Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-06
RICH MO- ND, VA.
Monday Morning, May 9th, 1850,


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Monday Morning, May 9th, 1850,
THE QUESTIONS BEFORE CONGRESS.
The Baltimore American, paper whose dis
erection and ability entite it to high respect,
makes the following remarks upon the important
subject which now chiefly absorbs the attention of
Congress and the country:
"The Message of the President Of the United States
relating to California and the Territory of New Mexi-
CO. recommended the admission Of the former as State
and suggested that would be better leave the unor
gained Territory to the protection OF the military pow
er OF the United States and the authority of local laws
until the population there residing should be sufficient
to form State government andIappy Tor admission in
to the Union. 1t is known that other plans of adjust
ment have been proposed. Mr. Clay submitted Sc
res of resoutions-so, also, did MIR. Bell The object
OF both OF these gentlemen to attain the pur-
pose which the President had in vew-hat is to suffer
the inhabitants OF all the new territories still unorga
nzed to frame their institutions for themselves
without the interference OF the General Government in
their domestic affairs
"To organize territorial governments in New Mexico
and Utah, without the nterposton of the Wmot Pro-
vso would be non-intererence. 1t would be to leave
the people there to form their institutions according to
their own preferences This would be to accomplish
the very same thing which the President recommends.
The only question is, can 1t be done!
Upon this point, which must be after all the test OF
practical craftsmanship there will be uncertainty until
the result is known. That compromise measure, in
GLIDING the admission of California with the establish
ment of governments in the territories without the Pro-
viso-that such measure may pass the Senate con-
neced also with adjustment OF the claims OF Texas,
we believe is not doubted. Whether it can pass the
House is another question.
"The plan recommended by the President has the
high merit OF being based upon ground which, every
other failing, must prove to be impregnable finally"
These suggestions serve to deveope very clear
ly the real nature of the great issue now pending
in Congress 1t is undoubtedly true, that the Presi
dents plan, and the plan of Mr. Bells resolutions
and Mr.. Webster's speech, agree in the principle
of non-interterence in the Territories. But, be-
yond that, they differ so greatly, that no man who
truly desires permanent settlement of the sec
tional controversy ought to hesitate which to pre-
fer The Presidents plan is non-interference as
to slavery, but it is so because it does nothing at
all with regard to the Territories it establishes
nothing; is simply an abstinence, from day to day,
from the offensive act; and leaves the subject of
dispute constantly ready to be seized upon by agi
tators until the inhabitants of a Territory may
think it expedient to have State Government
The Senate's plan, on the other hand, is non-in-
reference as to slavery, settled by solemn act of
Congress; it establishes proper governments for
the Territories, and refers the question of their
admission as States to the discretion of Congress,
unembarrassed by any connection with the slave
ry controversy it settles the Texas boundary
question and thus removes another fruitful source
of angry contention; it recognises the obligation
of Congress to subdivide Texas whenever she
shall be prepared ori and finally it re-establshes
the provision of the constitution for the recapture
of fugitive slaves. Between two such schemes,
there can be no choice for Southern men. And
we must express our establishment that the Anle-
rican, Southern journal, should not only intimate
its disposition to accept the less satisfactory in
lieu of more satisfactory plan, but seem to make
the greater probability of the formers being sue
cessful, if the South should not insist upon the
latter, the reason for not insisting
If the circumstances under which Gen. Taylor
recommended his policy be rememberedi it must
be obvious that instead of now sustaining that po-
Icy in order to give him cordial support, his
Southern friends ought to stand up firmly for the
scheme about to be laid before the Senate. The
avowed object of his scheme was to quiet the
slavery agitation, and to rid Congress of slavery
discussions. Apprehending that Northern men,
bers woul not readily yield the Wilmot Proviso,
he simply appealed to them to avoid voting either
for against it by passing no bills for the Terri
tories. The fact is now disclosed that he under-
estimated the firmness of Northern statesmen. A
sufficient number of them in the Senate, to make
with the Southern Senators decided majority of
that body have declared their willingness to estab
lsh Territorial governments without the Proviso;
and the only question, in the House, now is, be-
tween the Senate's plan and the Presidents
Can it be believed, that when the Senates plan
will accomplish his own object better than his own,
patriot like Zachary Taylor denies his plan to be-
used to defeat the other? Yet this is precisely the
end sought to be accomplished by horde of
Northern letter-writers, and its success is more
likely to be promoted by such declarations from
Southern papers as those of the American, than
by all the direct efforts of the mpractic able
Northern party.
FROM HONDURAS
Captain Nickerson of the brig September, arrived at
Boston Thursday from Truxillo brings advces to the