The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-16
THE OMNIBUS REPORT AND OMNIBUS BILL

Our readers will find the report of the Omni-
bus Committee in our columns to-day. 1t is, in
substance, reteration of Mr.. Clay's speech in
support of his Compromise resolutions, delivered
in February last.
The bills reported by the Committee embody
in the forms of legislation the propositions con-
tanned in those resolutions, with a remarkable
exception.
Ii will be remembered that the second of those
resolutions declared, what Mr.. Clay announced
as "two ndisputable truths" namely, that Sla-
very does not exist by law, and is not likely to
be introduced into any of the territory acquired
by the United States from the Republic of Mex
ico,n and, upon these premises, founded the fur
Their declaration that appropriate Territorial
Governments ought to be established by Congress
without restriction or condition as to Slavery.
The reason assigned by Mr.. Clay for this formal
declaration of these "indisputable truths" we
give in his own words, italicizng the language to
which we wish to direct special attention; "When
called upon them" (the free States) to do this"
(waive the Proviso,) "was not bound to offer for
the surrender of that auors measure Of teirs some
cowspessattow--Nor AN EQUIVALENT BY ANY MEANS,
but some compensation-as that spirit of mutual
forbearance which animates the one side ought at
the same time to animate the othern
The report omits all reference to the first Of
these "indisputable truths, and the bill pro-
posed for the final settlement of all questions
growing out Of the annexation of Texas and the
acquisition of California and New Mexico-the
hybrid omnibus bill-omits all reference to either
In his speech on Monday, Mr.. Clay explained
| this omission. He said
GAS you we'll know Mr.. President, at the be-
ginning of this session, the Proviso, called the
Wilmot Proviso, was the most apprehended ar
was matter which was desired TO be got rid OF
by those coming from the slaveholding States
Well, by the operation Of causes upon the North.
ern mind friendly to this action, hopes have
transpired that trust will not be FRUSTRATED in
the progress of these measures; that the North
or at least sufficient portion Of it to render the
measure harmless, are now willing to dispense
with the Proviso.n
"The Northn under the operation of cause,
friendly to this action" is now willing to dis
pense with the Proviso." Therefore it is that the
proposed partial eompensatiOn"-'sby no means
an equivalent is to be withheld In other words
no faith is to be kept with heretics 1t is lawful
to cheat the North.
We have not space, Mt this time, to 60 further
into this matter. IL one lesson more than an
other is nculcated by the course Of this business
upon the American People, it is that they put
not their faith in politicians. They must take
hold of their own business. They must see to il
that their Senators and Representatives walk &C
cording to the honest convictions Of the People
they represent, and not according to the traffick
ing counsels which prevail at Washington, where
the rights of man, the dignity Of the country
and the highest interests of the nation are rated
as nothing in the scale against the hopes oil
Presidential aspirsnts and their satellites