The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-05-23
COMPROMISE. THE WRONG POLICY.

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ect accounts for The Madisonian.
COMPROMISE, THE WRONG POLICY.
\ y expected BY many that Mr.. Foote'S
Compromise committee will agree upon some
plan for settling all the distracting questions
that are now go %unhappily alternating ons por
tim Of the conIederacy from the other. We
hive never had much confidence that an adj
j~ustneht Of this question, satisfactory and hon
omble to the South, would be effected this
session We do not ike the phrase '%'compro-
mise; 4 that has been constantly used in con-
nection with this whole vexed question. The
South should not submit to any " COMPROMISED
BY which she surrenders one iota Of groom
stitutional rights. Any adjustment BY which
the very smallest concession is granted to "a
naticism and aggression, will hereafter be quo
ted as a precedent and viii tell powerfully
against US in future contests on thesame subject,
twill encourage fanaticism by yielding in the
slightest degree to its demands,
The agitators, abolitionists and frec-soilers
Of the North, will point to these Congressional
compromises as so many concess ions of the
truth and justice Of their cause, reluctantly
wrung from the South, and solemnly endorsed
BY southern statesmen. These concessions
they will point to asan encouragement for still
more exorbitant demands, in any new phase
the slavery agitation may hereafter assume,
Many Of tho ablest men in tine South believe
NOW, that the Missouri compromise was nm I'M
fortunate one for the South. In fact, it may
ut this day be regarded as the settled senti-
msnt Of the South, that it would have been
better for usif the South had at that time made
her great struggle against this FIRST dsmonstra-
ton Of Northern fanaticism.
But other %counsels prevailed, and " com
promise'' was effected, BY which the South
consented that slavery should be forever pro-
hibited in III territory north Of 36 deg. 30 min,
while south Of that line the territory was not
to be necessarily slave territory; but might or
might not be slave territory, according to the
wishes Of the inhabitants. Here, then, we
might ask, what did the South gain by this
first "compromise?" Absolutely nothing
She conceded a large amount Of territory to
the antfsIavery agitation, then in its infancy,
and VT no stipulation was incorporated in the
"Bond," that southof that line slavery should
prevail.
II Congress had the right to say, in impera'
tive terms, that slavery should not prevail
north Of s6 deg. 80 min, they had surely al
equal right to enact that south Of that line i
should prevail.
We do not believe that Congress possesse
any power to do either; but if they have tn
power to iaterdiet, they have the power tees
tablish. We believe that the States themselye
should be left entirely untrammelod in tn
choice Of their domestic institutions, if III
constitutional requirement Of a republica
form Of government is observed. But whe
Congress undertakes to exercise jurisdictioI
over this subject, let them deal out even-hand
ed Justice to both sections of the confederac,
and il the5, BY legislative " compromise,
enact that slavery should not prevail in ne
States formed out Of one portion Of the publ
domain, why did they not at tie same tin
proclaim that in the States formed out Of Il
other portion it should absolutely prevail.
In the 6rst compromise, then, the South Co
ccdod much and gained nothing. And tn
Congressional exercise Of power over the su
ject, aoquiesced IN BY the South, and origina
INK with one Of own distinguished sons, h
besn.tims her and again quoted as q precede
against Dc, as a plain recognition Of the pow
or the federal government over the question
slavery IN the territories. That which t
patriot Statesman from Kentucky fondly no
ed would DO like pouring oil on the trouble
waters, was moro ike pouring that inhamm
Die liquid upon the deyouring aames givil
increased energy and power to the raging a
destructive element. lie, and those who act
with him, were excusa ble-they then had |
little knowledge Of this psendo-re ligious a
political hnaticism, which has, since That d
grown into q power Of such vast importan
astobeahle 10 hold the balance of power, .
thus control the election Of t6 States Of I
Union. AL that time they were ignorant
te mot that concession would but aharpsn
appetite or lugtheF demHnds' but in I
orr day. We must be blind il we 10 not
roughly convinced Of is aggressive spirit,
Of the futlity . faitemp ting to check it syc
c%iliation and eomprnmise. a manly u
tahcst to This spirit Of northern aggression
the only course that coHports vi ii our IN
o. honor. Father eopcssion would not
~ nnwiae ana ansaia, gu absolutely dsg
ing to the South II private and social
tiphs, there n ! point beyond which 4 GaI
iubmission % insulL would tarnish and
onr personal honor ., too, with orgM
~commnnities end Etates md that poin'
.soushha reached.
ANY proposition oF Hoompfomisp,s n