The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-26
Non-Intervention.

Words are as strangely tortured asprnciples in,
these days. Mr.. Clay introduces measure,
which abolishes the right to deal in slaves in the
District: which, under pretence of aiding in the
recovery Of ugtives, interposes the legislation of
Congress between the master and slave in the
States; which forever deprves the South of all
share in California; which, in the opinion of all
the abIest supporters of the measure, leaves the
STAKEHOLDER legally interdicted from every foot of
the remaining territory, and, finally, which pro-
poses to buy up and cover with the same anti
slavery conditions, the third part of the State of
Texas Mr.. Clay, says the Charleston Mercury,
had got great fame by "compromises" GALL which
had been broken by the North at the first oppor-
tunity) and so he calls this a "compromise, and
it was hailed such by all who were ready to ar-
cept whatever conditions were offered or to submit
Internationally, il necessary. The deception of
the name worked beautifully for time, and it did
seem that the boasts Of the compromisers would
be made good, and that measure which was
made up of concession and surrender on the part
of the South would triumph, merely because 1t
was called a compromise. We believe the
chances of that have passed away. The mask
has been stripped from this place of chicanery,
and its friends have vanished with its Disguise
Another and not less impudent imposture re-
mains: the non-intervention policy Of the
President. The Administration have proposed to
settle the slavery question in the Territories by
"non-interyention." The name implies quietude,
forbearance, a studious abstinence from all at
tempts to control opinion or action in the Terrific
ries, by advice, manGvre, force or authority.--
How has the Administration realized its promisea
II despatched agents to California, to stir up the
people to form State government; its military
representative, acting avowedly on instructions,
called n Convention by proclamation, In which
he parcelled the country into election districts,
prescribed the qualification of voters, and allotted
the proportion Of representation. Whensf The
Convention met, he assumed the Office of Presi-
dent and during the discussions, the advice and
authority Of the other agent Of the Administra
ton were used to control the decisions of the
Convention on a most important question, onithe
pledge that thus, and thus only, could they secure
admission into the Union. When this constitu-
ton, thus framed under duress Of the Cabinet
and their subordinates, was assented to bys the
people, and officers chosen under it, the civil and
military chief gave up the authority of the United
States into their hands, as if the fungus he had
brought into existence was nothing less than a
stable and legitimate government. This was the
first illustration of the cheat which the Admins
tration had resolved to practice under the name of
"non-intervention! J"
The Unreasonable subservence Of sectional party
has alone saved the President censure, the most
solemn that Congress could infict, for this unpar
allied usurpation of their functions under the pre-
tence of .non-ntervention." But it was done Tor
the advancement of the Stree Soil' cause, to set
tie the slavery question against the South, to enact
the Wilmot Proviso in such form that Gen. Cass
could sanction it without doing violence to hisown
revelation according to Nicholson. And this being
its object no violation oflaw, no manifest enormity
of usurpation, in the attainment Of the end, could
awake the condemnation of the North. They can
see no danger and no wrong in violations of law
that enure to their advantage. 1t is in fact only
the Constitution to- Mr.. Stewards
.higher law" Of anti-slavery. There is not
Northern Wing paper, from the National Ihtelli-
hat did M and in dano
Mr.. Polk appointment of Military Governors over
the California territories in time Of peace, as a
Yet when, by the instructions of the
present Administration, those Governors proceed
to exercise powers such us MIR. Polk never dreamed
of, even to create sovereign States within their u
and surrender their authority, not to
those who appointed them, but to those ~hbm
they have themselves appointed, because itisdene
10 the injury of the South, and to the advancement
Of the North, not northern Wing paper, from
the National Inielligencer down, but approves,
sustans and urges the legislative sanction Of these
atrocOus usurpatons. sA
The President well knew he could count upon
this result. He had abundant evidence of this ap-
prevail from the instant the of his snonLin
tervention" in California was made known. rgHe
was embroidered to try still holder illustration of
it, California was an unorganized Territory.
New Mexico was in more perplexed condition.
In California he had only the question Of slavery
to settle against the Sonth In New Mexico he
determined to settle not only the slavery question:
but the dispute about boundary also, and to settle
them of course against the South. Accordingly
his officer is instructed to call Convention In New
Mexico ; and by way Of swallowing up theiclaims
Of Texas forever, il is ordered to assemble within
he asserted limits of Texas, and to form a State
whose seat of Government shall be within1the
rightful territory Of another State /! This ss.the
second phase of the ''non-intervention policy"
Is it not absurdity to call ours government Of
constitution and laws '-Lo,rsiannu Couriefcct
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION. -Thelate
Democratic State Convention held at Cohinfbus
on the 4th instant, nominated Col. A. p. MEIER,
Of Butler county, as their candidate for member
of the Board or Public Works. n;
The Convention passed series of resolutions,
taking ground against Banks of circulation, I'm ia
yor Of Homestead Exemption, and the freedom of
the public domain in limited quantities torpsfuai
settlers. And also, resolution was passed taking
strong ground against Southern slavery, and sla-
very extension, and in favor OF the admission of
New Mexico into the Union with its presenri CON
sttution prohibiting slavery. o1.I
The radical and advanced position thus assumed
by the Democratic party in Ohio, is evidence that
the cause Of Reform is upward and onwardsin our
State. The position they have now taken is a
Grand and noble one, it is above and in advance of
the other prominent political parties of the day
not even excepting the Free-soil party. Itsnow
remains to be seen whether the Democraticsparty
will make good its professions of the Reform
measures which it has espoused, and whether it
will continueto maintain the advanced position it
has taken. " 10
The above comments, on the present position of
the Democracy Of Ohio, from the Homestead
Journal we fully endorse. The controversy Which
the Democracy of Ohio, have, for many Years.
been engaged in with the Bank power--theirstern
and uncompromising defence of the doctrine of
equal rights, have prepared the Democracy of
Ohio to assume and s'maintain - an advance po-
sition on all Reform measures.-Toiedo COZ Re
publican. no
The REPORTED ABDIcArIoN THE Russian
CzAR. --Respecting this item Of intelligence, which
one of the last steamers brought us, the .4tr-ia-
ChapeiIe Gazette has the following remarks;
The Presse, OF Brum, announces that tne EN-
peror Nicholas has formally resolved to abdcate
upon the LIST of December next, in iayorn or ms
son, Cesarewitch, the heir presumPtive 70 tne
crown. His majesty desires that his son shall
ascend the throne at this time In order That he
NAV not be exposed to the danger OF becoming
nrev 10 malicious parties or conspiracies which
are always formed in Russia upon every new ac-
cession. His majesty Will assist at the councils OF
,.'''e 80 a q he 10 able 10 direct hlmo0lf To