Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-03-06

roar fills the land with threatenings; and
he was right in saying the resolutions re-
ferred to "presented the true issues" They
embraced specifically "any attempt on the
part Of Congress, to legislate on the subject
SO as to effect the institution Of Slavery in
the States, in the District Of Columbia, or
in the Territories" as "a violation of the
principle Of compromise upon which the
Constitution was founded" Such was the
legislative voice of Missouri. Virginia emu
mera,ed, the issues includingt that o the Dis
trict, with as carful precision, as did, be-
lieve, each and every State, whose resolu-
,ions were ,'',ransmi.ted" TO the Legislature
and referred by the House to its Committee
on Federal Relations. ], is apparent, then,
tina, this very subject Of Slavery in The Dis
trict of Columbia was regularly before this
Committee, 60 non,iae, as much so, as any
other of the i'issues," "between the North
ern and Southern States Of this Union.'-
II would seem, then, that Mr.. Merrck was
deficient Gin information" when he SUD-
posed that nothing chad been said in the
ORDER" creating the Committee on Federal
Relations sin reference to Slavery in the
District of Columbia" In placing the mes
sage and resolutions Of the several States
be fore this Committee for consideration and
action, the House clearly committed TO them
alhe subjects presented in those resolutions;
than 'chich none was more distinctly asd
specifically presented and designated than
Mat on the District of Columbia Were
it then which deny) violation Of par
liamen'ary courtesy, or the privilege Of the
Committee, TO have embraced the Wilmo,
Proviso or territorial question in his series
of resolutions for the reason, that the sub
ject was already committed, then it was
quite as much so to move in reference to
the Dis,ric. of Columbia, or, indeed, any
possible phasis of the question Of Federal
interference with the institution Of Slavery.
This vhoze subject, in all its bearings and
aspects, was presented by the me ssage and
resolutions, to the Legislature
and by the House sent TO the appropriate
committee. But my knowledge of parlia-
law and experience in public at.
fairs, however limited, have been ample E.
nough to acquaint me with few general
principles, which are recognized in every
legislative body in our country, as we'll as
in the Parliament Of Great Britain. First,
that committees are but the creatures Of the
House originating them, and subject TO its
will and control: 2ndly, and as a corollary
from the first, that it is competent and pro-
per for any member of the House, on zeave
being granted, to submit any measure or
in the shape of bill or reso-
luton to the consideration of committee
having charge of the subject, and when ne
cessary, accompanied by instructions to re-
port in accordance with its principle: thus
perhaps overriding its judgment and sha-
ping its action. Yet ! am to learn that
such proceeding has even been regarded as
a violation of parliamentary courtesy and
propriety. ] do not think that need add
more to relieve myself from the impua,ion
of ignorance of parliamentary law, or of the
true position Of this question in the House
Of Delegates, when wrote.
But the most extraordinary feature in
this communication Of Mr.. Merrick is his
giving party character to the structures
made on paragraph quoted from the Gre
public" and which ihad carefully character
lied as ga Northern scheme for cheating
The South Of all share in the recently &C
quired territories" That paragraph was
doubtless indited by the Northern Editor
Mr.. SargeanD Of that press, as all editorials
favoring "Free Sol'' are understood in
Washington to proceed from that quarter
Be that as it may, deny that either the
Wing or Democratic party, as such, is OBJ
noxious TO the ''harsh structures" said to be
so "uncharisably imposed upon one Of the
great parties of the country" They are
applicable only to thai great numerical par
~ (agreeing in nothing else) which is seek
ing to build up the sectional ascendancy
and dominion of the North upon the ruins
of the Constitution and the degradation of
the South. If the remarks made by "a
bore hard upon certain distin-
guished personages, who bad once been
as leaders by the Wing party,
they hit with equal force individuals once
holding similar positions in the Democratic
ranks. The gentleman does himself great