The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-05
WASHINGTON, February 3, 1850


Tie Slavery Question IN Wssh.ngton
Since the commencement Of the session, have besn
close and attentive observer of the here
In and out Of Congress- respecting the all absorbing
question Of the day" and think can now venture to
predict that all fears Of dissolution Of the UAion
arising from any action by the present Congress will
prove groundess II there be any legislation
the territories acquired from Mexico it will be such
will be entirely acceptable to the South. There may
perhaps be no legislation at ell respecting these terri
tories-but the Northern more DESTROYS than
those Of the South, thu. regular msnt either
State Territorial should be provided for California
# such government be provided 1t will not contain any
restriction upon the subject of slavery, will it bs
accompanied even by declaration of opinion by Con.
gress that slavery does not exist by law in California
There may, perhaps, be q compromise of the whsle
question This will depend much upon the fate OF the
bill introduced and amended by Mr.. Mason. OF the
Senate the fugitive slaves ut as the
pas.sge the bill wsuld be- considered BY the Northern
members yielding their part the threat Of the
South that they should be compelled to take tbs back
track doubt whether 1t will be passed in Q shape
satisfactory TO the southern people, and still less will
the ortherp members BIO disposed to adopt rsssu
ton proposed by Mr. Clay that Congress has power
to prohibit obstruct the slaves between the
slave holding Statesn Those who woudsdeny the ex.
p.debcy or perhaps even the justice OF its exercise
would tt maintain the constitutional power to r~gn
late ths trade in slaves between the States 1t will be
exceedingly difficult to effect any CON promise which
involves express Affirmation negston on either
side Of principle either al political Ii there b.
any compromise IL must be- like the dissoud ON
promise partition and sp of things N ate
rial and not Of Id. as or princi pies.
On this slave question, the southern men, II they
are united and determined all who have canvsrsd
with them believe them TO be- have and will con-
tinue TO have, the game In their hands They
dictate no legislation TO Congress- but In . matter
which 10 OF vital Importance to their ional interests
they can always hold up the alternative OF dissou.
ton aud from this alternative not only the ode
rate and Iesceabe and union loving but what is de-
cive of the question all the Gale ustDg people OF the
North recoil and the great Of the people will
never consent 10 encounter the pspabe evils Of dis
union, for the sake of abstract priuoipies
As = significant indication If the manner in which
the present excitement 10 likely to trrmipsts refer
you to the National b,tesge,cer of yesterday rnis
respectable six-penny and dem orgsu has at leng tn
broken silence. In editorial article of
and bait on the evil OF toe day written with ell
the astuten-Ss, ability and diponsio address wnich
characterize the of the senior editor of that
paper The real object aud Intent OF the article NOT
apparent on the face Of it, but continuation OF the
subject is promised, some further aev.iopements Of
positive opinion may be expected Knowing, however.
that The Integtno has been devoted Himost exclusive
y TO Northern interests and under Noghsrn
lie obvious to me that nothing but sonvicton of the
necessity OF yielding to the South the present
ton could have induced Of the which
made in this article. IL declare. tnst the cub
jet OF existing slavery in the United States has
business in the halls OF Congress- rbis As what m.
south has always maintained - IL was drst intro
ducsd there BY harmless enthusiasts whose amisbls
weakness led them to intsposei matters beyond their
civity only because IL obviously prsmptsd by o
sense of religious obligation unminsled with any Of
the OF OF etftors OF the
Iteiigne,r Iejoced TO be able to deal blow At
their old enemy, Van Buren,; but st they would not
have INDUCED themselves In this grsucatioH at the
nk Of wouEdipg their best friends They knos that
their bert friends about 10 amt their groand and
get on; OF the way Of the shot.
The course of the administration think may now
be locked upon as decided " fhs Mon must BE- prs-
served and IL can be preserved only by incuing to
and If yielding to the south wi,h respect 60
the slave Qssstion. General Taylor will find
cessnry to commit himself To his Southern friends ne
can always sey, verbally, you cannot
N slsln h.l. L..
whom can you tTuftr His Northern friend, he
assays re s,sure BY admitting them TO a FREEDOM
influence In the cabinet so tar as respects the spos Of
victory. whether onces or the expenditures of the
g.rsisl gov.rnDspt In ether ways they will have
their tbsrewhich Is lions ehzrs-of in tsrnal im-
prOyements ana perhaps some important modification
OF the tsrd Even abotitonists will be 90 they have
been, admitted TO Office to the enfres TO the White
Houte- sne 20 the ear n the President rhas tar
shslt thou Eo,' bot the Lnion must DE pressrIein