Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-08-21
TIE BILLS PASSED.

In our last we noticed the passage by the Senate,
Of the bill 10 settle the Texas boundary question $
we have now the pleasure Of announcing the passage
by that body of two other bills of scarcely less i'm
poriance-the one for the admission of California in
TO the Union, the other establishing territorial gov
eminent for New Mexico All these measures were
included in the general scheme Of adjustment advo-
Gated by Mr. CLAY, and we are al loss to under
stand why they could not have been passed together.
"Better late than never" however, and the country
will hail any honorable settlement, in any form, by
whomsoever brought about. The fugitive slave bill
is now the only measure connected with slavery, re-
qniring the attention Of Congress, which remains to
be definitively acted upon by the Senate.
The California bill was bitterly opposed by cor
tain Southern Senators, lead off by Messrs. Mason
NAL protest against the proceeding. The motion to
enter the protest the Journal debated and then
laid on the table, where it will probably lie undis-
turbed.
The passage Of this bill was one OF the events in
which the Legislature of Georgia made it the duty
Of the Governor to summon Convention Of the peo-
pie 10 decide what course they would pursue. This
Convention and the Nashville Convention, which is
to meet again six weeks after the adjournment Of
Congress, will probably shape the course Of South
ern factonsts, and decide whether agitation and ex-
element are TO be continued, or whether the country
is to be permitted to resume its former stale of quiet
ness, so greatly longed for by all sober-minded,
peace-lovng citizens. The territorial bill having
passed the Senate acithout the Wilm,ot Prouiso, il
would seem that, so far, all apology for continued ag-
tation had ceased to exist notwithstanding the unde-
niabe lnlormaity of the admission Of California; but
when turmoil is the element in which men delight
to live, and the only one in which they can ma
ture their schemes an excuse for it can always be
found One thing is certain, the people of the South
ern States will not dream of dissolving the Union,
nor of blockading the mouth Of the Mississippi, as
suggested in South Carolina, nor OF perperating any
other extreme folly, on account! of the admission Of
California.
1t is earnestly hoped that the House will follow
the example of the Senate, and pass without delay
all the bills now on their table, which
Sary 10 restore peace duu udIuohy W iie county
IMPORTANT MovEMENT.-A portion of the South
ern members of the House of Representatives have
had meeting and appointed standing committee,
or "commltee Of Safety to look after the interest
of the South generally. This committee has promu-
gated series Of resolutions, the substance of which
is, that the subscribers 10 them '.w prevent the pas
sage of the Texas boundary bill, until assured of
some acceptable settlement Of all the questions in
yoved in the sectional controversy, and will also in.
sst positively upon the division of California BY The
parallel of $50 go"
The Richmond Times regards the organization as
one which bodies no good to the Republic, and the
fact that many Of the most reliable Southern men in
Congress, our own Representative among them,
have no part lot in the matter, tends TO strength
en- the apprehension that only evil will result The
! correspondent of the Baltimore Sun says:
"The first proposition Of the Committee of the Southern
members in relation the territorial governments, is-be
pu nterpreted-that the Mexican law inhbtng slavery
shall be abrogaed in other words that there shall be
obstacle to the introduction Of slavery Should this be per-
sisted in by the South the North will go back to the Viii
mot ProViso"
Is The Cholera has nearly disappeared from Har.
per's Ferry. But one case has occurred since yes.
tsrday week. -