Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-02-22
From the New York Hnrala


ton which is agitating the Coiiftry, has boor
transmitted to every point during the last week and
has ELECTED every kind Of opinion and declarations
along its various journeys. The Feiteraton of his
resolutions and the further expression piven to tbn
by the same distinguished Senator at WASHINGTON
on Tuesday and Wednesday, will soon travel in tho
same direction, and, according to all appearances
Will excite the same dissatisfaction in some quarters
and content in others, that his first speech created
These two speeches. delivered a week anart in tho
Senate Chamber, are only parts of the same great
plan by which Mr. CLAY proposes to settle the dues
ton which is now agitatng the republic, from the
shores OF the Atlantic to those of the Pacific
How has Mr. CLAY'S project been received in Con-
grcss, and throughout the country Believing the
motives OF this distinguished man to be those of
patriot and lover of his native land, convinced that
he has more experience than ve-sixths of his col
leagues at Washington, yet must be satisfied from
the expressions of opinion with which his project has
been received all the country, that the plan of
Mr. CLAY will by no means settle the question in re-
latlon to slavery IN the territories which has
unfortunately placed the two sections of the country
IN violent and antagonstic opposition to each other
and produced such state of feeling as threatens ul-
innate dissolution and disunion. The plan of the
President with which this great controversy COM
menced IN Congress, was no plan at ALL 1t left the
question, the difficulty the trouble, unsettled, I'M
touched, and liable to be taken hold of by dema-
gOgues and turned into weapons of the direst calam
ity to the Union! Instead of plan leading to any
probable settlement of that troublesome question: the
that set for both him and the country-a tran
that eventually lead to scenes of insurrection
blood and disorder. The plan proposed by Mr.
CLAY is better than that offered by the cabinet for
do not believe that the President had much to do
with the manufacture of his plan. Yet the plan
OF Mr. Clay is one cOmprehending historical views
and certain general principles that we are sure will
never be concurred in by Southern interests by
| the Southern States
! Let us explain. Mr.. Clay takes it for granted
that by the very acquisition of the territories
from Mexico the laws of that republic, in relation
to African slavery, still exist, and are paramount
even within dominion. If this argument is good
in respect it must be good in all. BY the laws
ofthe republic of Mexico all other systems of Chris
tianity but that of Catholicty are prohibited Will
Mr.. Clay say, that New Mexico and California, now
portion of the territory of the United States,
still subject to the religious exclusion and intoler-
which prevailed in those territories during their
connection with the Mexican republic! We don't
believe that he will draw such conclusion from
such premises. Why then, he say, that by the
very act of portion of Mexico becoming part of our
territory, the original laws of Mexco without refer
ence to the laws of this republic, prevail to the
clusiOn of any others!
But the truth is, that the inconsistency of such
views is not the only point of difficulty connected
with the plan proposed by Mr. Clay. 1t is we'll
known that system of slavery servitude has ex-
isted and still exists, in Mexico, which, although
different in of its forms from African slavery in
the South, is equally as permanent and as efficient
system of peonage which those who acquainted
with the history and character of Mexican affairs
will require no explanation of from Now, the
fact of the matter the government of the ter
ritOry which the Mexican war brought to must be
settled certain princp of common beyond
the refined reasonings of lawyers and politicians
The new territories were acquired by the blood and
treasure of the South much as by those of the
North. The South entitled, under the laws OF
common sense and common honesty, to carry their
rights be enjoyed by their Nothern ellowcit-
liens, or by the inhabitants of the territories
themselves. The Mexicans who became citizens OF
this great republic, the acquisition of that terrific
ry still retain the ght of servitude called peonage
while, under general laws, they cannot exclude
the different sects of Christians from equal privileges
with those of Catholics. The citizens from the
Southern States going into the region have the
same common sense right to carry their property
there those of the North have those of New
Mexico and California have, who were found there
at the termination of the All those mixed
rights must be recognised under the institutions
which Congress may please to organize for the gov
eminent ofthosc territories This is the only ground
of equitable action.
The Southern States in striving to come to some
settlement for the government of the new territories
only demand those hits of property which the orr
ginal Mexcans themselves possess, and which citi
zens from the North, who take with them servants
for term of years. equally entitled to IN those
new regions Here therefore, is the great stumbling
DlOck the question, ana the UlmculIy OF
any settlement, under some of the propositions sub
mitted by Mr.. CLAY to the Senate. tits the Nllmo
Proviso, in a qualified shape. Under the common
sense view of the matter, the Southern States will
insist on equal rights and equal liberties, in those
regions with those of their Northern fellow citizens
They contributed to that glorious campaign under
which acquired those territories, by their sons
and by their treasure; and when they plant them
selves upon the immutable principle, that they have
right to carry their property there 1t would ap
pear that every principle of equality and common
sense would dispose every leading member OF Con
grcss from every part of the Country to acquiesct
in such natural and common sense view OF the mat
ter.
But we fear that settlement of this very knottJ
and difficult ject has escaped from within the re.
, giOns of common sense and common honesty, anc
that fanaticsm both Sides will proceed to such
extremes to endanger the peace, happiness, ano
union of this glorious confederacy. Our public men
in the White House itself, and in each branch O.
Congress, appear to be afraid to meet the question
and the crisis fully in the face. The Presidents mes
sagein relation to California proposes nothing, settles
nothing but leaves the whole difficulty open to the
agitation of consprators dsunonists and the worst
and most dangerous men, in every section of the
country. The proposition of Mr.. CLAY, although
better and more likely to lead to practical solution
of the difficulty than the cabinet plan, is yet very
short of the crisis which now menaces the union oil
these States, and which WILL unless settled at the
present session of Congress, only lay foundation
for disuniOn and ACKNOWLEDGMENT at an early day
hereafter. But we have yet hopes of Gen TAYLOR
His sound common gives higher expectations
than all the learning of the schools, all the in
trigues of the cabinet. He may yet indicate little
of the same nerve which carried him through his
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