The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-19


bers. During It's passage through that BODY, q
herce opposition was excited az ainst It IN some Of
the Northern States, where political purposes
could best be subserved by the continued agitation
of the question of slavery. Mr. Van Buren, be-
came the leader OF new party, organized upon
this principle of opposition TO thus or any other plan
of adjustment without the Wilmot provisO; aud
for this measure of peace, which. shall die ia the
belief better calculated 10 compose, 10 the dis
fractions and divisions of the country, than any
which has ever yet been offered, was me. ia the
North by the fiercest spirit of denuncittion Ii
Immediately announced that fifty thous and men
had assembled IN the Park ia ew York, to express
their opposition and 10 utter their execrauons
against What they were pleased TO call I" the Clay
ton Compromise" The friends who stood by
me in the North in my anxious efforts to
restore peace aud harmony TO the country,
were denounced as having been sold to the
South; and amid the din and clamor Of these
parry combatants, reason ana argument were
either unheard or lost their proper Influence. In
this state of things, the bill having passed the Se
nate, after weeks of discussion and one protracted
session OF twenty-five hours, during which Mr..
Dix, OF New York, and MIR Niles, OF Connecticut,
both members of the new free soil school, distn-
guished themselves, in opposition TO the measure,
not less by their ability than by their unmeasured
zeal II was presented 10 the House OF Representa-
lives tor concurre nee; there, and without word
OF dehdte, without single refer, nee to commit
tee, without, as | am bound 10 believe, any pro-
per knowledge or appreciation of It's true charac-
ter, IL was Immediately stfaDgleG by motion to
10y ~ Oh tHc kOt, ny IL IudJOfty VI
four votes out of more than two hundred. This
measure, which met the hearty CO operation and
concurrence of the distinguished statesman of
Soulh Carolina, John Calhoun, now no more,
and received the vores not only of both the Ssna-
,ors and at all the Representatives of that State,
saIiste and secured al the same tune the acqui-
escence and the edheciOn of the South generally.
The defeat of The measure was considered as n-
dcaiing, on the part OF the North determination
10 refuse 10 ABIDE by The decision of the COMMON
arher, appoated by the constitution itself to settle
The question. deeply regretted it 1T the time, aud
have not ceased TO deplore il. That defeat added
iuel 10 The lame already existing IN the South;
and with others, conscious OF that act i'm nedi-
aely looked with anxiety tor some other measure
OF pacihcatOn, which, like that | had proposed,
would not compromit the principles or outrage
The feelings of either section of the Confedericy.
There seemed 10 be hut one MEASURE left which
could etec;ualy secure the object; aud
when Mr.. Folks message, on the commence
ment of The next session of Congress. suggest
ed, III terms not 10 be mistaken, that Con-
eress might safely leave the question undis-
turbtd until the people Of California and New
Mexico should apply for admission as SOW
enen States of Tins Union, there seemed TO be
general wish, during the session OF 1883, that
the pt ope within those tmlIs IN the free exercise
OF Their hight Of self government, should, upon the
admission Of these new States, settle this and all
other questions of domestic policy 10 suit them
selves. Bills to admit The States we're introduced
into both branches OF Congress, and the prospect
OF paclhcalion and adjustment Enlightened as II b.
came known that the Pr, sident elect favored the
same policy. Mr. Calhoun, the ackno wledged
leaier Of the Southern section, had proclaimed the
neht OF self government III the people OF those ter
Iones, IN his celebrated resolutions of 1917, in the
following terms -
Resolved, That it is fundamental principle In our
political creed that people, In forming constitu-
ton have the unconditional right to form and adopt
the government which they may think best ealcu.
lstto 10 their liberty. prosperity and IA opi
ness and In conformity thsreto other conditi On
Is mpostd by The federal constitution on state in
he rid l.fn Intn
constitution shall be republican and that the i'm
position Of other by Congress- would not only be
In violation OF the constitution but In direct conflict
with the principle on which political system rests
Mi. Poik. IN his message of December 5tn, ISIS,
incucaied The same doctrines The question,
said he, :" Is believed 10 be rather abstract than
nacncal, whether slavery ever can or would exist in
any portion of the acquired territory, If II
lett 10 the option of The sayehOldng States them
selves. From the nature of the climate and pro-
ductIoDs in much the larger proportion of it, IL Is
certain that il could rever exist" And again, he
says " la Organizing governments over these ter
IiloTies, 10 duty imposed on Congress by the con-
stllutiOn requires that they should leglslie on the
subject at slavery, while their power 10 do so IS
not Only seriously questioned, but denied by many
OF lbs sOnndest eSpouBders of that instrument.
Wheel her Congress shall legIslate or not, the peo-
pie OF the acquired territories, when assembled in
convention 10 form State constitutions, will pos
svss the sole and exclusive power to determine for
themselves whether slavery shall or shall exist
within their limits. If Congress shall abstain from
ihtffitiinS WIN tutsliOus inc pcOplt VI tucSt
terlories will be left free to adjust II as they may
think proper when they apply Tor admission as
States into the Union. No enActmeat OF
Congress would Restrain the people of
any of The sovereign States Of the Union,
old or new, North or south, slavehoding or nom
slavtholdlDg, from determining the character OF
thtH own domestic institutions rs they m ~ deem
wise and proper. Any and all OF such States pos
sess this right, and Congress cannot deprive them
OF The people Of Georgia might, II they chose,
so alter their constitution TO abolish slavery
within its limits The people of Vermont might
80 blier their constitution as 10 ADMIT slavery
within It's iinlils. Both states would possess the
right; though, as all know, 1t is not prooi6
that either would exert IL. IL - fortunate for
the peace and harmony OF the Union that this
question is IN its nature temporary, and can
only continue for the Grief period which will
intervene before California and New Mexico
may be admitted as States into the Union From
the iidc Of population now flowing iato them,i
is highly PROBABLE That this will soon occur" ae
afterwards adds, that {" II Congress, instead Of
observing The course Of non.interfereDce, leay-
ing the adoption Of their own domestic instltu-
lions 10 the Ie0ple who may inhabit these terrific
resj or a., instead OF extending the missouri
compromise line 10 the Pacific, shall prefer to sub
init the legal and constitutional questions watch
may arise 10 the decision ut the Judicial tribunals,
as was proposed in a bill which passed the Senate
a, our last sion, 40 astnient may be effected
in this mode. II the whole ssSsct be referred 10
the JUDICIARY, all paris Of the Union would cheer
fully acquiesce IA the tinal decision OF the tribunal
cIeacu Ds the constitution fer the settlement OF all
questions which may arsr under the constitution,
ueatIcs, and laws OF he United States OF ,he
someone's Of the opinions here expressed, never
entertained doubt, These were Justly regarded,
dung The whole session which preceded the close
Ct Mr. Polk administration and the Inauguration
Of General Taylor gs the leading doctrines not
only OF Southern statesmen, but also OF the
democratic party. Not only was the cabinet
of President Polk committed 20 these doc
tItes, but his party in Cong esp9used the
principles; and these principles gained strength
during The whole of that session, to such an
extent that good men throughout the county
regarded them ss the ark Of their political tte-
~ from the tire iienlng evils arising out Of
cur territorial acquisitions. The House Of
Representatives contained a emil majority.
~ We have seen, ia opposition 10 the last
MEASURE recommended by President Polk, which
was the hill 1 hal introduced at the previous
session; end as many who had opposed that Uill
ayOvtd themselves fne0dly TO the measure re-
commented by hirl, Of awaiting the acton OF the
people, IN the iofmafcn .! Sac governments both
In California and New Mexico Iacquiescedin the