Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-22
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
rHURsDAY MoRNINc, MARcM 21, 1850.
THE QUESTION OF THE DAY.

Every day. every hour presents phase and the
latest indications favorable The first of May
and the month Of June the earliest days suggested for
positive action the subject and abored speeches and a
tang debates will continually excite the country until
thing is done-even should this session witness any ADJUST
ment that will alay the nsnl,ed and injured South.
Our original hopes OF benef, from Websters speech arc
much chilled by To great extent the ina-
nous harangue of Seward has been cordially received
New England and New York, and seems 10 have put Web
stes of joint See the following testimony intro
duced in Boston letter In the New York Globe:
"The Washington correspondent Of the Boston Courier
speaks in the warmes terms OF commentator OF Mr. Sc
wards abolition speech and condemns in equally pointed
nguage Mr. Web<ers speech The Boston Atlas does the
thing in bold way, and does il cditoray; and il
also has published the entire speech of your Senator
recsveda compliment tina, never before paid 10 any
New York Senator Mr.. Dawson perceive, asked of ar.
Seward he spoke the sentiments of the Northern Wings
and the latter gentleman shired the question matter of
course. For The want OF better answer the Georgia Sc
nato is welcome 10 one from myself which s that Mr. Se
ward spoke the precise sentiments of the Wings Of New
England "a can De seen by referring their newspapers
one OF which will condemn either the Or the matter
that gentlemans Speech while Hl will praise it, and
many OF them will publish Mr.. Dawson only showed his
own ignorance by asking such question: for he must be
snguary ignorant of Northern politics be that
has only been through the promugaon OF just such doc
maintained er ascendancy throughout the North and
East Had the Democratic party adopted and supported
he they would have had possession OF State in this
part o the repuouc except MasSaclusrtts anu Rhodt
Island He has indeed only refer the Boston Atlas OF
Yesterday 10 see that am literally correct in this statement
That paper boldly
"'We publish to-day full report of the speech made By
Governor Seward Monday last the question OF the
admission OF California into the Union a State With
The general propositions which he supports We believe the
people OF New England are agreed The speech 10 one
which will be read with profit and pleasure and think
that most nor al of his points are sound and
This s Governor Stewards fret congressional de
bater and he has certainly sustained himself with much
| power. eloquence and ability.
Nothing equiyocal about that, coming though does from
| the leading Wing paper of New England which is much
accustomed prevacating than in the habit Of speak
ing This indicates the direction of opinion
among the Wings here's for you may be assured ha, the At
las has assumed its ground adysedy and that will main
tain 1t firmly Mr. Webster could not be elected 10 the Sc
| nate al this moment in our Legislature"
But still omnous sign appears in the columns OF
the y. 4 Courier and Enquirer. That paper which has
been held up BY the Southern Wing press audaby
serva;ve the slavery question, with abd
leader asans, the Republic for its article denunciao
~ ofSeward-which characerzes Ia personal assault
filled with bitteess Of temper and Of language
gross scur.iy and low, s;able-ooy hit Old Whitley !?
buiioonery which small minds mistake for severity After
expressing the hope that the Republic in this matter does
spesk for the President his Cabinet the Courier and
Enquirer epes the attack Mr. Seward with emphasis,
/ as follows:
THE speech of Senator Seward will probably be
ensvey read in the Northern States as any other Of the
There positions in il which will not
the general concurrence OF their inhabitants We'd
think that the body Of the Northern people OPP
osed compliance with that clause OF the Convention,
which requires the surrender OF fugitive slaves We 90
eeye that they will seek TO evade any obligations which
he Constitution enlons, by urging The nIeposition OF
igheI law. Upon these and upon other points in that
,peech believe Northern sentiment is sounder and health
| er than Senator Seward has been led TO suppose
"Bu do believe that the predominant sentiment Of that
speechthe deeply rooted conscientious and ineradcable
hostility Slavery social and political institution,
which evnces the predominant sentiment Of the North
States In this respect and for this reason we believe
ha, the speech will command more general assent and be
ece.ved wiki more real iror ar The North than any o.tr
hat t4s y b.en pronounced We believe will generally
ega!ed the Northern speech Of the session And this
ceiling will te the less general and the less
,ha,c from the fac, that with fortune somewhat rare, Gov
Seward has stood unsinchngy and firmly by positions and
nuons which by both friends and enemies he has AWAY
known He has not disappointed expeca
ion He has allowed himself TO be driven seduced
rom the sentiments which he has always proclaimed
what he believes be the paramount and predominant
ceiling the Northern States And This account he vii!
Judged intulgeniy 10 say the least by the Northern
States His speech consins nothing that all enbar-
ass the settlement Of this veyed question II proposes
lohing-suggess nothing all inconsistent with the plan
adjustment which the President has brought forward On
contrary Senator Seward declares expressly his full
urrence in that proposonis entire Willingness 10 adopt
he policy Of qactisity Of creating territorial
rnmeats reh The President has susgested His speech is
My in opposition 10 plans OF compromise proposed By
hesplans which interfere far more directly with that OF
he Administration than anything in the speech Of Gov Sc
ward 1t is easy therefore, in what way il has
earned the hostility of the Republic.
I'VE mention things show that the yrulent attack
the Republic will probably be regarded assault not
simply upon Governor Seward but upon the sentiment of the
North which certain extent he may and will be sup
osed represent II will be considered somewhat singular
hat Northern senator-a Whg-one OF the earliest warm,
and mos, efficient friends of the Administration
denounced by paper supposed 10 be the special organ OF
hat Administration Tor the expression oil sentiments not one
whit more ultra unreasonable the side than those
Southern upon the other, which have been allowed
without rebuhe We cannot suppose that
Republic designs desires drive the State OF New
thaf
the National Administration: and still less can we con-
ey that such purpose should be cherished by those whose
sentiments that paper is sometimes supposed 10 speak The
ublic sentiment OF great State, however Is something
hat be secuted or outraged with impnnity- may
always be entirely JUS; easonabe5ui it will always
make itself felt and respected"
This endorsement of Seward and covert attack Web
,,er by the leading Wing paper of New York significant
enough.
One will suffice for purposes il Is from the
Albany Evening Journal paper ofinauence and thorough
" free soil and Sewardisf II tsays:
"Gov Seward holds in common with the great mass OF
ne friends OF the Union that the direct, practical and safe
say present embarrassment is that so seasona
* and wisely recommended by Gen. Taylor. Aware how
yer that full and frank declaration of his sentiments upon
whole question in issue would give offence IN some quar-
ers he did not feel at liberty BY implication, TO In
vove Gen Taylor On that occasn he spoke Tor me State
md for himself But he is second in his apPre-
iaon of Gen. Tayors wisdom and patriotism; nor does
nv one realize more gratefully the happy concurrence OF
vents and circumstances which, al crisis full OF peril uis
d W such man preserve for the American people the
blessings of their cherished tnlon
Does not all this evidence 10 establish the fact that
Seward thoroughly assens the Taylor platform whose
practical workings he Sees will satisfy his darling abolition
designs and eecuay and actually prohibit the South from
81. chance of ENJOYING the terrories7 Do not these
sinister signs pon, The duty Of the South and urge her
TO demand full and fair adjustment of the dfiuty at this
session? How can she rally and throw her whole mo-
raj influence on the question: than By assembling in solemn
Convention at Nashville and speaking out voice mat can
not be misunderstood We glad TO see presses that
originally opposed the movement paoticaly coming
into s support Even Old Augusta beginning to arouse
hcrse-and though Mr. Sheey declared that there was but
one opinion in his county, and that was against the Con
yenon we welcome the following powerful aid from the
staunton vndcaor in the OF the South ard the
Union
1--WE are glad 10 see that neighbos OF The Spectator
have suggested the proprey OF expression OF opinion o
the people of Augusta the subject of Southern Conven
,on a, the March Court Most cordially do we approve inc
suggestion and hope may be acted upon in spirit OF pa
oIism and that political preudce be laid aside when
we meet together consult for the common good As re-
cards the Traditional light" that may be thrown upon ne
subject by our Delegates who will have returned by tha
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