had decided in favour of Territorial Govern
ment. On the 2lst of January, President
Taylor transmitted to the House of Represen-
tatves, his special message, in which he distinct
ly advised Congress to admit California as a
State, and to take no action to provide govern
ments for New Mexico and Deseret. The an
nouncement of this policy was received without
IF
the Wings of the South. They could not no.
nestly approve plan, which they apprehended
would leave the question of slavery in the Terri
tories to be constant source of agitation in Con-
gress and throughout the country and yet, be-
lieving Gas they still dog that Gen. Taylors views
were entirely patriotic, and that his greatest desire
was to see some satisfactory adjustment accom-
pished, they generously forebore to express dis
satisfaction. The slavery discussion in Con-
gress went on. On the 29th January, Mr.. Clay
proposed his compromise resolutions; which
Jailed to command Southern acquescence because
they affirmed the existing legal prohibition of sla-
very in the Territories, and decided the question
concerning the boundary of Texas against the
claim OF that State. Affairs at Washington con-
tnued to wear gloomy aspect, until the 18th of
March, when Mr.. Webster delivered his great
speech, espousing the principles of the resolu-
tons offered few days previously by Mr.. Bell, of
Tennessee, the main points of which were the
admission of California, the organization of 60
vernments in the Territories without the Wilmot
Proviso, the settlement of the Texas boundary
questions by transferring the part of that State
lying North of "a deg. with her consent and for
consideration to the Territory of New Mexico,
and the solemn recognition Of the obligation of
Congress to assent to the division of Teas inlo
three or more States. Mr.. Webster's speech sent
an electric thrill of JOY and satisfaction through
out the Union; for, in the scheme of settlement
which it suggested, the country recognised
plan really capable of restoring harmony to our
distracted confederacy. In a few days. the crafty
Senator from New York uttered his abominable
speech, against the Norths surrenderng the Will
mot Proviso, and for legislatng under some law
higher than the constitution. We allude partcu-
lary to this effort because it fixes an important
point in the course of "The Repubkc" That
paper promptly took up against the infamous
doctrines of Sewar and commented upon then,
with pointedness and severity too remarkable
not to be deemed significant. The article (Which
appeared about the 18th March, was largely
republished, and was considered to afford salts
factory evidence that the Administration had re-
solved to pursue a conservative policy, at the
hazard of sacrificing the support of Seward and
all who sustained his doctrines. AT the same
time, the impression was allowed to gain credence,
that the President looked with cordial appreciation
upon Mr.. Webster's efforts to effect satisfactory
compromise.
In the beginning of April, the friends of COM
promise in the Senate began to move earnestly in
the Senate for the reference of all the questions
touching slavery to a committee of thirteen, and
especially for the combination of the admission of
California with the organization of governments in
the Territories. On the 9TH of April, Mr. CLAW
nobly took ground for the committee and for the
combination. On the Sth he took that position
still more decidedly, and joined issue with Mr..
Benton on the question, whether California should
be admitted alone, or in conjunction with gener-
al settlement The test was on Mr. Benton's pro-
position to except from the sub ects to be consd-
cred by the committee of thirteen, the admission
of California; and the decision of this question was
deferred to Thursday, the til of April. On that
day, after hard struggle, Mr.. Benton's PROPOSE
ton was voted down, yeas 26, nays %. But the
resolution for the appointment of the committee
was not acted upon On Friday, the 18th, Mr..
Benton gave notice of his series of nine amend
ments or instructions, in addition to five he had
previously offered all of them forbidding the con-
jucton of the California bill with any other. Mr.
Foote'S resolution for the committee was not be-
fore the Senate when Mr. Benton gave this no.
tice, for the Deficiency Bill was the special order.
Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Clay, however, had obtained
leave to make explanations of their views, and Mr..