The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-24
THE Assggas g , @,..5,

HE h6iSsSvrs.yS 49,
While affecting to deprecate the agitation Of
the Slavery Question, saveholding members Of
Congress betray strong desire to aggrsyate it,
Processing TO stand strictly the defensive their
whole policy is offensive. They denounce excite
mens and yet do all they can TO infame it.
In the preliminary arrangements for the nomi-
nations of the House they obtruded the Question
of Slavery, forcing the Democratic Caucus to
adopt the Principle of Slavery Extension in the
plan for organizing the House, and attempt
ing to compel the Wing Caucus to take extreme
pro-savery ground.
In the opening of the session, while the House
was laboring to effect an organization, while as
yet no member from free State had breathed
the word, Slavery, being unwilling gratuitously
to obstruct that desirable work, slaveholding mem
bers started the discussion of the Question in the
most provoking way, dfnOuncing the free States
in terms of extreme bitterness, and making the
Hall resound with fierce threats of Disunion.
Messrs Meade, Toombs, Stephens, Colcock, and
Hilliard, signalized themselves in succession, by
this labor of love- and Mr. johnson of Tennessee
subsequently, by proslavery speech two hours
long. No representative from free State had
spoken. Even the pestiferous Abolitionists," as
the Union is fond Of styling them had refrained
from discussion, because the occasion was not a
suitable one Nor were the Southern agitators
answered, except by Colonel Baker of illinois,
who in short speech paid glowing tribute to
the American Union, and by Judge Allen Of Mas
sachusetts who, in very brief but pointed style
exposed the designs of the Disorganizers.
In the Senate the course of Southern Senators
has been no less aggressive and in1ammatory
Messrs Foote, Borlsnd, Clemens Mason Butler,
and Davis of Mississippi have been at great pains
to force the Question on the attention Of that
body Instant in season and out Of season.
seems to have been their motto Occasion has
been sought, for provoking the North, for charg-
ing it with fanatica and base designs for impugu-
ing its faith for libellng, its institutions for ar
raiguipg it as engaged in crusade against the
rights of the South And this has been done,
while every important committee Of the Senate
was under the absolute control Of the Shareholders,
before any proposition in relation to slavery had
been moved by any Northern Senator, and while
as yet Northern men had forborne allusion to the
subject reluctant to engage in such debate till the
Question should come before them in practical
shape. With the exceptions of the speech of Mr..
Hale, showing the true nature and bearings Of
the resolution of General Cass, and the few re
marks of Mr. Chase on the motion 10 print the
Vermont resolutions remarks as calm and unir-
rtating as they were significant, not word has
been spoken by any Northern Senator on the
general Question
Meantime, the Southern agitators, when they
cannot find occasion to foment excitement, create
it, California, with population of near one
hundred thousand souls encouraged by slave.
holding Executive, has formed State Constitu-
ton, and asks nothing from Congress, but an act
admitting her into the Union. Mr.. FoOte and
his compeers, unwilling TO one portion of the
Question disposed of in so peaceful method
treats the reasonable action of these our fellow
citizens, with contempt, and brings in bill to
place them under Territorial Government,
which he knows, or ought to know, can never
pass What can be his object, but az IatiOn9 The
Vermont resolutions on the Slavery Question are
presented-the uniform usage Of the Senate Is,
to receive such resolutions and print them-never
has that courtesy been denied TO any other State
no agitation is intended by their presentation
the Vermont Senators do not design to make them
the occasion Of debate-extend to them the Gus
tomary courtesy and there will be no excitement
Southern Senators know this, but they resist the
motion to print, and then work themselves up
into a paroxysm of passion, in which as usual,
the ill-stsrred Union becomes the object OF their
menace and obiurgation. Then follows q bill
from MIR. Mason Of Virginia, to constitute the
thirty thousand postmasters, collectors of Gus
toms, United States marshals, clerks, &c, slave
catchers for the South. lie brings it forward as
il the salvation Of the South depended upon its
passage. has il referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee, urges the utmost promptitude Of action. Tbs
Committee, after a few days consideration, re-
port it back and, at the instance Of Southern
Senator's it is made the special order for the zoa'
A measure more grossly offensive to the NOi'H
could not be started and that il should DC PresS-
ed At this time. when all the patience ana ior-
bearance and wisdom of all parts Oh 'ne N'pu"
lie are required for the satisfactory se'.e".n'
the transcendertly important ouesuon IN reia''on
~ tho Territories. indicates fixed purpose IN
the sou,bsyn sxitators 70 sgitate for the purpose
of promoting Disunion- ,--,---------
And vet these men pretend that they are en-
tirely passive, acting only on the defensive they
49,. i,sul,ed by the eternal agitation aud clauor
rsD, mn in the Halls Of Congress by Northern
msn and they appeal to the excitement which
their own outrageously aggressive course arouse',
as a proof that the North will not let them alone
Do these gentlemen fairly represent the South
Do the People there generally approve Of theincen-
diary conduct of these Senator's and Representa-