The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-22

What are the advantages OF this modef
Many and obvious. Let us give the recapitu-
lation in the language Of the Union:
First. By this mode the question Of the WI
mot proviso is aooided. Is not that a great ad-
vantage2 ''Here we have been distracted"
says the Union of the fourth of this month,
''for three years by the Wilmot proviso The
South, /" it adds, ''has struggled against it with
all her energies, and she has repeatedly de-
clared that she never will consent to this in
famous imposition" Again, as late as the
thirteenth Of this month, the Union emphati-
cally asks: ''Why, what have we been princi-
paly contending against for the last three years2
Against that detestable Wilmot proviso, which
has alarmed and agitated the whole Southern
country, and which they have so justly and in
dignantly denounced as destroying the equality
of the sovereign States, and as hostile to the
rights of the whole South" We might go on,
to multiply quotations to voluminous extent
from the same source equally eloquent and inn
pressive on this point. Evidently that mode
Of adjustment by which "he question Of the
JViin,oi prooiso is dpoided' has great and man
fold advantages.
Secondly. No member Of Congress from the
North or from the South compronits any consti-
tutiondi or other principle. This considera-
ton. it is evident, would remove difficulties
from gentlemen in Congress, who, coming from
constituencies that insist upon the insertion Of
the proviso in any and every territorial bill that
may come before Congress, may find them
selves embarrassed in supporting the compro-
mise-also from gentlemen of the South, who
do not think that the compromise guards suffi-
| GENTLY Southern rights and interests.
Thirdly. III propiding for the admission Of
The acquired territories into the Union as States,
this, the slavery question: as ,oeH as all other
domestic municipal regulations, is left TO the
Inhabitants phO are TO gopern themselves. That
the people of the Territories should have in
their own hands the power to determine upon
the nature of their domestic Institutions, con
corning the adaptation Of which to their wants
they could better Judge than others, is propo-
stion which commends itself to general accep-
tation. mo Southern man." says the Union
'.can justify himself IN denying 10 them this
right"
We have thus, in the Unions own words, as
italicized recapitulated some of the advantages
which would result from the adoption of the
mode Of adjustment recommended by the Pres
IpENT-the admission of the Territories into
the Union as States The journal whose high
authority we have quoted seems TO have been
50 deeply impressed by the superior excellence
Of this mode, that its language in reference to
it seems unusually distinct, pointed, and forci-
ble We need not add that we appreciate fully
the justice, wisdom, and eXpediency of its
views upon this subject as quoted above.
The Richmond Times propounds to us sun
dry interrogatories founded upon the assump-
ton that we have Thought proper to draw
comparison between the respective advantages
of the two plans the PRESIDENTS and that Of
! the Committee of Thirteen to the Southern
Shareholders" This assumption is wholly I'M
founded. We have at no time attempted To
draw any such comparison, as every ordinarily
attentive reader Of the Republic must be well
aware. Indeed. the Times itself, in the very
article in which it asserts we did draw such
comparison, contradicts the assertion, by say
ing that we did not attempt TO hog, in
the remarks in which the alleged compari-
son was drawn, 'how the PRESIDENTS plan
is more favorable to the introduction of slaves
into the Territories" than the Compromise plan!
! How then, could we have drawn such COM
parison! What we did do, in the article re-
! ferred 10 by the Times, was ''io defend our
support of the PRESIDENTS recommendations
for adjusting the territorial slavery question, in
/ preference to the policy proposed in the Com
promise plan" against the absurd and ridicu-
lous charge of ''hostility to the Southern
States" preferred by Georgia paper. And
our defence was complete, when we showed
as we think we did most satisfactorily, that the
Compromise had no just claims to be regarded
as measure so peculiarly and largely conser-
vative and indicative Of Southern rights and
interests, that all who ventured to oppose il
might be rightfully denounced as assuming a
position Of hostility TO the Southern States, and
that il contained ono great concession TO the
South''-nothing practically beneficial to the
South"-nothing $50 be boasted Of as a great
point gained by the South" If the Times
is prepared to maintain the affirmative Of any
one Of these propositions, we are ready to meet
it in fair and courteous discussion. They are
the points Of issue presented by us, and we are
prepared to maintain every one Of them against
all who dispute them.
As we have never directly or indirectly ad-
vocated the line Of policy recommended by the
PRESIDENT, in reference to the government Of
the Territories acquired from Mexico, upon
the ground that il favored the interests, or sup
posed interests, Of one section Of the Union more
than another, the Times must excuse us if we
decline its challenge to prore that that policy
has sectional bearing and character.
Why, the grounds upon which we have ad-
vocated the adoption Of the principle Of adjust
ment recommended by the President are, that
it is strictly national in its character-that il is
one far above the reach Of all imputations Of a
sectional bias, and one in support Of which pa
triotic men Of all parties and sections may rally
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