The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-18

the North, and through II 10 Orlng rupnc oenu-
ment in that quarter to bear upon Congress.
We took Mr. Clingman's Letter to Mr.. Foote,
concerning the policy to be pursued by the South,
as text TO show that there was an organized
movement on foot to unite the Southern members
without distinction Of Party, for the purpose OF
making the question Of slavery extension, test
in the election of Speaker and other officers, OF
securing 10 the Extensonists the absolute control
of both Houses Of Congress, and of compelling
the members Of the old parties from the North to
renounce or waive the Proviso
Such plot, we argued, called for correspond
ing union among the opponents OF Slavery hkteh-
sion But, the warning was UNDECIDED Inc
Press and the People Of the Free States seeneu
alike Indifferent. What was the result Inc
Principle of Slavery Extension obtained CON-
plete triumph in the organization OF the House,
and in the construction Of the Committees OF the
Senate. although, in the former body the repre-
sentatiyes of the free States had clear majority
of forty-nine, and in the latter, the members OF
the free States, with the aid Of the Delaware
Senators, had a majority of four
The Speaker of the House was elected as
Slavery Extensionist, and every Committee In the
House and in the Senate, which could act In
relation to slavery, was 30 organized as 10 pro-
mote the policy of non-restrictlon
From that moment we apprehended death to
the Proviso. Men, who in the vital matter OF or
ganiaation, would vote 80 as to place that meas
ure Mt the absolute mercy of the shareholders,
could not be relied upon when the question
should coase up on its merits. The Party consd-
erations which had controlled them in the former
case, would control them in the latter.
The TLibuae might have foreseen this-so
so might other Party presses at the North-and
it was in their power to arouse the People to
the danger, and to evoke such expressions Of SEN
timent, as might have arrested the march Of Com
promise in both Houses But they did not do it,.
While they all slept, the Devil was busy sowing
tares, and these have sprung up so thickly that
you can hardly tell where the wheat is
The downward course of che old parties has
been gradual but steady. The Presidents policy
of non action, though not formal sacrifice of the
Wilmot Proviso was accepted by the Wing Party
generally This broke the tie Of sympathy which
till then had bound both the old parties to sup
port the Proviso. The Democrats did not choose
to go over to apew platform erected by their op-
ponents, and become the supporters Of the Ad-
ministration many of them having adhered to
the .ProvG merely from motives Of policy, now
felt released from it by the change of policy in
the Whig Party; some too shrunk from the pros
poet of being left alone to bear the burthen of
measure odious to the South. The votes taken in
the House during the early period of the session
revealed the growing detection.
The Press was apathetic, the People were in
different The South was united her Represent
atives and Senators in Congress piled all the
arts of intimidation and hattery. What could
be expected? The silence of the press, the appa-
rent absence Of excitement in the North encour-
aged still further detection the part of North
ern members. Since the naiuer of the Wilmot
Proviso had provoked scarcely murmur Of dis
appreciation in the Wing Party, why not strike
final blow at Free-Soilism, by settling the whole
question at once, without word about the Pro-
viso So thought Daniel Webster, and SO he
spoke. 1t did seem at first as if this were rather
hazardous movement for Wing Statesman,
but subsequent events show that whatever he
may lose personally, by want of adroitness in his
apostacy, his example will find too many imita-
tors.
What, for example, shall we say of the Mem
York Tribune Read the article quoted above
and, tell u.s. wherein practically it differs from
the policy Of Mr.. w sbster. The editor Is greatly
concerned about New Mexico--he fears that a
large portion Of her territory may be absorbed
by Texas-and therefore, he would consent to aban-
don the Proviso, to organize the Territories of
Utah and New Mexico, on the Cass Principle of
on-Intervention, provided Texas consent to
relinqush her claim If she will not do this
then, he is in favor of buying out her claim, but
thinks it is not fair in that case to give up the
Proviso too. Well-there is this difference be-
tween the Tribune and Mr.. Ws6ster-the latter is
in favor of buying out Texas and selling out the
Proviso too, while the former is willing to sell
out the Proviso, or to buy out Texas, but thinks
it rather hard to be called upon to do both
| And is it by this ohaffering policy that the
power of the Shareholders is to be confronted, and
their demands baflled2 Give up the Proviso in
New Mexico and Deseret, provided Texas will re-
lease her claim to portion of the former! What
matters it, though New Mexico save her soil from
Texas, if it is to be exposed to the curse Of Sa-
very2 We would have every State, every Ter
ritory secured in its rightfu boundaries but this
is matter of less importance now than the ex-
tension Of Slavery. If the Tribune believe pos
tive prohibition in Territorial Government
is necessary to exclude Slavery from New Next
co, what shadow of justification has it for its
| proposed abandonment of it? II it do not be-
| lieve that it is necessary, why not openly re-
nounce 1t like Mr. Webster If it be in the
| judgment of the editor a mere bald abstraction,
then, in Offering to give it up, as an equivalent
| for the Abandonment by Texas of her claim
| he is trying to make a sort Of wooden-nutmeg
| bargain. We are weary Of this kind of champi-
onshp Of the cause of Human Rights The
| Shareholders have the question now pretty much
| in their own hands. Let them dispose of it as
soon as possible. They have succeeded in disgra-
cling quite enough Northern statesmen and poll
| tcians. Let them be merciful; let them not fur
| Their degrade section Of the Union with which
they must still hold fellowship under the Consti-
tuition
OFFICE HOLDERS IN WASHINGTON.