The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-09
The Adjustment of the Slavery Question
and the independent Press.

II is with great deal of pleasure that we see,
now that the slavery agitation has been settled by
the passage of the most important of the Senate
bills, by the House of Representatives, senti-
ment Of gratitude pervading the community toward
Messrs. Clay, Webster, Cass, Foote, Dickinson.
and others of the leading spirits who exerted them
selves to produce pacihcaton Of the troubles that
afflicted the country. 1t speaks we'll Of the ge-
nerosity of the American people, and shows that
they are sensible of the patriotism and exertons of
those distinguished men to preserve the harmony
of institutions and to restore the good feelings
which were temporarily interrupted between our
Northern and Southern States. This Is as i
should be, and we are rejoced at it. We
have no doubt, too, that in every place that
the tidings of the settlement Of this trouble
some question will reach, far and near, the peo-
pie will manifest their gratitude to the men who.
throwing aside all party and personal considers
tons, devoted themselves c the preservation of the
Union, when it was assaiIed by such men as Sc
ward, and those who have identified themselves
with him, and his onslaught on the Union. This
they will do by banquets, and speeches, and tosss,
and perhaps by Examinations, for we are satisfied
there will be grand demonstrations throughout the
country as soon as the good news is conveyed to
our more distant citizens.
We think that this is proper time to mention
the influence which the preserve mean the indie
pendent press-exercised in producing this happy
state Of things by raising its voice in opposition to
the fanaticism aHd ulraism which prevailed when
the agitation was commenced. BY recurring TO
the state of the slavery agitation as il was some
fifteen months ago. the public will find that through
the influence, in great measure, Of the party press
-whig, democratic and abolition--the Northern
States were combined for the purpose of pre-
venting any settlement of the question, except
on such terms as they might choose to dictate
to the South. A similar unfortunate state Of
things existed in the Southern States. Public
opinion there, 100, was worked up to q pitch
of determination, as well as Of excitement, which
foreboded anything but a continuance of the
frsternal relations which previously existed be-
tween that section of the country and the North.
The came influence operated in each case, and the
result would, we are satisfied, have been deplors-
bic but for the stand in favor Of the Union and Of
the rights OF the South as well as those of the
North, which the independent prees In the large
cities assumed. In this demonstration in favor of
the Union, at a time when the public mind had
become fren1ied on the subject of slavery, the
inds pendent press, headed, all will acknowledge.
by the Nap York Herald, exerted its tremendous
power in opposition to fanatcism and ultraism Of
all kinds, and in favor Of csimness, reason, and
moderation in the discussion Of that important
subject, in Congress, as well ss out Of il. Day
after day, and week after week, we devoted our
pen and the influence of our columns to q Re-
nervous, liberal, and comprehensive adjustment Of
81. Ill. Il
knew would be satisfactory TO the moderate, SEN
sbe, and patriotic masses ofthe people. We adopt.
cd this course long before any public meetings
were called upon the subject, and long before
the views and feelings Of the great masses of the
people, were brought TO bear, as they were after
wards on the repre- sentaves Of the people in both
houses Of Congress. At the timeto which we re-
fer, the party newspapers in the North were, with
out an exception, perfectly Wild and demented
on the Wilmot provso question, and the org ,as of
the Southern ulIas were the same on the other
hand. Even the wing journals Of the city
took faetional view OF the subject, and did
not for long time do than refer to the South
em side OF the dispute. The Co.sisY a~f E.suirsy,
the Eryrsu and the Tyibv~s, OF this city, and the
Ees~iug Jo~vrai, Of Albany, were bitter and un-
reentng in the attitude which they took towards
the South. The CoSrir:ard Eng,.,vn advocated
the Wimot proviso humbug al up TO the hub 20 90
did the Erprts and as for the New York T,rbs.s.
that journal at one time boldly avowed that IL
would prefer . dissolution OF the Union to the
the Wilmot prov;so In regard to
the Albany Evt~iag Journal Thurlow Weed was
so deeply interested in the Of the now de-
fusct Seward clique, that to the day Of the pas
H. al h.li Ia
sures to the utmost Of it's weak ability, and dav
after day IL sssailed Mesr,. Webster, Clay,
and the other patriots who proposed and supported
them with an ability and an earnestness tina,
and received the respect Of the whole
The philosopher Of the TIib.r, played
second fiddle TO Thurlow Weed, Mr. Seward's or.
ganist and panezyrist; and was, at one tre-.sd
that, too, the mosi critical period Of the Dispute
bitter enemy TO any adjustment that weuld satis-
~ the country and put end to the unfortunate
agitation. Yet those journals, with the exception Of
The Ercr~g Jo,v~ai, found Il eIpedient to change
heir tactics, and to fall in and follow the d.
70 cion Of the public opinion that was created
and brought into existence by the indie
~ ndent press, headed by ,he MIC York Hsrald
II a settlement Of the utstion had depended on
he sIertons Of the mere party press the Influence
Of which 10 confined to the particular section or
clique to which each belongs IL would never be
Effected; but. on the contrary, the breach between
he North and the South, world becom.
wider and wider, day after day, until eventually it
would be impossible to heal IL, or to re.
tore good feeling between the Northern aud
southern sections Of the republic. We shall
prove what we assert one OF these days,
by giving extracts from the columns Of the
journals to which we refer. AZ IL 10, we have
no doubt that thcse very journals which, during
he darkest and most gloomy time Of the discussion,
devoted ell their influence against an Adjustment Of
he slavery controversy. will come out and proclaim
he patriotic course which they took 10 advocating
he passage Of the Senate b'lls in that body and Ia
he House Of Representative. after public opinion
vsa directed to an adjustment on the very terms