The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-12
The General Policy OF the Unlsed States.
from the London Times. Aug al

The General Policy Of tho Unissd States. |
from the London Times, Aug ISL
There are few incidents relating 10 the general |
policy OF the United States, that do not in some
way become entangled with the great difficulty OF
slavery and events most hattering to the national
pride, most conducive apparently, to the national
greatness, prove often an humiliation and a source
vi weakness, because they to complicate and
increase the difficulties Of the state, by bringing
int increased action the many interests and pas
kions connected with this miserable institution.
The present generation of Americans no more
answerable for the existence of slavery, than are
the present gene Grafton Of Engishmen and our
cestors, who hrst permitted and afterwards fos-
tered 1t, acted &c :ording 10 the spirit of age in
which il was an established doctrine, that in deal
ing with heathens, Christians were not bound by
| the ordinary rules Of morality. But, without in
| quiIy upon whom and in what degree rests the
blame of establishing institution fraught with
weakness, 30 debasing, and dangerous
slavery, we may freely canvass the acts Of those
who pr0fessedly direct their energy and their skill
to the end Of maintaining it-of continuing it where
At present exlsting-and planting il where al pre-
| sent il does not rOllute the land.
| The most en.ighten ned American statesmen have,
In all penods of their history, deplored the exist
| ence OF the evil--have equally wished 1t an end,
and some have energ etcally strven to cradle
| AT the very formation Of the confederacy, serious
attempt was made 10 abolish II, and division OF
the thirteen States was on the point of occurring,
because the delegates from the slave holding States
would not accede TO this proposal. The difference
| was Tor The moment deferred, not settled. When
however, the tide of population overlooked the
boundaries of the existing States, and new COM
munitles were formed, and at length new districts
| were demanding TO be admitted into the Union,
either as territories or States, the question Of slave
| ~ again rose, and was now attended with new
| and formidable difficulty. Among the thirteen Off
ginal States, the majority, the ume OF the foma
| uon OF the cOnfederacy, possessed slaves; but IL
| was evident that this preponderance could not be
maintained In the Congress, If new States were l.
miited In which slavery was not permitted TO exist
and ht tber II should exist not the gr md
| question which To be debated W he never anew
| commonly demanded admittance into the Uaion.
Al length the natural consequence OF the existence
Of n tree press and free institutions followed.
| strong feeling OF shame and adherence arose in
the minds OF many because slavery was permitted
In q land and among people which, upon every
| occasion, boasied and Except upon this subject,
with truth, OF the WISDOM justice, and benehcence
| OF their social and political institutions. stand
| was on every opportunity made against any
extension of slavery, and when Missouri claimed
| TO be admitted 10 the Confederation, the an-sla-
very States were tiercely opposed TO any further
| extension of slavery that II became evident the
| Union must fall 10 pieces unless some compromise
| were elected With all politicians OF influence in
the United States the maintenance Of the Union is
object looked to as OF religious obligation, and they
| therefore set themselves sedulously TO work In
| order 10 devise some plan which might satisfy the
| contendlng parties; and the result was the cele-
brated Missouri compromise. parallel oflatitude
| was proposed and chosen, north of which slavery
| hereafter was not 10 be permitted; south of which
II might exist 1t sanctioned BY Congress the adj
mission OF any Stale beyond that line. All that
was settled by this arrange was clearly tiled
| against slavery, and the North was fortunately TO
| be for ever free from the infection; but II
equally evident that, as respected the South, the
| came debate would recur upon every new coca
sioD, and The demand by Southern community
10 be admitted either territory State, would
be the signal for renewal of hostil.ties. The
question Was not doomed TO remain even in this
condition.
Mexico, upon her declaration of independence,
abolished slavery throughout her domnions, and
among the white inhabitants OF Mexico there is no
strong antipatby 10 the black race negro is there
allowed TO have the feelings of a man, TO exhibit
the same passions, TO act after the same manner
other men IN the pursuit Of power, wealth or plea
sure; and as soon as he was by law free, he was
socially received as an equal. Such was the state
| Ut feeling IN the Mexican territories when Texas
was rent from them by the United States
| and when, by the treaty OF Queretaro, the United
States themselves became posse ssed Of large por-
| ton OF Mexico. The condition Of the black popu-
| lanon was sadly deterIorated by this change of
masters, but the position OF the slavery question
was greatly altered also. BY re-introducing
slavery into those countries, II was pl ain thai
violence would be done To the feelings of the
white inhabitants, and also that those principles of
government consecrated by III. United States
pm cries which insured To the people, meaning
white people, perfect ACKNOWLEDGEMENT b.
infriDeed and trampled upon. American states
men have alsays hitherto excused themselves
with respect 10 slavery, by say ing, IL was forced
upon us against our will, aud England is nswera-
bic Tor the Elm, net We" But here would be a
case m which the Elm would be wholly Americ an
the sin OF forcing upon an unwilling people the
| dctesonble Institution OF human thrdldoni. Aglin
the contest began between the saveholding and
! Notwithstanding States, but under auspices lar
more favorable 10 freedom than heretofore as the
communities asking for admitiance To the confede.
ration, though south OF the line of the Missouri
| competence, demanded also TO be perfectly free
S,a.s, and protested against being compelled to
adopt slavery simply in order to sustain the power
Of the slaveholding States in Congress.
In this state ct things California desired 10 be
admitted as a State, New Mexico and Utah asked
10 be received as territories; and again came the
| question, "Saall slavery be established in these
| counuies|' California had already decided the
point by at once passing sweeping law, prohibiting
| slavery within her territories. In New Mexico
| the feeling was equally strong, and Utah also.
| What was Congress in such circumstances 10 dol
| To permit these States 10 remain nconnectcd with
the union, wasa dangerous experiment, and might
| prove a nsichesious example; to admit them and
abolish slavery would be to give powerful addi-
ton TO the force Of the abooaist party; to force
| slavery upon The new States would probably lead
10 direct and armed opposition. Mr.. ClIy, AS clear
| headed a man as any In the Union, Of undoubted
integrity, great Influence, and deeply impressed
with the Danger attending the present unsettled
condition OF the question: enseavorrd 10 evade the
difficulty, seeing that TO cope with directly was
| utterly imprscticable. His proposed compromise
flor IN that character he propounded his psn) was
| wisely conceived lie suggested to Congress that
the b-st course would be TO leave the question in
/ each case 10 be settled by the new sN4es them
seNes-to adhere sofir TO the Missouri comJro-
nine ss siili to prohibit slavery in the States
| TO be formed noiIh Of the line Of compro-
mise, but TO permit IL 10 the south. III the new
Stale itself should by formal resolution adopt H.
Congress by this plan would get rid Of the embaras
| msnt, and the question woald be Invested of IL,
enormous danger by being broken into fragments.
and discufted separately and al different tunes by
| the separate States. such an Arrangement woIld.
AZ regarded the United Staies, have been perma-
nehi, and, therefore, more useldl ,hln the prece-
ding Missouri compromise, which. Though Of inn.
mediate benefit by preserving peace, left war post
bic upon every succeeding discussion. II Mr
CIsy's proposal had been adopted, the question
would never again have been Inooted in Con gress,
and this one feature " the plan must have greatly
enhanced lite value m the opinion Of every states.
man " no sincerely desires 10 maintain the Uaion
IN lie integrity.
The plan, nevertheless, was defeated by CON.
binstiOn Of parties, which would have combined