The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-10

uuly, Tic CouHtIy waits W sec IL tHCy w
theirs.
In copying the following article it is not
improper or invdious in us to say that the
.Aduertiser is the leading, standard, old
fashioned WING journal of New England,
journal that has always represented the
sound, intelligent, conservative sentiment
of the WIG party;
From the Boston Daily advertiser.
Mr.. Mann and MIR. Webster.
The Hon. Horace Mann has published a letter, in
reply to an address to him from a number of his
constituents in which he expresses ''his views and
opinions on the questions arising out of the anti
slavery controversy, which relate to the organiza
ton of the newly acquired States and Territories
Mr.. Mann discusses at some length several of the
propositions for the settlement of these cmbarraas-
ing questions, which have been introduced into the
two Houses of Congress, dwelling at greater length
than upon any others on the speech of Mr.. Web
ster. On this part of his letter we propose to make
few remarks, because it is chiefly through the in
iuence of the views of compromise entertained by
Mr.. Webster, that we anticipate any adjustment
of these questions.
Before, however, adverting TO- this part of his
letter, will quote single passage in relation to
the choice of Speaker, which the fruit OF the
three first weeks labors of the House of Represen-
tatives.
sour first disaster, he remarks, was the election
OF most adroit, talented, and jealous pro-slavery
Speaker better organ for the accomplishment
of their purposes, the friends of slavery could not
have found, nor the friends of freedom more for
midable opponent. The choice of pro-slavery
Speaker was Immediately followed by the appoint
ment of most ultra pro- slavery committees"
This is an appropriate commentary on the policy
of those members of the Freesol party, who, while
they arrogate TO themselves the distinction of being
the special conservators of the cause of anti slavery
and nothing else, were among the most steady and
resolute members of the House, in their opposition
to the reelection Of Mr. Winthrop, who, but for
theiropposition, would have been unquestionaby
the Speaker of the present House, and against
whom there could have been no complaint of pack
ing committees in favor of slavery
We pass over Mr.. Mann's remarks upon Mr.
Clay's scheme of compromise, and upon other
topics, and come at once to those upon Mr.. Web
ster's speech. His first and leading objection is,
that Mr.. Webster rejects the Wilmot proviso. He
cannot comprehend, what Mr.. Webster assumes as
fact fully proved and the country begins to feel
that the proviso has become obsoete-that there is
no longer room occasion for it-that it serves
only to give Fictitious importance to one set Of
men, and pretext for threats of disunion TO
another. The South ressts the exclusion Of slavery
from the Territories, especially south Of the
parallel Of latitude agreed on in the Missouri COM
promise, invasion of its rights and as an un-
reasonable assumption of the North, which they
feel it point of honor not TO submit to- Whether
il be question Of real or imaginary importance TO
the South, il is for TO consider whether il lie of
real moment to the North, and whether the ques-
ton Of any further extension Of slavery is in fact
involved in IL. Mr.. Webster maintains that il 10
not, and this opinion appears be most satisfacto
rily supported by the physical character of the Ter
ritories to which alone il IL proposed that the pro-
viso shall be applied, and by reference 10 the species
Of cultivation TO which they adapted, together
with the modes Of industry practised in slavehold-
ing communities. The concurrent testimony Of
ve-iniormed travellers supports this position. As
Mr.. Webster expresses il, slavery is already ex-
cluded by the law Of nature of physical geography
the law Of the formation Of the earth. The ques-
ton, therefore, Of enacting the wilmot proyso af
ter months spent in debate upon it, s that Of pro-
hibiting by law an event which cannot take place.
Its like waging bloody warfare with your neigh
Dor, for claiming the right Of lcaping over your
garden fence, when you know that he has no in
tention Of doing il, and would be unable to do IL
should he make the attempt.
lie time that the people Of the Union should be-
gin 10 feel that questions local in their application,
deeply affecting the interests Of one section Of the
country, but having little no bearing on the in
tercss of another section not to be settled by
mere numerical majorities Of Representatives act
ing under instructions from their constituents,
without serious disturbance Of the public harmo-
ny, great arrangement and embarrassment Of the
operations Of the Government, difficulty in accom-
pishng the necessary acts of Legislation, and the
intense danger Of either actual dissolution of the
Union, or Of what is nearly equivalent TO IL, an
entire disturbance and interruption Of the functions
Of the Government. AZ the present moment the
powers Of the National Legislature are almost in
allegiance, and IL is question which justifes the
most serious apprehensions, whether much Of the
legislation which is essential or at least deeply inn
portant to the carrying on Of the Government, in
conformity with the Constitution, can be accom-
plishcd during the present session. Nothing which
has been yet done during the present session justi
ies any hope Of II. Every thing in the tone and
reasoning of Mr.. Mann's letter, and in the two
numbers Of an Old Wing upon Mr.. webster's
speech, which have already appeared in the alias,
forbids such hope. II can be accomplished only
by the efficacy of some principle Of Cancellation
If efforts at Cancellation like those which have
been made by Mr. Webster, and other who
dare TO look beyond the local feelings and pre-.
JUDGES of their immediate constituents, upon the
broad interests Of the whole Union, and upon
the interests and prejudices Of other sections
Of the country, which prejudices are cherished by
them respectively with equal intensity, are TO be
met and resisted ON the part Of those who aim at
making the public opinion by appeals 70 these To-
cal prcjudices, we see in prospect no remedy for
the existing embarrassments, and no bar TO their
continued increase.
The Old Wing, in his second number in yes.
terdsy's Anas, avows his purpose TO be, not " TO