The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-14

Of willingness to give to Virginia one or two nun
dred millions Of dollars, for the purpose OF Mdhs
her and the Southern States to transport 10 LII
IBERIA all their free people of color
We beg every reader to examine the speech
Far be il from us to do injustice to its author.
We have not questioned his motiVes-"e snail
not impeach his integrity. With his words ana
acts we deal plainly. They have astounded US
thew will astonish the country, North and South
The opponents Of the extension OF slavery arc
pained humilated-but in another quarter there
is rejoicing without measure
Suppose that by the resolutions of annexation,
four new slave States may be formed with the
consent of Texas, was it for Mr. Webster to en-
large upon this subject, and apparently revei In
the bonds of guaranty which he once denounc-
ed Was it for him, who had ridiculed the
change of opinion in General Cass, to come out in
the Senate two years after the publication Of the
Nicholson Letter, and take the ground assumed
in that document, that, as slavery was prohibited
in New Mexico by the popularity of the climate
and soil, therefore the Proviso was unnecessary,
and be should vote against it, What new light
has been thrown upon the subject! One might
have supposed that, in abandoning the Wilmot
Proviso he would at least lend the sanction Of his
great name to the doctrine that slavery had been
excluded from that Territory by Mexican law
but even this tribute to the cause of Freedom was
withheld Henry Clay and Thomas II. Benton
had boldly asserted such a doctrine; and Demo
cratic Senators from the North had strongly in
sisted upon it. Why must MIR. Webster be ST.
lent2 Had he no opinion to offer?
The wrongs sustained by the South at the
hands of the North he spoke Of freely, and some
he admitted, to the extent asserted by Southern
Senator's But, what of the wrongs sustained by
the free States from Slavery? Oh-how deli
cately this topic was handled He scarcely ex-
pressed an opinion of his own, but he said the
North thought it had reason to complain Of the
South in relation to the extension ofthe area ofsa
very Had he forgotten how citizens Of his own
State in the pursuit of necessary business in some
Southern ports, are seized on account of their
complexion, taken from the vessels on which they
are employed as sailors, and imprisoned as Grim
mails, till their captains are ready to sail Has
he forgotten how agents commissioned by the Le-
eislature of his State to proceed to South Caro-
lima and Louisiana, for the purpose of trying be-
fore their courts the validity of their laws in
derogaton of the rights of citizens Of Massachu-
sets, were driven from both States, under the
pressure of threatened violence?
How we longed to hear in that speech one gen.
erous sentiment of manly indignation against OPP
preston, one fearless sentiment of genuine devo-
ton to the Rights of Man
Surely, we thought, he will say word for
California, the first free State on the shores of
the Pacific Clay and Benton and many other
generous Southerners had extended to her cordial
greeting, had INDICATED her claim to admission
into the Union, were seeking by every honorable
means to secure her seat at the Council Poard
of the Republic. General Taylor, saveholding
President, had warmly urged her admission How
could Massachusetts, Senator, Free Soil
Wing, especially after having insisted strenu-
ously upon the claims of four new inchoate slave
States in Texas, forbear speaking welcome to
the Free Soil State of California, first born Of
American States in our Pacific empire But, did
he do it? Nothing of the kind. No greeting
from Daniel Webster to California! He would
discuss the question Of her admission, her bound
aries, her Constitution at some subsequent time
And not word fell from his lips that could in
dictate his course his relation to the question
MIR. Webster ridiculed the application of the
Wilmot Proviso to the Territ~~y IL Oregon;
I and vet we an KNOW slaves had been carried to
that Territory, and were held there in bondage
till the People themselves prohibited slavery.
The climate and soil Of the country are just as
IL A. q Al. -
State of Missouri. His assumption that New
Mexico is secured against slavery by on irrepeal-
able law of Nature is not sustained by facts
General Cass took the same ground two years
ago, and adduced just as good reasons in its sup
port, as Mr. Webster does now but the People
of the United States were not then convinced
neither will they be now. There are slaves at this
time in New Mexico and Deseret, as is admitted
by the delegates from those Territories. Lying
adjacent to a slave country, New Mexico can only
escape the advancing wave of slavery by the bar
rier of a positive prohibition. Her mineral
wealth is great, and her gold mines, though not
so accessible as those of California will yield well
by the aid of machinery and hard labor Free
men will shrink from such drudgery, but capital
and slave labor will extract the hidden gold The
labor of slaves is precisely the kind that will be
in demand
But Mr. Webster will no doubt be amply COM
pensated for the disapprobation of his speech by
Free-Soilers, by the warm praise of the Wash
ington Union, the central organ Of the Slavery
Propagandists 1t canno, ind words strong enough
TO express its admiration. Much as the Slavery
men had hoped for, Mr.. Webster has exceeded
their expectations" We close our article by
publishing the editorial from that paper:
MIR. wEBSTERx SPEECH.
This powerful and manly speech is the lion of
the day IL was the theme of universal CONVERSE
ton yesterday in the Capitol and in private cir
cles IL was the object not only of general appro-
bation hut Of admiration. We venture to say
that never did Mr.. Webster in all the pride of
place, and in the height Of his renown, deserve
more respect for any of his efforts than he has
obtained by the speech before us.
We have now read all the speech as it comes
from the hands Of our reporters, and we have had
the opportunity Of comparing our impressions
with those of others We have heard but one
opinion upon the subject, though we are aware
that the fanatics, and free-soilers and demagogues
Of the North, will not all concur in this general
tribute of appreciation.
The times had come which try mems souls The
country was in danger. Discord was brandishing
her torch and this glorious Union was threaten
ed with dissolution. The Cancellation which is so
necessary Ia confederacy, the wisdom which was
to concert scheme of compromise, and the high
moral courage which is so necessary to carry it
| into execution, amid the camors Of faction and
the fury Of sectional prejudices were wanting to
meet the crisis. Some of the distinguished men
in Congress were coming forward to throw them
selves into the breach to save their country. The
pnhlic voice began to call out the Senator from