The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-03-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, March, 6.


The President has submitted 10 Con.
gress an application from the British Gov.
eminent for an extension to British built
vessels of the right to a participation in the
coasling trade ofthe United States between
the Atlantic and Pacific ports; also, re-
monslrance from the British Minister a.
ganst the contemplated increase Of the
rate of duty on British iron and other pro.
ducts and manufactures Of Grea, Britain.
These documents set forth, in strong terms
the desire of the British Government TO
promote Iiberalny and reciprocity in trade
and navigation between all nations.
1t will be some time, imagine, before
Congress will take up this or any impor.
tant subject ofleeisallon. II any one can
tell when the slavery question will he set
lied, he can tell when Mr.. Mered,h's views
in regard to the tariff and navigation laws
will be looked at by Congress. Bal there
is scarcely any reason TO believe that. in
any event. Congress will NEEDLE with thu
tariff at this session. 1t is no longer talked
of, here; and all idea OF any general legis.
ation is, for the present. abandoned. II
we conquered California, California has
conquered us. She has sole possession
Of us. Nothing will ever be done in Con-
gress without her admission INTO the
Union; and, according to Mr.. CalIoun'>
views and those of many others, nothing
can be done If she be admi,ted-that is ia
say, the case will probably arise on dis.
union, in which as Mr.. Calhoun SAID
"Callornia will become the test question "
The conversation between Mr.. Foota
and Mr.. Calhoun. in the Senate. this
morning, is Of a character so interesting
delicate aud important, that, as it is brief.
deserves 10 be closely read, in order to he :
com" acqnain'ed with the varying move
men's on the political rss-board
Mr. FOo'e, this morning. pressed his mo-
ton for a SPECIAL Committee of thirteen,
who are TO devise and report a plan ru'
accommodating" the proScn, d;flicnllies-i,
being admitted that the plans Of Mr.. Clay
and OF the administration are failures
Mr. f. said he should call up his motion
on Thursday. after Mr.. Webster had spo-
ken. He went on to comment upon Mr..
I n 81.
bn, asked an rxp!ana'icn Of the proposition
for new guaranty for the South, BY an
amendment, Of the Constitution. Mr.. r.
wished to know whether Mr.. Calhoun in
sisted upon it as the condition on which
the South would remain in the Union, or
whether Mr.. c. would unite in compromise
noH. and suffer this projected amendment
to lie over for consideration at some future
time. MIR. Foole said, if the speech wen,
ont. without any explanation OF the point,
1t would appear that this amendment,
Wh,ch IS now imprac,icabIe, was insisted
on as sine qua nan, and that the aIterna-
I'VE must hP disunlon. lie spoke of the
Southern Convention. and declared that
its object was moi disunion. II he though,
1t was, he would not support il. The
present Constitution was adequate for the
protection Of the South. If faithfully exc.
cn''d Mr.. Calhoun, IN his reply. not on.
" declined any explanation or modfica.
ton of the proposition, but insisted tina,
the South could not continue in the Union
without some security for her rights, and
he appealed TO Mr.. Foo,e for his own
opinion. whether she could. Mr.. Foo,e
said that he believed the South could re-
main. peacefully. and happily. and honor
ably, under such compromise of this
question as could be made, in ten DAYS,
through the means O! the Committee which
he proposed.
Mr.. Calhoun, Gin an under tone. )-THis
question: do no; refer 10 Tit: question
only.
MIR. Calhoun's views, of course, have
an aim far beyond the question Of the pres
ent day; for that may be patched up, as Mr.
Butler remarked. and the Union 90 on for
while: yet the danger, as Mr.. Calhoun
ailirms, will not be aver,ed-,he disease
will still remain.-Cor. Char. Cour.