The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-10

~hh ""i cai cHuuTe tiic Suil-ilSll just aDOub as
y long as this Comus and his crew" could resist
3full and fair discussion of their principles before
the people. From their own mouths let them
be condemned. a.l,rr. r..,, ,...N p. f6|
~ The self 'yclept" Union editor admits
that in l848 he took the ground that the South
would acqucsce in the Missouri Compromise
Ilre, : and IN nothing less" But he says he did
not make it a sine qua non Or ultimatum, which
he corplains of us for doing, for he would agree
TO any adjustment as favorable to the South as
that Compromise. Well, did we not say that
the line Of SO 80, or lis equtualem was our r1l-
tma1um? What is the difference to plain n.,r
between our position now, and the U,lion's in
5IS4S! - ''4 III. orr
The Union however now maintains that whili
he calls the non-intervention policy Of the pend;
ing plan, is rs good for the South as the Missouri
compromise or better We'll, we would like some
Ingenious man to show what possible chance the
ESoutf has by the plan now proposed, of obtain
ling one inch of the territory in dispute, or even
3of retaining what we thou ght wassecured to us
hin Texas by the terms Of annexation a8s
But BY the Missouri Compromise line extend.
ed to the Pacific, the Sorth certainly has chance
Bof occupying the Territory of California south
Bof that line and is sure of retaining her TexaI
Territory J,
As for the stand that General Cass has taken
against the Wilmot Proyiso and in favor of non
Intervention, as he understands it, we cannot
conceal from ourselves and our readers that he
Sand his friends have rendered the latter policy
acceptable at home, by eontending that it would
Operate etfectually to exclude the South from
gall territory, as the Wilmot proviso And we
Fare not oppressed with admiration of such justice
Tor gratitude for such libcrality as that
But General Cass has intiInated that he might
vote for the Missouri Compromise to save the
Union. We think the safety of the Union de-
Spends on the success of that plan. If General
Cass wi II thus vote he will give substantial proof
3of his title to Southern regard-to the regard of
]all frie nds of the Union. And none will be more
READY than we to recognize his patriotism in so
tdoiTig. If his constituents will not support him
lin such a course, they are untaithtul to that
III MON they profess to love so much; they prove
II themselves ready to sacrifice it to their own
iliust of territorial or political aggandizement,
attempting to exclude their brethren from Il soil
land climate they themselves will never occupy.
As for the line of policy which General Cass
! now pursues, we deny it to be non-intervention
Hit gives the intervention of Congress to sanction
= an exorbitant claim of territory by California
n claim designedly cxhorbtant to accomplish the
object of the Wilmot Proviso-to determine by
the will of the people of the North the institr,-
|tions of the people yet to cOlonize South Cali
afornia, and to exclude the South from all share
1of it,
As for our desire to modify the Missouri Com
promise, so as to. obtain guarantees for slavery
south of the line, all we propose, is to provide
that all property recognized us such, in the sew
3eral States, shall be recognized south Of the
Missouri line. Otherwise the South might after
3conceding to the North by act of Congress, ALL
north of that line be excluded from her portion
south of it, by the enforcement of Mexican law.
And no man who is disposed i'll good faith to
adjust this controversy on the basis of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, can hesitate to make the terms
clear and explicit
We seek no recognition or guarantee by Con-
Igress of slavery. The South asks no such en-
|dorsement of her institutions But we desire
the rights of American citizens under American
laws and on American soil to be held paramount
Ito Mexican law.
1t is in vain to evade the merit of the position
the South has now assumed. She stands ac-
Quilted of all ultraism by taking it. She cannot
Ibe bewildered by sophistry-she cannot be delud-
led by cunning--she cannot be intimidated by|
abuse or by threats to abandon it. Every day|
conviction attends her argument, harmony in
1creascs in her counsels, and confidence in her
cause.
If the third class of opponents, the Southern
members, can be reconced, the bill would GER
ftainly become law; but they, unfortunately, de-
lmand what it is difficult to grant. They ask that
congress shall guarantee protection to slave prop
Eerty which shall be transported to the territories i
but Congress cannot establish slavery in terri
Story--all that can be done is to throw the door,
4open alike to emigration from the North and|
4South, leaving the people, in the formation of
their constitution, to adopt or reject slavery AS
= they may consid er expedient. And this the COM
promise bill proposes to do, by prohibiting theI
Territorial legislature from acting the subject of
gslavery in any form What more can be obtained
Z for the South' We confess that we do not seei