The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-07
MIR. Cl.y,s Pretended Compromlss.

The resolutions brought forward by Mr. Clay for the
settlement Of the great question: which agtates the
try have been before the public for several days They
have doubt been aentvty considered by the people
at large In addition 10 the remarks he submitted when
they were fret introduced. Mr.. Clay has made two
days speech in support of them That speech is now
fully before our readers II concluded yesterday
and it, conclusion is in our paper Of this morning OF
course we cannot, the short space Of time which is
allowed US, make critical examination OF the positions
assumed by Mr. Clay. Of the principles which he
proposes settle the slavery agitation But there are
some prominent points which we cannot refrain from
noticing at the present ime
In the first place. Mr. Clay, while presenting what he
denominaes scheme Of compromises appears to shrink
from the task which he undertakes He seems to be afraid
Of the difficulty Of his subject for If his resolutions were
passed unanimously by both houses Of Congress- still there
would be endorsements and dangers before US
The very first resolution presented by Mr. Cays series
asserts Tha California; with suitable boundaries, ought
upon her application, to be admitted Of the States
OF this Union without the imposition BY Congress OF any
restriction in respect to the exclusion Introduction OF
slavery within those boundaries" This resolution is
vague and uncertain gives ntimation of the
boundaries which are be assigned to California If Mr.
Claws proposition succeeds What does Mr. Clay mean by
suitable boundaresi Are the boundaries claimed by the
California convention Suitable If not how the coun-
try to be divided Is to be divided by line running east
and west which would diminish the enormous seacoast
which she caimsi Or is it to be divided by line run
ming north and south, which will leave to California
seacoast as extended that from New Brunswick to
North Carolina! These important questions, and
they should be fully answered by the plain terms OF any
scheme which is presented satisfactory adjustment
Of the pending controversy between the North and South
No one we believe contend that, If California be
admitted into the Union, there any authority in Congress
to impose any conditions which will in any affect
her absolute right TO frame such institutions her people
may deem BEST provided only they be republican in char
acter But Congress has the right in conserving to the
erection OF State from any portion Of the public domain
to look to the interests Of the other States OF the confed
eracy who are the owners OF the domain mere hand
full Of men should never be allowed to appropriate to
themselves vast extent Of terrtory and in no case
should State be erected Of such dimensions to
mand an overwhelming influence in the confederacy
More especially should this be avoided when there is
danger OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the Union by building up
colossal State having at its command the and
commerce--all the elements Of powerful empire. If
the whole question can be settled now. willing
nay we would be anxious stretch these principles, in
the most liberal way, in behalf Of California
But the omission to define the equitable boundaries"
Of California is the only the greatest objection
Mr. Clay's pretended compromise. The chief objection
to his scheme is, that il is compromise at all OF the
great question OF slavery in the Territories Indeed it
hardly has the outward form Of conciliaton compromise
Of mutual concession; for party is called upon to
give up the shadow, the other the substance party
cdor 9TH prncnle. yuhi %
both must admit judicial authority in Congress to de-
eide finally and without appeal great constitutional
question Had Mr. Clays second resolution. leaving out
the fret part. and preserving the last, run as follows
Resolved That appropriate territorial governments ought
to established by Congress in all Of the said territory NOT
assigned ihe boundaries Of the proposed State, wiaoW
the adoption of any restriction or condition on The subject
oaavuyhis resolution would have placed Congress in
that passive position which Mr.. Clay declared yester
day his speech another point to be the true policy OF
Congress In this case Congress would have taken no
ground themselves for the North the South Had his
resolution run in this form, it would have carried out the
great principle OF Neutrality-suspicious. only principle.
solemnly believe, which the present difficulties
can be adjusted. But that would have damped in some
degree the hopes Of those who might desire to rise on the
surface by the freeso agtaton and OF the demagogues
and faconsts who have brought the present dangers
upon us.
Does not Mr.. Clay lead those agiiaors to believe
that he means nothing by the principle OF non-in
ervenon which he announces, and that in taking away
from them the qualification Of passing the Wmot Proviso.
he means to give them all the principles asserted in that
Provsol And in order that this may be fully seen, we
quote the whole resolution II is as follows:
ed Resolved, That slavery does not exs, py law, and
Is likely be introduced into any Of the territory
qured b. the United States from the republic OF Mexico, u
incxpcdent for Congress provide by law either for It's
introduction into. exclusion FROM part OF the said
territory, and that appropriate territorial governments
ought 10 established by Congress in all OF the said terrific
~ not assigned the boundaries OF the proposed State Of
California; without the adoption Of any retrction con-
diuoho on the subject Of slavery.
tits plain that this resolution. il Embodied in law.
would amount 10 a legislative assurance that the
essence Of the wiImot Proviso is already in force
in the Territories we have recently acquired. Yet
this assurance which denies to the South just as ef
fecuay a. the Wmo Proviso itself, any share OF the
Territories acquired from Mexico, Mr. Clay termsa com
promise We say. and indeed Mr. Clay virtually admits,
that it s the Wilmot Proviso with hardly decent dis