Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-08-24
From the N. O. Picayune.
The PrOEress at Washington

From the N. o. Picayuno.
The Progress at Washington
Since the defeat of Mr.. Clay's COMPROMISE
bill the U. S. Senate has signalized itself by
extraordinary despatch in the passage OF b'iis
upon the same subjects. The debates of eight
months seem not to have been without their
influence IN deciding the position of Senators
so the omnibus was not without its uses in
clearing the way for smaller vehicles to follow.
The Utah Territorial bill passed first, without
the W1'mot proviso, or any restriction on the
subject of slavery. The Texas Boundary bin
passed next. The bill for the admission of
California then passed. The bill for the crea-
ton OF a territorial government for New Mex.
ico-to take effect on the settlement Of the
Texas question, by the acceptance of Texas
has been passed, without any WiImot or other
proviso.
These contain all the subjects embraced in
Mr.. Clay's bill and although the combined
bills could not obtain a majority, each one has
passed by a large vote separately, nearly as it
was proposed by M. Clsy. The separate
Texas bill is more favorable to Texas than the
provisions of the "omnibus" were-giving her a
larger area by an amount of territory nearly
equal to the State of Pennsylvania.
L thus appears that there has been a major
;ty in the Senate all the time in favor Of every
par; of Mr.. Gays proposition though not for
ali Of them conjoined. Individual Senators
shifted their votes, but a considerable majority
composed of different persons voted in favor OF
each. This shows two things-frst that the
repugnance of a varying number of Senators
to some one or more Of the bihs was greater
than their desire for the success Of others and
secondly, that a good deal of personal motive
and of party calculation entered into these dis
c%ussions and affected the event. 1t is very
evident that the personal opponents of Mr.
Clay among the Wings, and Of Gen. Cass
among tho Democrats were reluctant to follow
their lead, even when not seriously differing in
opinion. The measures might pass, but these
statesmen should not have the glory Of the pa
ciication, 1t was a mean motive for q public
act, and like all mean motives will fail to win
anything. Great exertions and great sacrifices
for the country are not thus easily thrust out of
sight by the manouvres of selfish politicians.
Thus far, good beyond the expectations
entertained a short time since by rational men
at a distance from Washington. The friends
of the compromise have substantially succeeded
in all their measures in the U. s. Senate.
All the territorial questions are now before
the House of Representatives-the California
bill, the Utah bill, the New Mexico bill, and the
bill for the adjustment of the Texas boundary
question. What is to be their fate?
The legislative signs and the tone of the
newspaper press and correspondence indicate
pretty closely that they will pass. The Ian
guage of the Southern Press, at Washington,
and the resolutions adopted at the caucus Of
Southern members, held to concert means of re-
~sistance to them, would make us believe that
if they do pass, revolution and disunion will
certainly follow. The bill against which par
ticular luminosity is directed is the California
bill, and all others are uade contingent upon
that. The Southern Press says, in so many
words, that if it passes without a division of
| California by the line of SO deg. 80 min. it will
be resisted by the South. The following is
the programme of the order Of events. of which
it speaks with as much assurance as though the
States mentioned had already met in conven-
ton, resolved on war, and had their armies
nadYafor the field:
q thiiss I'LL Msses both Houses, it is made the
duty ofths Governor of Georgia, by a resolu-
ton of the Legislature of that State at its last
session, to convene that body by proclamation
forthwith i. That duty will be promptly per-
formed. The Legislature will meet promptly.
II that body retains the sentiments Of last sess
sion, or above all, if the members respect the
sentiments of the people as pronounced at the
recent extraordinary demonstrations of public
opinion, at a multitude of public meetings in
that State, it may be expected that the most
decisive and effective measures will be taken.
When Georgia shall have thus decided, South
Carolina will follow in ten days with q unani.
nifty never surpassed in any community on any
measure. These two States will offer ample
aid to Texas. Mississippi, Alabama and Flor.
ida will Immediately follow. And when this is
done the fate of the Union will probably be de-
cided. When winter comes the other South
ern Legislatures meet, and Virginia mast de.
eide. She is a State whose fame since the
Revolution has been sustained by her resist
ance to federal %usurpation and encroachment
She viii hardly become its ally, or q neutral
Ofhseit will never be said
.'To die a Stale or live a slave
Thy choice Is most ignobly brave"
But whatever may BE thought Of the course
of Virginia or other Southern States, it is Ger,
tain that not al the federal army and navy com.
bined can coerce the States Of Georgia, South
Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and
Florida. And if militia from other States are
called for, not q solitary platoon can be found
IN my siayeholding State, and very few in the
southern half ofthe Northwestern States, or in
the cities or seaboard of the North Atlantic
We think very few can be found any where
and certainly not enough to make any impress
sion on the six States we have named"
The State Of Louisiana, we perceive is en-.
tirely left ont ofthe calculation. It seems te
be taken for granted that she will not join in .
civil war and disunion, for the privilege o.
making TIVE free States out Of one, on the
shores of the Pacific, for that 10 the practica
result of this alternative.
We content ourselves for the present will
simply presenting this project Of revolution ana
war - II il laid out in the Washington press
and 10 to be proposed to the Sonfhern peopl,
in the event that the House Of REPRESENTATIVE.