Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-02-23
our column:
TO THE EDITORS.
WAsHIsGToS, FxsRuARr IA,

watched the progress OF the questions which are
now agitating the country, and especially the course
of debate upon them during the present session of
Congress. At several stages of the excitement they
have produced, my mind has felt most painful
anxiety for the result; but at no previous time has
that anxiety been so great as at present. think
see in the present position of these questions that
which is well calculated to create alarm for the safe
ty and integrity of the Union. AT all events, the
crisis is such as to justify every man in saying what
he may or can say to quiet the tempest into which
rhe public mind has been lashed. | propose, with
your permission, to make few suggestions in re-
lation to them, which have occurred to my mind,
with no other hope than that they may contribute
s0me,chdt to the restoration Of that quiet and re-
pose which the country so much needs.
In making these suggestions, | claim nothing
more than that am prompted by national spirit
a fixed attachment to erery part Of the Union
have other interests TO subserve than those which
are common to every citizen of the country. |
hold no office, and never expect TO hold one, or to
mingle actively with public affairs. have no per-
sonal or parfy purposes to subserve; for, If know
my own feelings, regard this great question as
rising above all those other questions which have
from time TO time excited US, and upon which par
ties have been formed.
Approaching the consideration of the question
under these feelings, it appears to me that none of
the propositions now before Congress contain the
true or most practicable mode OF adjusting the difficulty
have carefully examined those Of Mr. CLAY, and heard every
word Of his great speech 1t rery great speech, and
the whole country regard al things considered
may be looked upon Of the bes, and greatest efforts of
his life. With feeling towards him higher than that Of mere
ordinary respect had hoped that he would have been able
present the country such plan of compromise would
have united gentlemen from both North and South do not
he has
plain the foundation Of my opinion.
First. He proposes Territorial Government for
New Mexico, fhoa any restriction in relation 10 siapery
This cannot be done Jy the present Congress- and, if at
tempted the result will prove the truth of what say. know
that resolution embracing this principle voted down the
other day in the House of Representatives but cannot be
disguised that several gentlemen from the free States who vot
ed against that resolution will attach the principles OF
the ordinance of 1887 Territorial BILL do not think
any look carefully the present House and
any other conclusion than that if such bill shall be offer
ed during the present session, provso positively inhbng
slavery will be attached it. IT, therefore, territorial
ganizaon attempted by the present Congress, pre-
cpa,ed directly upon The very question which has already
endangered the Union.
Second He proposes 10 compromise by Legislation the
Texas boundary line question This do not think pos
sby be done in the proposed There those who
have insisted that the Rio Grande from its mouth TO its source
the boundary Of Texas while there also those who deny
that egimaey extends beyond the Nueces Those who
insist upon the first proposition will not be likely TO adopt Mr.
Cars line which leaves the Rio Grande before reaches
its and those who maintain the last will not be willing
go beyond the Nueces. No Southern who has advo
Gated the first proposition would be likely Mr.
CLAYs line for, by doing So he would be reducing the
limits Of stare territory and Northern who has ad
vocated the last would be likely for by doing
AZ
creating it in territory which, he insists, is no,c free
But the leading objection, in my mind, this mode of
Ting the question is that it transfers it from the Judiciy
where properly belongs, to the Legislature II it be-
fore the Supreme Court Of the United States would undergo
that careful investigation which that Court is in the habit of
bestowing upon all great questions and would he decided
without the influence Of passion and party With dsci
sion thus given, the whole country, both North and South,
would be satisfied But when such question is brought be-
fore Congress- there is have already seen every
TO expec; tina, Northern will upon
lessen the territory of Texas, and that Southern men will
vote to etend the territory Of Texas II is easy see
them that satisfactory adjustment of this boundary ques
ton take place in the mode proposed by Mr. CLar, in
any other Rgislatirs mode.
Third He has connected the ques Of slavery and the
slave trade in the District of Columbs, and the right to
capture fugitive slave with the questions of admitting Cali
which they have legitimate association 1t always
best 10 meet question aa time, and egsae TOO
much good measure may often be defeated by attaching
to bad Why should the admission Of California,
the formation Of Territorial Government, for New Mexico
be made dependant upon the question whether Congress
shall declare that it VIII abolish in this District
upon the continuance destruction of The slave trade here
apprehend there very few persons the North who
sire 10 abolish slavery here and very few in the South who
not willing 10 repeal the laws which authorize the traffic
in slaves. Would it be any additional security the South
beyond what already has, for this Congress declare that
slavery here shall and ought be interered with
The net Congress would be bound by such jeca alton
If 50, tie present is bound by what done by the i
when bill for this purpose laid the table by Of
81 TO 50 and when the House refused by of log
10 to entertain proposition permit the people OF the Dis
tct 10 determine the question OF the continuance of slavery
by vote All that the South desire il that The question
shall be let alone and their security for this result in the
quiet Of Tie public mind uot in Congressional resolves
This quiet Obtained shall have very little difficulty
IN passing such laws be necessary for the recapure
fugitive saves, and just little difficulty in enforcing them.
The slave trade here will he abolished cH Tie consent If The
South, and these three OF trouble entirely removed
The time do all this, however, after the California and
New Mexico questions settled Tor is very well known
every body that these have of the annex
OF territory the result of tha, As this fact j. unoues
toned, would certainty he wise get rid o them first
Tha, being done there will be enlarged spirit aa
ho,ay abroad in the country the o the North anS
the Of the South will look upon each other with mo