The New York herald., 1850-04-08
New York, Monday, April 8, 1850.
TSie Slavery Question In Congress and In
Europe.


The slavery question, which at the present time
agtates the Congress and people of this country so
much, is beginning to attract the attention of the
leading minds and Journalists of Europe. The
great speech of Mr.. Calhoun reached Europe,
through the columns of the Herald, before the
sailing Of the last steamer from Europe, and the
leading journal Of that quarter Of the world, the
1snes Of London, has made some singular and
important comments on the high character of Mr.
Calhoun. as a statesman, well as on his views
as politician which very interesting at this
monoEt They will be found in columns to-
day. One Of the most remarkable declaraons
put forth en- the other side Of the water, is the be-
lief thai she peImanence Of the federal union Of
this great Eepublc is, TO England, next in impor-
tanoe 20 the preservation of the British empire in
all its integrity. This declaration arises from the
belief that the commercial relations of the Two
countries would be injured, mutated, if not ulti-
mately destroyed, by separation of this vast con-
federacy into opposing and hostile fragments of any
kind. Dsunion would thus not only be a calamity
70 the United States, but blow to the civilized
world beyond The Atlantic.
The unbiased opinion and independent thought
of Europe on the agifations of this continent,
something like the opinions and thoughts of futu-
rity on past age. The people of this country,
and their servants in Congress, ought 10 ponder and
pause on such manifestations, and endeavor, by all
the means within their power, TO settle and arrange
those difficulties consistently with the principles
of the constitution and the terms of the original
compact between the States, without reference TO
ultra prejuGices of any kind or from any quarter
But what are the prospects in this respectl What
is doing IN Wash,ngtonl How comes on the great
Question Of the day, What are our Senaioia and
Representatives abonl
The death of the great South Carolina statesman
,,dnced pause in the asPerities Of parties, but
Pr lie few days. After brief lapse Of
time political agitation, ~iSonai esPei'v anu -
,ious action have again reared N' -
houses of Congress, As matters now stand in the
Senate and House Of Representatives, it seems TO
be- utterly impossible 10 ascertain, with any degree
Of precision, how the slavery agitation is TO be set
tied, or when il will be laid at rest. The Southern
Representatives who would seem 10 possess the
most interest in the happy termination of this con
troversy have all along expressed determination
for general and comprehensive settlement, at once,
Of all the slavery difficulties, including the admis
sion of California end the organization of the new
territories, on some basis Of compromise consistent
with the principles Of the constitution. This view,
to greater or lesser extent, has been concurred in
by the great statesmen of Congress-by MIR. Cay,
ty Mr.. Webster 10y Mr.. Calhoun even, before his
death-und by many other leading and living men
Of both houses. The prolongation Of the agitation
will only increase the troubles of the country
Hence the propriety and good sense involved
in full and comprehensive settlement of
the whole difficulty at once. The longer such dis
eases are proracied and prolonged, the bitter,
inveteraie and chronic they become. The leading
a. 4 4. al.
popularity in the disorder, and the necessity OF
settlement ofthe whole case at once, the only
remedy
Who, then, oppose the policy approved OF by
euch men as Webster Clay, and Calhoun-thc
living and the dead-and by the most experienced
members of both houses, from every sectionl
Unfortunately, the cabinet of Gen. Taylor-in op-
position, we believe TO Cen. Taylor hinsef-and
the free socrs in Congress- and out Of il, including
Er Benton set themselves up in opposition to a
settlement Of the general question, with no other
views or motives, IL would seem. than to see what
caH DC gained by continually agitaiing that disturb
inv ore. .-icn for a few years longer. in both the
4 ,,S .Ne South. In such dilemma, what is
-" r.. ~rcss has been in session four
~, @cting. Several elections
have been held, indicating the n,. ',,,r .r,'s
20 crisis The settlement Of the dim. =,
Southern States have proposed conyen'iO-
Nashville. for the purpose Of taking the whole :
matter into consideration. Why should not every
state in the Unon-every congressional district
send delegate TO that convention, which might
meet in a more central position than Nash
ville-say Bchmond, IN Nrgnia-and bring IN
addition 70 the influence of the recent elections, the
representative force Of the whole Union in favor Of
an early and positive settlement Of this troublesome
question
All legislation is in abcyanoe until this question
is settled. The action Of the executive government
IL paralyzcd until il lie arranged The cabinet.
assisted by the aboonis,s. and the free soil jour
mails and politicians, by Mcssrs. Benton. Seward,
Chase. &c, are the only portion Of the American
people who wish this intermneble question pfo-
longed from year to year, at the risk os this happy
glorious, and powerful Vni"-. Is it not time Tor
the people everywhere to take the matter in hand