The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-27

our Congressional report
The Question Of the Day.
In the various plans which have been
as yet submitted or foreshadowed for the
adjustment of the Territorial question,
there are no radical differences to preclude
the idea Of harmonious action. No one
who Analyses the propositions before Con-
gress, either in the shape of resolutions OF
bills, can perceive any such discrepancy
and antagonism between them as to forbid
the hope of seeing this cancerous sore
healed. We of course do not include
those suggestions or propositions which
look to remodeling or to disregard of
the Constitution: Regarding only the la
bors of those who have brought to the
work Of harmonizing and pacifying the
country minds devoted to the Union as it
is, and the Constitution as it is written,
what serious obstacle is there in the way
of an accommodation honorable to all par
ties and satisfactory to all sections } There
is really none. The groundwork Of all
the plans proposed is the same--the ac-
acknowledgement Of the right Of the people,
in forming State constitution, to adopt
such form Of organic law as shall seem
to them best. This is the principle of the
Administration plan, and this principle is
recognised, more or less distinctly, in all
the others.
The arrangement of the details of mea-
sures, predicated upon broad and recog-
Missed principle of republican liberty, can
scarcely be found impracticable. In ac-
complishing this compromise, Cancellation
and concession are as necessary as in con-
structing tariff law or any other system
of internal polity. 1t can hardly be sup
posed that patriots, intent upon general
object, will allow their partialities for their
own particular plans to leopard the public
peace. We have heretofore expressed a
preference for the precise recommends
tons of the PRESIDENT. This preference
arises merely from the conviction that
General TAYLoR's plan is as efectual, as
swift, as any other, and, under all the cir
cumstances, the most practicable. More
over, next to the settlement of the ques-
tons in controversy, the most important
consideration is so to adjust them as to
enable every section to participate in the
jubilation over peril encountered and
passed in safety. 1t is not to the interest
of either the North or the South that one
or the other should be wounded or cha
grined by the mode of settlement. 1t is
not to the advantage Of either section
that factionists or fanatics shall be able tc
make successful agitation upon the plar
adopted.
Every one who has paid much atten
ton to the debates in Congress sees dis.
tinctly, that good men and conservative
from both sections of the Union have come
here committed to measures which they
cannot approve. This should not be over
looked The independence of too man,
has been shaken by the violence of sec
tional agitation. They have yielded il
both sections too much to ultraism. Fac
tons and fanatics every where have beel
countenanced and caressed until they hav
made themselves felt in the halls of legis
lation. This is the trouble now. TAX
half dozen sensible men from tn
North and as many from the South, an
they would arrange all the points in con
troversy any morning before breakfast,
it were not that these, pending the ex
element of the hustings, were betraye
into promising more than they can pei
form under the Constitution, and those
under like influences, pledged themselve
to courses which lead to rebellion an
bloodshed. Is not this soi Abolition ha
tainted the conservative courage of tn
North, whilst resistance at all hazard
and to the last extremity" has gasconize
mot to coin word in an offensive sense
the patriotism of the South.
In this condition of things, we woul
ask-if the North, having the numeric
force, is willing TO forbear pushing Il
Wilmot proviso upon the South merel
to obtain triumph Of opinion, should Il
South force vote upon the proviso,
the absence of any practical necessity {
it, merely to obtain triumph of opinic
over the North We regard the Wilm
proviso, in so far as it has any applicable
to the Territories in dispute, as ba
humbug. 1t is so regarded by all perso
at all familiar with the country, its inha
itants, its capacities and its product
The opinion is universal on this poir
and hence the "Wilmot," at this day,
mere unmeaning humbug. Regardii
it in this light, can any manner of go
come from introducing bills into Congre
for the purpose Of pressing its adoption
.aiection for obtaining a trinmnh