The New York herald., 1850-05-20
The Present Crisis-The Probable Course OF
the Minority In Congress.

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the Minority In Congress.
Mr.. Wilmot, in his speech in the House Of Re-
pre.entatives, on the Sd inst, upon the Calforna
question, applied all Srts of epithets TO his Northern
associates and colleagues in Congress, for their
want Of spirit, courage and perseverance in resist
ing what he called /" the settled and fixed purpose
Of the Southern men, viz: the perpetuation of sa-
very" Mr. w. stated, that unless '' the spirit of
threatening and defiance resisted, the North
are the greatest of slaves" "The rights Of the
majority must be respected, the fundamental
pris cples of the constitution are undermined, and"
we (the ma jonty) the vilest of slavcs and we
(ihe majority told that il presume to exer-
else this clear and admitted power, without max
ing certain concessions 10 slavery (the minority,
measures of a revolutionary character will be re-
sorted to, and the ordinary supplies of government
withheld, and the yeas and nays called, in defiance
Of parliamentary law and usage, until the end of
the present session Of Congress"
Mr. Wilmot utters a great many other philoso-
phisal and foolish things, which we will not waste
eur time to notice. Every school boy knows that
the constitution Of the United States was framed
for the protection Of the minority. A majority
need no protecton-lke Douglas, they can protect
themselves. Dir. Wilmot calls upon them to do
ito use the power Of force. lie states distinctly
proposition to that effect. The South (the mino-
niy) say there is no constitutional power 10 pass
she rrovso-"the North Che majority think there
is," end Mr.. Nilmot says, use t-force II upon the
South. lie would deprive the South of any con-
sutuional rights, or make the extent and sacred
ness Of those rights dependent upon the opinion
and vote OF the majority. What redress have the
South but to depend upon the constitutional rights
and privileges which surround the minority They
check the majority, and stop all legislation until
the majority are forced TO obey and submit to the
mandates OF the constitution or TO abstain from all
doubtful legislation, which may may not be
granted TO majority in Congress by the federal
instrument. Our design is not to di9uss these
questions. We believe the Southern members of
Congress have determined to pursue the course
which Mr.. Wilr-ot has indicated that the minority
will puTsue-stopping legislation, and refusing TO
make the appropriations. Mr.. Clay thinks 80 too
A honest journalists, II Is our duty To warn mem
s.r Of Congress of the danger of such course. Il
would end in revolution. We will mark out a few
Of the results Of such procedure.
The millions collected 10y gov, mment in specie, il
iesked up by not being appropriated and d-bursed.
for three months, would produce the most awful
evils in this great commercial city, which Is the
bu.izess heart Of the Union. Derangemeni in iis
vital functions, would carry commercial death TO
syery extremity and portion Of our frame. II Con-
sress do not vote the appropriations before they adj
jeurn, It will break two-thirds Of the banks aud
sspiIslists in Wall street, from Trinity Church TO
Water street, on both sides Of the way II will
make bankrup's of every leading merchant IN
South street, from the Battery to the CatLarine
street ferry. Every American stock would 90
down ten, twenty. thirty, or fny cents the dol
lar. Railroad stocks could not he given away.
Every citizen whose bread and butter i derived
fom the interest Of such investments. would be
ruined aud destitute. Real estate would fsu At
once. The erection of buildings, the building of
shipe, the manufacturing Of goods, would b- all
suspended, and nearly all the laborers in
ihis city would be idle and out Of emp,ov.
Gaunt rum and hageard misery, dressed ia Becs's
best silks and satns. would walk about onr streets
nom the Battery to. .Union Place. There " would be
no private cauiogcs, no operas, no game d.uners.
omnibuses. no hacks, no cabs. no carts, or S-v-
ching OF the kind, running over Broadway and dis
iurhng the PAYERS and people Let the basis OF all
nercantle operaiions--ihe specie--be locked up ia
shc custom house. tad the thing is loae. In
word, Euch a scene Of ruin and distress ss would
be brought upon the Northern States Nv the simple
refusaof the minority la CoEghrss 10 vote the ap-
pro,aistions, Is beyond the power Of eny ordinary
sroker blockhead to ssnaginc &c any poet or pen
10 pousfray. The Northern States ace in r,,r way
10 bring about ihis crisis. by nedciing with the
Southern Institutions These are but tsyo other ca.
lamiiics which could be brought upon tlie country
and the commercial world. whieh would equal the
one which Wiln.of Gers is soos 60 burst upon u.s.
sn.--frsi, 10 abstain from raising cotton for one
year, EXCEPT 10 supply their own manufactures 10
the South and second. 10 become sbskcrs. AMI
seithsr marry nor give in marriage.
We are in a critical box. just nov. The disco
very Of California may prove the opening Of a Sc
send Psndora's chest. We are on the verge Of a !
ercciPce, We direct the attention Of Northern