The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-13

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The PRosPEcr-The great question Of the
day seems TO beas to the fate ofthe several bills
before the House, which lately composed the de-
funct omnibus bill of the Senate. The Wash
ington Union urges the necessity OF the passage
to quiet the dangerous excitement which per-
vades the country, while the bateuigencer sings
the same song To different tune. This latter
paper declares that there is no difference ofopn-
ion on this subject. That from all quarters Of
the country, without dissenting voice, the
people demand the adoption OF these hcartless
schemes of plumber. Divested even of the name
ofcompromse, and from the beginning, destitute
of any principle emitting them to that appela-
ton, they now stand in their nude and bald de-
formity, as 80 many breakers in the way OF the
ship Of state The friends OF the different Inca-
sures, differing only in the degree OF affection
which they have and bear for their several favo-
rites, and we'll knowing how little trust is to be
placed in the engagements of men who are en-
gagged in common system of plumber, cannot
agree among themselves as to which shall have
precedence. This is the first difficulty in the
way of the bills, but there is little doubt that 1t
viii be overcome There is another still more
threatening aspect, though sneered at by the
rabid party organs above named. We allude
10 the opposition of the Southern members, to
which with singular lnanimity they stand pledged
and committed before the country, by every con
s,itutionaL mode of resistance. 1t they agree to
resist these bills in every way, they cannot pass
But, it may be, that, confident that the measures
can only be delayed by their opposition, they
may give way, and suffer the wickcdness to be
pcrpetrated, which they cannot finally prevent.
We confess there is little to be gained by delay
at least, in our opinion. 1.-THE South is not pre-
pared now to redress her ongs, we cannot see
that she ever win be; and we believe that the
passage Of these bills will present as perfectly
as possible, the points ut issue between u.s. OF
course, we do not mean to Indicate any objection
to the bill for providing territorial government
to Utah, which lies to the North Of our ultima
tllm Of thirty six and half north latitude. The
Texas and the California billsarc the real pirates,
and to those our attention is directed. The
former measure meets with little favor from the
ultras of the North, who have little idea OF pay
inr Texas $l0,O0O,OO0 for that which may be
had for the taking us they suppose. In the
mean time, there is every indication, that Texas
will deprive them Of any uncasiness in that
Quarter bv refusing to take the bril- as All alter
native to the sword From indications ofropu-
lar sentiment in Texas, there is every reason to
believe that she will put down the insurrectio-
navy government of Santa Fe, by her own strong
arm, and thus put Mr. Fillmore's boast to the
test. Our own opinion is, when the crisis comes
in earnest this warlike individual will back.
The COMPROMISE Bill, Us. THE CoNsTtTU-
TIoN.-The Compromise Bill has been defeat
ed It ought to have been defeated because il
was unconstitutional. Bntit defeat was effect
ed by the meeting OF two extremes. The Abo-
litionists opposed it because it did not shear the
South ofquite enough rights, while the Southern
members opposed it because it was a violation
of the Constitution. That it was violation OF
the Constitution can be clearly calculated. That
instrument is written contract ofUnion between
sovereign states, each of which is a voluntary
party to the terms and conditions therein con-
tanned 1t recognizes slavery as an institution
of property, and guarantees protection IN Its en-
ioyment, any where in the Union. 1t thus places
slaves upon the same footing with horses. No
power is granted to Congress to regulate pro-
perty in horses, because it would be an uni ust
and despotc encroachment upon the private
rights of the people, those rights that they did
not surrender when they became parties to the
Constitution. For the very same reason no
power is given to Congress to intermediate with
The private property in slaves. Does any one
suppose that the sovereign states Of this Union
would have become parties to an instrument that
granted to Congress such an absolute and tyran-
meal power! The idea is unworthy of respect.
We defy the acuInen of the most ultra abolStio-
mist to point to clause in that instrument,
which either expressly or implied positively or
negatively directly or remotely gives to Congress
the least shadow of a right to interfere with the
subject of slavery, in any manner, shape or form.
But would the passage OF the Compromise
amount to congressional interference! Clearly.
It proposes to admit California with clause in
her consultation prohibiting slavery forever
| Then by congressional interference the Wilmoi
| Proviso would be imposed, deceifully imposed
upon the South. 1t proposes to cut off a slice
Of the territory of Texas and append it to New
Mexico, in order to equalize slavery and Free
soilism What? dsmcmber sovereign state
for the base purpose of balancing sla cry, which
is constitutional, with Free-soilism, which is NOR,
than unconstitutional. Texas is rs sovereign as
this Fe .era Government, and no power that tho
sun shines upon has a right to dsmeniber her
1t proposes also, to abolish the slave trade in
the District OF Columbia. Suppose it were to
abolish the traffic in horses in the District Of
Columbia, is any man in the nation, so much Of
fool or a knave as to defend that act. Would
not the people rise up in mass, shoulder thei
muskets, march to the capitol, gibbet the tyrants
and in their rage demolish every vestige OF ;
government which had become hot bed of dcs
potism! Yet can any man prove distinction
constitutionally, between the acts, We place
them both upon the same ground-we believe
such to be the true Southern doctrine, and tina
the people ought to send no man to Congress
who does not view the subject in that light
Chocta,o Co. (Ala.) Reporter.
"NoN-INTERyENTIoN."- the doctrine o
non-intervcntion, which was once 4 shield t
protect, has been converted into sword witt
which to assal the South, it has acquired won
drous charms. Horace Greedy thinks it, as prac
tised by the Administration, while much less
dangerous to the Union, scarcely less etficacious
for Northern purposes, than the Wilmot Pro
viso. He seems to have Abandoned the latter
and espoused the former AS carried out In tht
form Of the Executive Proviso, it excludes sla
very from California; as embodied in the Clay
Compromise, with the aid of the Mexican law
it excludes it from all the other Territories =