The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-19


and sustained, have stated, by the very party
which opposed his own election. He sought to
make no party iesue out OF the controversy, but
deeply deprecated the geographical divisions which
would necessarily arise out OF such an issue.
Upon the organization OF the. hrst Congress after
his Inauguration. he recommended il TO await the
action OF the people in the formation OF State
governments in the new territories and expressed
The same opinion with his predecessor, that these
| events would probably soon occur. Il was APP
parent that by this means the vexed question
as 10 the power and duty OF Congress 10 in
terdict slavery within these territories would be
avoided, without doing violence 10 The feelings
or pre- JUDGES of siher section OF the counry; and
| when his California message was sent to the
House OF Representatives, recommending this
course OF policy the opposition press OF the coun-
| Try burst forth in general outcIy that he had
but adopted the resolutions and principles OF the
democratic party, and copied the recommendation
| Of President Polk The complaint was that he
had proposed nothing new and while studied
effort was made 10 heap praises on those who, II
was alegt d, had originated these suggestions, he
was denounced in uDmeasured terms for his . i'm.
becllity IN merely following 10 the footsteps OF
| others Their censure under such circumstances
was the highest encoDium that could have been
bestowed upon him Ii is we'll known TO many OF
you my fellow citizens, that was opposed TO the
acquisition of these territories. never voted for
such an acquisition. The Legislature of this State
| bad instructed me 10 vote against the annexation
of any new territory, without prohibition of
slavery within lis limits obeyed these instruc-
tons and, in pursuance of them, vsted for the
4
was before the Senate It is known 10 most of you
| that, in common with many Others with whom was
accustomed to act, predicted the evils which have
| since ia EN- upon the country in consequence OF
| the purchase OF California and New Mexico. But,
| when that territory had been acquired | tel
bound, friend Of the Union, to promote its har
| moDy by any and ev ~ measure which would pre-
vent the alienation at one portion OF the country
from the other, or the organization OF geographical
parties within it did not believe, and do not now
believe, that there was any danger of disunion
trrm The adoption of the measures proposed by
| PRESIDENTS Polk and Taylor read the speeches
| Of gentlemen of great distinction, who painted in
vivid colors the horrors Of dsunon, and predicted,
| 10 melancholy jeremiads, the total subversion of
| our whole cobiederated system, in the event of the
! admission of New Mexico and California States
Of his Union. The flights of oraiory on these
topics were interesting exhibitions of genius. The
paIhos and effect with which The dissolution of the
ftderacy and the consequences OF civil war
were depicted in Congress, made deep impressions
on Tie country, and, in common with others, con-
| fees that ! admired
| "IIow cuppipsly tho blood and tear, were drawn.n
But never seriously believed syllable OF the story
that there was danger OF dissolution of this glori
GUS Union arising out of waiting tor the action Of
the people of the territories ia the creation of their
| own domestic Institutions, or OF acknowledging
their right of government, by the admission of
| The States into this Union. would no turn on my
| heel 10 pluck feather IRON the plume of any OF
| those distinguished orators who, under the belief
that such means were necessary 10 save the UnioD
| kept Congress ard the whole country in state of
cOnt.nutn t9itSU Tor NDOHt Ten mOnthS, VINO,
having raised the ghost of disunion, afterward OBJ
tanned the credit OF laying IT, My faith in the per-
petui OF our glorious republic, rests on a some
what better foundation than theirs. Ii believe it
was not, II any moment, IN the power of any of
| them-no, not OF all the members OF both Houses
| comhintd-to dissolve ihs Union. firmly believe
ths, the first serious palpable, and tangible overt
| act of treason would have been succeeded
| by the degrad lIion Of the traitors. The blessings
flowing from this Union are too deeply seated in
The hearts OF the American people for them TO suf-
| fer any number Of demaeCgues, whether IN or out
of Congress 10 snatch from them this priceless in-
beritanoe. have lived TOO long IN public life, add
setn too much Of public men and their policy
10 mistake the rawlings OF fer madmen, IN either
section Of the Union, for the decisions OF whole
communities re solutely bent their own or their
county emile at the struggles ofthe po!ti
can who seeksto attain party ascendancy for himself
or his friends, by endeayoring 10 iioat higher up
Than any others upon The OF sectional excite
Dent There is no danger in these demonstrations,
so long os the great American heart-the heart of
the people Il do not me On OF COngress) remains
sound can laugh nj the effort OF the political IA
natIc or mailman " no strives TO make II appear
either section of the Union, that he is a better
MEND 10 II than any body else, and, TO gain dstinc
lion, oui-lierods Herod aud ovsrdoes Ierma-
gent" There IL, generally, say. no danger in all
this to any but those who preach, and attempt to
practice, absolute treason and disunion and indeed,
there is generally very htrle danger 10 them.
II Is !" valiant flea that eats his breakfast the
lip Of hon. but he is in peril, while his depre-
dations remain too Insignificant attract notice,
The orations inside TO show that disunion would be
he consequence Of granting the right of self.go-
ytmment TO the people Of the territories. ine.
The praises OF The Euphenist IN the monastery
were well meTited d. " Marvellous line words" said
damr GendeDning, "mauellous fine words, neigh
Dor Hopper, are they notp' " Brave words-very
brave woids-yery exceeding pert WORDS" an
swered the miller; "nevertheIess. TO speak my
mind, a hppy of bran were worth a bushel
o III, m" The greatest embarrassment both
10 the President and u the Countrywide
principal obstruction 10 all Legislative measures
arr mt pf he futil ell Ynatp
last session Of Congress, 10 embody in oae ball
on this subject, measures absolutely incongruous,
or having no proper connection with each other.
When the State of California presented herself for
admission into the Union, and the President had
distinctly pleced that measure as the very corner
stone OF his whole system Ut policy IN regard TO the
new siorts, there did not exist in eiih:. o. ., amen
OF CrIgfess sufficient number OF opposing votes
10 preveDt the pastogc Of the necessary bin But
those who took the lead in the recent measure of
sdjusimt Mt having resolved that no man should
yOe for The admission Of California who would sot
agree 10 vote, mt The same time, ten millions TO
Iexas for release Of her claim portion OF New
Mexico, 0s well as territorial governments for the
laiitr and for Utah, the difficulties which had be-
fore surrounded the question Immediately thick.
ened, and spread a deeper darkness around US A
majonly Of either House might have been had al
any time for either OF the me embraced in the
bill separately bat the msiOrities for each O. these
nes SUES would have been composed Of very diff
ieTtnt individuals. More than nifty Northern mem
beis Of Congress were willing 20 do Justice TO the
measure proposed by President Taylor for the adj
mission OF California, who were unwilling 10
vote the money for the Texas boundary, or the
CLAUSE for The organization of the territories with
out the anti slavery proyiso. On the other hand
many Southern members Of Congress were willing
to vote fer or 10th OF the two last m-ssures,
who were unwilling to vote for the first. DIspos-
cd as was, nay, even anxious, that any me asure
BIpToAimatir to- settlsment Of the Questions be-
fore us should be adopit G-sincerely desIrous as
10 get rid of the noise OF the alarmiss and aV-
ors in Congress, who were daily making more hue /
anu cry ON these topics than all the rest of the /
county together, lashing themselves into fury, /
frightening the timid at home, aud creating anore-
tensions among all the frer ds Of rational freedom
ahroed-l would have been a. any time truly re. i
joictd 10 Ind the doorway for legislation on other 4
snhJects-sl OF which had been com, letey exolud- \
cd by The introduction Of Whist was called the \
Omnibus bilI'-agRin opened. the country quiet- \
ed, end the egiiaIOrs silenced This Omnibus \