The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-14
The Slavery Question-The Constitution OF
California;.


According to our Geographic dispatches, last
evening, the President has submitted the constitu.
ton OF California 10 Congress. This will bring the
whole slavery and territorial question to a crisis
With the admission of California, the territories
must also be organized on fair and just basis.
Now that the crisis is upon us, hopes Of settle
ment Of the whole difficulty increase.
Since the introduction of Mr.. Clay's compromise
Resolutions into The Senate of the United States, for
the settlement OF the exciting question of slavery as
regards the new territories, We think better and
more charitable public sentiment has been exhibit
ed in all sections of the country. The patriotism
which pervades the speech of that statesman,
seems TO have been communicated TO all who have
read it, and fanatlcism and ultraism have covered
before it. There is an occasional outburst of
feeling, but the speech has led many who
had not previously looked at the question in
any but a one-sided way, to view its Southern as
pect, well as the Northe m; and the consequence
is, that many, this region especially, who pre-
vously considered that the South had not particle
Of night to assume the stand which it has on the
slavery question, are now willing to admit the
existence Of equity in their demand, to certain
extent. They are beginning TO think that in SUBJ
uniting to be led by designing politicians, they
have, unknowingly, been following an abstraction,
and endangering the peace and integrity of the
whole confederacy.
This return OF reason, after such long aberra-
ton, is gratifying, and augurs well for the settle
ment of the slavery agitation. We cannot expect
that the fanatics of either the Northern or the
Southern States will abandon the factious course
which they have been pursuing so long; for if
they do, they would sink into insigui6cance. In
almost every State OF the Union there many
windy politicians of every party, who have reach
ed Fictitious importance by violently advocating
extreme views, either fer or against the South, and
by that alone. Such men care nothing for the
Union or the slave, whose particular friends they
affect TO be- AL they want is to attain position;
and they not what means they use TO promote
their ends. What do they care for the condition
Of the save-whether he has that abstract liberty
Of which they prate so much, or not, as long as
they make personal capital out of himl What
would become OF such men Greeley and his CO.
adlutoIs, # slavery did not exist in the Southern
Siates9 Were 1t abolished, they would at once
sink into ipsisnificance-the only prop that sup
ports them would be taken away, and they would
never more be heard Of. Did il not exist, they
would never have acquired that Fictitious position
" hich they have-one, however, which is anything
Tut enviable. SO it is with the Fouriertes, the
socialists and others of that ilk. As long there
is an evil connected with the organization of So
vety i, constitutes their capital and stock in trade
"a it they will most plteously dwell, and IN that
way deceive the Ignorant but well meaning por-
ton Of the community into the impression that
they are honest refomers, who wish to amehorate
the condiuon Of humanity.
II such a sentiment Of compromise we have
referred to, were to animate Congress, there would
soon be a satisfactory settlement OF the slavery
question IN that body. II prevails to a certain ex-
ten, there, and is confined TO u few men. Those
few, however, by their commanding talents and
acknowledged patriotism and ability, have it in
their power TO take the whole subject out Of the
hands Of the actionists, and dispose Of il in such
way az TO give satisfaction to the reasonable and
moderate men Of all parties, IN both the Northern
and Southern States. IL is TO those men the ceun-
Try locks IN this crisis. The agitators have had
their own way long enough. The cabinet have
tried to delay its settlement; but neither the fac
tonis's nor the cabinet could stand an hour before
the influence 81 such men as allude to. We
now look to the exercise Of that influence, in the
approaching debate on the California constitsuon.
We hope TO see the whole question settled, and
put to rest for ever il is the Just before the
break of dav.