Southern shield., 1850-05-25
lf'pm the Washington Republic. THE QUESTION: or THE DAY.

W nen,on the 2lst day ot January last, the President of the United States trans mltted to Congress all the documents called for by rsolution of the House of Repre- sentatves relating to California and the Territory of New Mexico, with message pointing at mode of ad djusting the vexed controvesy which had wellngh arrayed one sectin ot the country against the other
 in mortai defiance, it was the first geam of sunshine that penetrated the thick darkness which lad gathered about and obscured the path Whlci led to peace and safety. It was period Q fearful moment The animos- ties Whchhad been fomented by the factious of one setion and the fanatics of the other had reachd an intensity which seemed to have harened the understandings of men against mGeIate propositions, and sealed the heartSof our people against the recep- ton of internal counSels. At the com mencemelt of the session the excitement had already been famed to a heat that solved Pigments which had hitherto been sufficient Q hold men to the rigorous per- tormance of their party engagements. It had succeeded in sending to the National Legislatuls third organization, which held the balane of power between the adherents of the andent creeds of the country; and these latte were further weakened by dis contents which, on the one side, led to open disaffectol, and on the other held members together b loose and uneasy fealty.
 The irrihtions, the ntrigues, which "well- nigh covered the House with obloquy''- the contentious, the recriminations which disfgured he many weeks wasted in fruit. less effortsto organize the House of Repre-. sentativeS-are too fresh in the memory tc require re0pitulaton. Whilst their repre-. sentatives figured in prolonged scene o1 confusion bordering on anarchy, and exas. peration approaching violence, the people wondered, then murmured, and, finally maddened at a spectacle which they first thought discreditable to the legislature, anc afterwardsdangerous to themselves. Pend ing these unprofitable struggles, the repre- sentatves of either section were not idle ir persuading their constituents that the faul lay with the other, and the disturbances fol which tbey were themselves mainly reSpon e;bio were iHagnneu InIo presages oI evT contemplated to be perpetrated against tho separate States under the sanction of tht legislation of the whole. The effects o these representations, which were assisted and enforced by the local press, were soor felt in the reverberation of charges sen from the Capitol and returned in pathetic echoes by the country. By this means, the discontents at the centre and the circumfer ence encouraged each other till timid mer despaired of the republic, and even stou ones could scarce y resist the contagion o an epidemic alarm.
 The organization of the House of Rep resentatives being at length effected, the annual message and the reports of the severa Heads of Departments sufficed only for 2 temporary diversion of the public mind from the absorbing topics of the day. The seeds of discontent had been sown broadcast, and with liberal hand. They fell upon so prepared for their reception, and Congress had not progressed many days in the busi- ness of legislation before germs of sedition were seen sprouting in rank luxuriance.
 Before we proceed further, it may be we'll to point out the outward signs which argued heaviest of thorns. In the North the growth of a wanton, unnecessary, and hostile purpose of pressing the "Wilmot provso," with or without cause, was the ef1loreScence of an encouraging crop of the apples of Sodom; whilst in the South, the fruit was expected to ripen in the hot-bed of the Nashville convention. The legisla- lures of several of the Southern States committed themselves to that dangerous device; whilst the Halls of Congress pre- sented the firstlings of the Northern cuti- vation in the refusal to lay the "Wilmot proviso" on the table by decisive vote.- This mischievous proposition was introduced out of place, and out of season, by one oi the members of the "third organizations who summoned the Northern delegations that would, but dared not, disobey "to face the music," in tones of insult and mockery which betrayed the malignant and disloyaI spirit in which it was determined to urge this machination against the peace and re- pose of the Union.
 It was at this darkest period of the ex- citement, when fanatics were emboldeneG to openly deride unwilling followers in the House, and the resolves of southern legisla- lures and public assemblies were pouring in upon the seat of Government, that General Tavlor transmitted his California message to Congress. At time when irritating in structions were daily presented from the legislatures of the North; when avowed Aboltionists in the House assumed the mien and arrogance of victors; when State au. thorties in the South recognised the neces- sty of the Nashville convention, and even Wings were found to serve as delegates ir the hope of pouring oil upon the tempestu. ous ingredients of which it promised to be compounded dat this dreariest and gloomieSt