The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-23
The Alarnnists.

In the last scene of"The Good -natured Man -
when every mistake has been explained, when
hypocrisy has been exposed, ancient friendships
renewed; when beautiful brides with uncount-
ed dowries have been bestowed upon ardent and
faithful lovers, and every thing wears that
charming aspect Of happiness and harmony that
usually marks the dramatic semi-circle before
the fall of the curtain, the alarInist of the play,
with uplifted hands, and countenance gloomy
with disappointed forebodngs, exclaims as he
quits the stage, "God grant We may be all as
happy this day twelvemonth." 1t is thus the
opponents of adjustment, finding nothing to
justify further agitation, turn to the phan-
toms of the future for relief from the universal
satisfaction which surrounds them.
The Mississippi FrceirGder contains a dou-
ble-shotted editorial against the adjustment
bills. As our attention has been called by pencil
marks to the article we must in courtesy no
tice its reasoning. The position stated by it
is this: "The non-slaveholding States can,
in six years. amend the Constitution, do
away with the three ffths' basis of repre-
sentation, and abolish slavery" We can
not participate in the fears thus expressed
The decision Of these questions-the conserva-
tive feeling Of the vast majority of our fellow
citizens Of the North-prove that nothing
Of the sort will be tolerated We trust that
many evidences Of popular qualification at
the settlement Of these questions will meet
the eye Of the editor; we trust that he will
see signal evidences in the National Lee
gislation; that no farther agitation will be
tolerated. These evidences Of a common love
for the Union, and JOY for the restoration Of
harmony, will allay the alarms of the Freetrader,
and dissipate its fOrebodings. So far as the
reasoning Of that paper is based upon the rapid
increase of power and population at the North,
il is irrefragable. These are the inevitable re-
suits Of intelligence and energy, stimulated by
tho just rewards Of labor, facilitated by all
that science and public institutions can con-
tribute. We cannot doubt that the progress Of
the North will be onward, and that wherever
the ocean rolls, OF the waterfall breaks the
hush Of the wilderness, there will Northern
enterprise be found. But the inference that the
power thus acquired will be applied to Cypress
the rights or impair the property Of their fell
low-citizens Of the same Union is prepOsterous;
therefore with perfect respect for the extended
argument Of the Freetrader. we regard it to-
tally inapplicable to any result which will
follow the patriotic measures Of this "Peace
Congress-"
II, however, the Frecirader sincerely appre-
hendcd the evils which il 80 urgently predicts,
we wonder that they were not foreseen some
years since. We suppose that journal was
an advocate Of annexation-Of war-of the
acquisition Of territory. A paper that reasons
50 logically must have known as well the ca
pacity and designs Of the North, then az now.
Why did il sustain Southern Presiden, in the
policy that acquired all this territory, if such
gloomy consequences are to be realized We
will give the Frecirader at once compliment
and consolation in assuring il that whilst its
argument is unobjectionable, its conclusions are
absurd.
As, however, misery loves company, we add
the complaints Of another journal which has
been just as violent in denouncinR the lepisla-
ton Of the session. When the Freefrader
shall perceive that the Northern extremists
are opposing the adjustment because it does
not secure to them the advantages which it
believes they are to obtain, it may be that in
its qualification at the chsgrin OF an opponent,
the Freetrader may be reconcled to measure
from which it apprehended such evil conse-
quences.
The EUening Post complains chat New
Mexico was robbed by the Ten Million bill of
a part Of the finest region belonging to her."
1t adds that "the resusciiaiion" of the Texa.
Boundary bill, "when all hope of it's success
seemed past, can only DO accounted for by the
activity Of the holders Of Texas scrip