The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-31
mr. CIsy's Compromise on Tne slavery
Nue.rtOu

Tuesday last, has produced more remarkable
sensation in the public mind than even the message
of General Taylor on the California question:
This sensation appears TO have been as prevalent
N the Senate at Washington as out OF Tin the
capitol as IN this community; and we presume thai
the same sentiments viii be felt throughout the
whole country, as fast as those resolutions and
spee ch travel to the eXuemitles of the Union.
+, appears that the principal opposition TO Mr..
CLAY remarkable compromise on this interesting
question, AZ irst came from the leading Southern
members VINO have heretofore been Identified with
lhe democratic party. Il is true that the great
iptelects of the Senste-Mr Calhoun, Mr.. Web
ster. C,L Benton. Gen. Cass, and perhaps one or
TWO Others, were silent and speeehless before the
ct of moral couroge exempliEed in the movement
If Mr. Clay The lesser lights OF that body con-
nected with Southern interests, each of them
un,cd up and made objections to one prin-
cjplr, others TO another; but all combined in oppo-
silon to the general aspect and character of the
compromise itself The Northern Senators, of
both parties, did not utter word on the first inn
pulse; but we have no doubt that their dscontent
will be elected in due process of time.
What a singular spectacle of human nature in
political action is presented in the position of Mr.
Clay, and that Of his compatriots in the Senate
and cut Of It, OF all the leaders of the old par
iies, Of all the aspiring spirits of the new ones,
including General Taylor and the whole of hi )
cabinet, from head to tail, not single soul, not
single mnd has dared TO exhibit the moral courage
Of coming on, with any plan for settling the whole
question, except 1t Is Henry Clay who, solitary and
alone, faces the crisis with as muck calmness and
composure as General Taylor did the Mexicans at
Buena Vista Whatever may be the objections to
Mr. Clays plan on the one side, or its recommen.
dations on the other, we think the moral courage
he has exhibited Is a spectacle of sublimity that
ought TO shame all the politicians at Washington,
and the miserable jewellers OF both parties, and all
parties, there and elsewhere.
What, then, are the merits Of this planl We
think they possess great and paramount merits,
sufficient on reflection and consideration, not per-
haps to satisfy the ultras of either the North the
South but certainly TO calm and quiet all those in-
teligent minds who have the courage to meet the
question openly, and endeayor TO settle it on the
principles of equality, of compromise, OF good
sense, and practical discretion. Mr.. Clay is truly
the great intellect Of the age. How weak and i'm
bccIle, in such a crisis, have been the good and
amiable General Taylor, and his puenle and con-
tempnble cabinet at his back
These ale our fret Impressions on this great and
remarkable movement of Mr.. Clay; but our
thoughts are crowding in mlltiudes upon us, and
W. shall take tine TO speed them TO our readers, as
we vii. find room IN our colamns
TINS CALIFORNIA PRoDucrs are
awes.ug to a consideration Of the probable effects
OF the discoveries OF gold Ia California. Dealers
In bullion. in England. are quite excited and want
light. glimpse Of which they had on the fourth
-. II
in the Hoaid I, is natural to inquire where we
are. and particularly so when we are in the dark
a false step truly dangerous to ourselves and
cur money bags.
Nature permits not mankind to accumulate sud
den wealth and 10 hold it, without som, kind of
labor. Granting, however, that the gold region be
all Ihat it has been represented. and thus far IN
some measure, provcd-full AS prolifc-full as val-
uable-we cen perceive nothing dangerous or con-
vuere to be apprehendcd by society. The cur
Iency Ct the county will not be injuriousy affect
ed by the products Of the California mines-t
capitalists Of the country will not be shaken-and
all the fear that need be experienced il, that the
fever Will draw men from regular and profitable
employ mtnts, TO seek for uncertain good.
The value Ct the entire accumulation OF the pre-
cious metals - about ten thousand millions OF
dollars and the ehttre annual increase in the
production Of gold, at present, emily supplies
the amount consumed each year.
The abstraction and consumption amount to
one-hGh Of one pr osntum Of this sum-fifiy mill
hons Of dollars. Now this per centage Of increase
in consumption, all things considered, would in-
crease corresPondngly with the increase in the
production, and, probably at a relatively more
rapid rate than the addition. Were 1t possible for
The com Of the world to have tendency TO depre-
ciste, we should find the equilibrium instantly
maintained, by increase in the value Of the
commodity for in the arts, so that the basis of
commercial transactions would not be disturbed
Could any depreciation Of coin ensue, il could only
be effected by the spontaneous yielding Of a very
large mine Should the increase Of the present
production be doubled, II would be scarcely felt in
the pulse Of the currency, while 1t Is apparent TO
the most superficial observer, that i; would REQUIRE
an army Of more than fifteen thousand laborers.
annually employed, to produce fifty millions of dol
lars IN gold, allowing the average produce Of each
laborer to amount to ten dollars each day. There.
fore. the public may be assured, that till the labor.
ing population Of California amounts to over fifteen
thousand men, doing nothing except digging and
producing the average, we need not anticipate a
convulsion
Since the discovery Of this half of the globe, the
greater supply Of gold has been furnished by the
mines OF the new world The amount Of supply
has been stated variousy by different authors
Baron Humboldt, whose remarkable work " Coz
mos" IN spite OF ns maieralism, IL extensively
read has approached the truth nearer than any one
OF his coemporaries. In the third volume Of his
"Esssy on New Spain" he gives US an abstract of
the supplies Of the precious metals from America.
as annexed; -
ltsz 70 1000 Al yearly average OF s2jo 900
1bf5 1900, N On,nso
1900 & 100, lsOo1 90
100 1850, 22sOo COO
1850 1880, " $500 600
The quantity Of gold produced in this continent
an. h.o n 20 a..