The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-06-17
The Territories and the Compromise.

The Territories and the Compromise.
Not long since, has it been, that prom
inent man of the democratic party, was de-
nounced by the wings for entertaining Ger
tain sentiments, and promulgat ting certain
doctrines relative to slavery in the terrific
ries, SIC. The cry of the wings in the north
was SO universal against Gen. Cass; the
rattle of Wilmot Proviso musketry so in
cessant, The roar Of Wilmot Proyiso artille-
ry SO deafening and the charges of Wilmot
ProViso cotumns SO fearful, that the south
became frightened, and many really thought
their peculiar institutions" in danger.
Mr.. Cass stood upon the lofty ground that
the slavery question should be let alone in
the territories by Congress; that the people
when they formed states, and made their
constitutions would settle the matter; that
its agitation could result in no good to the
Union, but that the excitement in regard to
it among the ultraists of the north and south
might extend to the masses and create bad
feeling between these two sections of the
Union, which would do deal of harm;
that whatever law Congress might pass in re-
gard to the institution of slavery in the ter
ritores, when they were formed into States,
their inhabitants would say whether it should
or should not exist in them, ard it was
therefore foolishly wasting the peoples mo-
ney to spend so much time IN discussing the
propriety of passing law which could have
but Temporary effect. and do no good
while in force. At the same time Gen.
Cass knew, as did every intelligent man who
thought upon the subject, that very few, if
any more slave states could ever be made, if
we except the dividing and sub-dividing Of
Texas. That restless, indomitaole spirit
Of enterprise and perseverance that pen
chant for diving into and hewing down the
forest which so eminently characterize the
people OF the northern or free States, he
knew would carry them westward, and that
they would indelibly stamp the character Of
country before the southern people, with
their cumbersome slaves, would scarcely
think Of emigrating. Nor was this all. The
free states increased in population twice as
rapidly as the southern STATE S, and evenwere
there no difference in the character of the
people, one would naturally conclude that
greater number would emigrate from the
free states than from the southern states,
because of the greater number of inhabi-
tants.
But, as we remarked, Gen. Cass with this
common-sense view of the matter was con-
demned by the whig party. That was two
years ago. Time brings change. Let US
see what that party does now. Hear the
Cincinnati Gazette, in commenting on Mr..
Clay's attack on the President. Y
"And the President, in view OF speedy
and final settlement of the slavery question,
and to put stopto all agitation in Congress
and out of it, recommended that the ques-
ton Of the admission and rejection of sla-
very be referred to the people themselves,
when they shall come TO form State con-
stitution. Surely that plan for
the adjustment OF this question is the best,
which takes the subject of slavery out Of the
political arena, and extinguishes it, if posi-
Bile, as political issue iE the party contests
of the time. And surely, in this respect,
the plan of The President is far superior to
any other yet suggested-for it leaves moth
ing behind to agitate about-it gives finality
to tina: vexed questionable ono great Mound
and insures the healing Of all other
mounds SO graphically described by the great
"Commoner,"
This is what the opposers of Gen. Cassin
the last Presidential canvass think now Of
the principles then advocated by that great
champion Of democracy. Wing "ground
and lofty tumbling" we are somewhat used
to, but we were hardly prepared for this.
Unfortunately, this recommendation by the
government, of Gen. Cass' policy comet too
late, Had Gen. Cass been elected TO the
Presidency, the soath would have been re-
conciled by his wise course-knowing that
the territories would be let alone by Con-
gress, and this squabble about compromise,
which is costing us thousands of dollars per
day, and keeping other important and urgent
business back, would have been averted.
The time having passed for Gen. oass' plan
to do any good--things having gone too far
to bring about reaction, the government
suddenly discovers that TO let the slavery
| question alone in the territories, and permit
the people to settle it, as they would un-
doubtedly do anyhow, when a state consti-
tuition was to be formed, would be decided
ly the best policy for Congress to pursue.