Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-07-27


in Massachusetts, and it. every case, is here an
bsoute majority of all the votes required before any
auddae coad be choen the present House Of Representa-
Ives could not have into existence, the national Gov
rnmen would have been brought to tempo
ay suspension of all its ficckies be followed by the
strrgge of revolution civil Under Govern
nent like hold to be the seev;dent duty of every
,zen as well Of every legislator when it has become
obvious that no party out Of three mora can cetan
absolute majority either to refrain from voting or to cast
his vote in such will promote rather than pre-
vent an election decision. Otherwise either differ
entrue from that 81 the majority must be established or the
Government must come to stand STILL end Democracy must
end in anarchy ard ruin This rule does not take the
privilege of voting at al at the worst every one has still
choce left between twa ateRaveso which often
reduced by the providence of God.
" But this mqsh determination not do any thing and to
prevent others from doing any thing, when they will not do
precisely what the individuals sovereign pleasure requires,
though PROMINENT is the only of the disgracul
inactivity and inetfcency Of Congress. more de1uens
obstacle the transaction Of business arises from the fact
that members lees disposed time aud labor their
appropriate legislative functions than vndcatg their
position with their constituents Their speeches addressed,
not to each other not TO the whee House, to the
proper subject of debate for the mcmen but 90 audience
hundreds thousands Of miles off and to oil the topics
in which they suppose their constituents be interested
Sometimes member is frank enough declare that he does
wish for any audience but the Speaker and the Clerk for
what he purposes addressed his constituents who
the banke it may be- of tie Missisppc the Connec
cut Hewoud be puzzled to tell why, with this intention,
he should travel far Washington, when it would be
much convenient for himto address them home OF
course number of oraons delivered for such purpose do
not constitutes discussion debate oneis not made
reply toanohr, does any of them have any effect
upon the proceedings of heouse, except delay its action
"The SeDste, having only sixty members, has not found
it necessary adopt the hourrue and sccodngIy the
speeches which been delivered before upon leading
topic of the day. have seldom been less thanve hours
in length many of them have been extended through the
greates part of two days These lengthy craons have
I,L III - 49,
been grave, dgn6ed and agumentave discusses showing
profound study Of the subject, great Familiarity with cons
utona la, and remarkable acuteness and ingenuity in set
ting forth the speakers peculiar vews and defending them
by formidable array of facts and reasonngs Apparently
inch of progress has been made in TIE attempt bring
the question to close; hut the public have the advan
tage of Knowing with greet precision the opinions of each
Senator upon every branch Of the subject and might be
expected when the topic very comprehensive that
Senator's think exactly alike about it, Every degree Of
the thermometer every shade OF color nhe solar spectrum,
represented by the various doctrines that have been main
,aned the floor of the Senate from the exreme rgh!
of Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Clemens the extreme left of
Mr.. Seward and Mr.. Hale No scheme for settling the
whole difficulty possibly obtain the hearty and undivided
support Of than Senator II these various opinions
held only by the individuals who have advocated them
before the Senate, thereould still be hope that the
muniy at large might come to agreement and that public
opinion, having finally settled plan Of compromise, might
present it in authoritative its adop
ton by Congress Unrckiy, this is the case; each
aferhae delivered precisely that opinion which he believes
be the prevalent in the State which he represents
Obviously then, without concession, without compromise,
without disposition give up part for the sake Of securing
the remainder, the difficulty be settled its final
even its partial adjustment is impossible.
We are not vain enough to suppose that within the mar
limits of an article, any thing sssd be said upon this
perpe1iRg topic which has not already and far ably
been presented to the Senate in that unparalleled debate
which hasnow lasted full months. and in which the great
est nteecc Of the country have participated That debate
reported ead printed atlengh, would occupy least ten
octave volumes, each containing twice much matter
number Of this review. Let those who would know all that
can be said cpon all branches of the subject address them
selves to the perusal of those volumes they would to the
study Of new science, 10 the acquisition Of new Ian
yuage we shall not aim tc give abstract of them.
The titles OF half dozen of the remarkable Of the
speeches which have been delivered in the Senate quoted
the head Of this article aud since NEST of these in favor
some concaory measures, plan of compromise We
,eve added to them speech and letter by distinguished
from State Mr. Horace Manu. who
las presented the ables that have seen in
II doing nothing, or-what amounts TO the thng-of
insisting that tho extreme Northern doctrine shall be carried
ut upon evey.poin yielding the South nothing, and OF
giving up the hope Of any settlement These speeches
md documents before US, and with their aid
ose 20 look at the subject in the only aspect perhaps in
which it has not yet been considered the effect which the
urher agitation Of is likely to have upon the power of Con-
ess exercise lie proper functions legislative body, and
acquire maintain reputation assembly of wise AMI
ractica statesmen
The main question is whether the introduction of slavery
nto of the territory recently ceded this country by
1exco shall be directly prohibited by law. Most of the
kom the free States maintain that ought to be SO
rohibed; to oppose diffusion of slavery to them
moral obligation resulting directly from the laws Of
cience and of God and therefore overriding all considers
IONS OF exPedency and constituting end TO be pursued
necessary, by the sacrifice of all other rights snd interests
'aasoever The Southern members affirm that this ceded
astory is the common property Of all the States to which
u the inhabitants of country have equal right TO
Migrate, and 70 carry their property along with them that
Georgian has good right to transport his slaves thither
the New York emgrant has to carry his domestic animals
his farming utensils that the existence of slavery is recog
used IN the constitution by tie clause directing the surrender
fugitive slaves and by another clause which allows three
hs OF the slaves to be counted in making the number
'hch requisite for sending representative to Congress-
nd as the constitution extended the territory by
very oct Of its cesson to the United States slavery also
xtendea along with it that the direct prohibition OF
avey in this territory would be both illegal and unjust In
ais way Issue joined and either party refuses to bulge
,ch from its position and each possesses the power
her by its numerical majority, by infinite speech-makng or
endless calls for the yeas and nays upon frivolous notions
prevent all legislation not only upon this matter, but upon
ny other which may claim the attention of Congress- it is
bvous that the dgaceul inactivity Of this session may be
,nnued for indefinite period Congress either vr
rally cease to act this question must be adjusted by
ompromise. .. 0
The question arises then whether the point issue
npoant enough to induce either party to maintain its
round in relation in this desperate and dscrediable
hion. We maintain ,ha, it is not, but that 1t is pure
stracton so that whichever decided, will not affect
conduct or the interests single nhabitant either of the
zee or the slave States. And rs to the moral obligation
prevent the diffusion of slavery which is alleged to be the
hie motive for insisting upon the enactment OF the Wlmot
rovso. Other reasons, it rue be alleged IN iavor
the prohibition bat they relate only 70 expedency or