Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-08-17
The Fate of the Compromise.

AT length we have the particulars OF the de-
feat of the Compromise bill for its emascula-
ton by legislative manauvering, until it was
stripped Of every feature that gave it distinc.
tive character, is equivalent to u direct vote OF
rejection. 1t is interesting to trace the success.
full arts by which a combination Of Northern
abolitionists and Southern disunionists con-
trived to kill the bill in detail. The straight
forward attempt to dispose of it by laying on
the table having failed, opponents of the meas
ure fell back upon the equally etiectuai plan OF
Topping off it's limb, unit nothing was left but
Il bare and scathed and useless trunk.
TIE fist blow was aimed by Mr.. NORRIS, OF
y Il who moved to strike out the provision
w.g:ra restricts the territorial governments from
any law prohibiting or establishing slavery.
TINS was carried, Messrs. Downs and SoULE,
boz, voting in the negative. 1t was a stag
gering stroke, aud was speedily followed by
oibe 5. The sections relative to New Mexico
were stricken out, after earnest but unavailing
opposition, and finally, a motion was made by
Mr.. WINTHROP, to expunge every portion of
the bill relating to California. This was adopt
ed by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Atkinson, Badger, Baldwin,
Barnwell, Bell, Benton, Berrien, Butler, Clarke,
oitIlClIS, DdNis, Vi ~IldoSuSiTusSAu9, DafIos -
Mississippi, Dawson, Downs, Ewing, Foote,
ton, Pearce, Phelps. Prett, Rusk, Sebastian,
Seward. Smith, souIe' Tur.sy' Upham' Win
NAYs-Messrs. Bradbury, Bright, Cass, Clay,
Chase, Cooper, Dayton, Dickinson, Dodge, of
Wisconsin, Dodge, of Iowa, Douglass, Felch,
Hale, Hamlin, Houston, Jones, Miller, Norris,
Shields, spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood,
Wales, Walker and Whitcemb-25.
1t will have been seen that both the Louisi-
ana Senators voted in the atlirmatise--Mr
SoULE, because he had opposed the bill ob
iinitie. and Mr.. Downs, probably because he
considered the bill truncated and worthless after,
the mutilaten it had undergone.
Every important and valuable feature in the
bill having been obliterated, nothing remained
save the clauses touching the comparatively un-
interesting topic of the organization of Utah
territory. A few hasty amendments were
adopted. bv which the Southern boundary Of
the territory was fixed at 81 degrees; and the
Senate then adjourned, t%ancying, no doubt that
they had accomplished d glorious days work,
when by their action, seven months of patient
aud protracted deliberations had been set at
naught, the slavery question thrown back into
uncertainty and gloom, and the whole country
as completely unadvised in regard to the flu
ture as it was when the two Houses of Con-
gress assembled in annual session. Nothing,
indeed, seems to have been gained by the pat
riotic% struggles of those who have been devots
ing themselves to the settlement of the great
question of the day. Every thing is once more
at sea, and faction rides triumphant. The pi-
lots who endeayored to rule the whiriwind and
direct the storm, have been bafied by the reck-
~lessness and INSTRUMENTATION Of the crew.
Whether, others, holder or more skilful, may
yet seize the helm and bring the vessel to &
peaceful haven, remains to be seen. For our
part, we begin to despond, albeit not given Ito
atra hilarious moods. There are influences at
work in Washington that aim only at mischief
aud disturbance. To neutraIize them backed
and encouraged as they are by a band ofNorth-
ern fanatics, who. strive for similar objects, from
wholly different motives, seems almost beyond
the poMersof the really honest and patriotic
spiritssRAWe hope for the best, but the loss of
the Compromise is aterrible shock to the pros
pect of Cancellation and harmony.
~. @. Bee. a