Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-15

with action by Congress the subject of slavery
the matter to be settled by the people themselves.
And yet we have seen this arrangement assaled witt
| a zeal amounting almost 10 violence, and the proposi
ton denounced sacrifice of the South to The Noyfh
And, the other hand, have heard denunciation q.
unequvoca from the North, pronounced by honorable Sena
who represent the opinions and speak the sentiments Of
large portion of the community. They too condemn the
whole arrangement, but condemn as sacrifice of the
North 10 The South. When this controversy began the ex-
cusou OF slavery from these regions the avowed object
those who commenced it. Now that exclusion has been OBJ
tanned in California by the act of the people, and has been
placed beyond question in the Territories as shown by the
Senators from Kentucky and Massachusetts Mr CLAand
Mr. WEBsTER and clearly that believe few in or Of
Congress deny by the operation of independent Of
the action OF the Governments and thus section hos
qured triumph TO patriotic phrase to which
shall hereafter retriever another But this is not enough
The ntedct already pronounced by circumstances in the
country ITSELF must be repeated and renewed by Congressional
nerposltioD, with other practical result that see
but to offend the pride of the South and assume an OBJ
noxious power unknown to the constitution. As do not
partake Of this feeling, shall parake of any measure
which ministers to it.
Well sir if had had doubts of the wisdom of the recon-
mendaion of the committee before these disclosures those
doubts would have given way convictions this
strange union OF views presented the Senate When
extreme opinions unite in opposition to measure Of
moderation may feel assured that cannot be very unjust
one Gentlemen at antpodes till now become associated in
action because the plan Of adjustment grants much aud
TOO little, as each contend though they again wide
OF country which gains loses by the alleged partial
OF the committee. The honorable Senator from Alabama
Mr CLEmENs seems to have been struck with this
expected combinations when first disclosed that he referred
In illustration OF to the weknown remark of Burke made
occasion when circumstances brought adverse poll
tcans to act together in Engand that politics. like misery
make strange bed-f.lows.
Mr. Presidents would be vain to look back upon the his
tory OF the world, and endeayo seek any country whose
condition resembles own. Since man first went forth
from the garden of Eden, there has been nothing like it.
We have fierce internal contest engendeng the worst feel
ng and threatening the worst consequences It is here and
every where's and goes it will go to its natural
summation-to the destruction of political system which
has conferred greater of happiness than any other
country ever enjoyed and which example and an
encouragement for every people striving for the blessings of
free government And when is proposed terminate this
sectional controversy by reasonable and practical pan the
proposition repealed with much violence as though the
measure submitted actually sacrificed human liberty and
human rights throughout the world One party determined
that slavery shall be prohibited by law Of doubtful obga
ton, and obnoxious to one-half of the confederacy, in
region where does not exist and CO. and where
legislation even according to distinguished Southern
man. could not establish It, And the quantity Of zeal and
gravity displayed in advocating this measure and by many
man through the country who knows to be useless it
is dangerous is moi among the least of the extraordinary
lures which mark this unhappy dispute. fa2
Another party is determined that California shall not be
admitted unless bounded by the parallel of SO deg 80 min
We have heard many objections and suppose shall
many more TO the proceedings of the people in the establish
there Some of these mathematical, depending upon
some problem found know where measuring human
rights by numbers and which would sweep from existence all
governments which have not the standard population What
that has not been authortatvey stated but must be
than 100000 because California possessed that num-
Der when she provided for social and legal order There
also other objections, constitutional and POLITICAL some de-
pending on the transient nature OF the population though
we had the right to refuse admance State because we
had security that its inhabitants will ways live there Civ
ing up the privilege Of ocomoiona any emigration
and depending the fact that the General Government
has large landed estates in California as though nobody
else had property there, real personaclaims even
under Mexican Spanish grant-and though Govern
ment We're not quite necessary for the people if the
United States did not own foot of land in the country
Human rights worth protection even if the people are
poor and where the gold mines belong to on
the other side of the continent But sir appears that
these are all objections of expedency, which may be yielded
not OF principle, which admits of compromise because
by the establishment Of the southern boundary of California
at SO deg 80 min all opposition the admission of that
State would be obviated and she would enter the Conede
racy with the of all parties That will not be
disputed The practical difficulty, therefore, have deal
with, s geographical not whether California shall
come in by the process she has adopted process far as
regards the previous sanction of Congress- resembling that by
which Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maine, Arkansas
Michigan Florida and Iowa were admitted into the Union
but whether her boundaries shall remain she has fixed them
And what bearing has this question upon the great topic which
seems to bring every thing within its Why this
and this aone that the country south of SO deg so min
people there may admit
ver though they have already excluded it. and though the
considerations, geographical and POLITICAL which led to that
exclusion, are in as full force as ever.
Now, sir cannot weigh the advantage on the one hand
OF passing the Wmo provso, with view exclude slavery
from New Mexico the other hand the chance of in
Producing It, under these circumstances, upon narrow coast
OF the Pacific shut by desert and mountain and
with little probability of possessing population sufficient for
State, against the peacehe existence, in act-of this
great republican empire.
But sir, whatever may be the result of this effort Of the
committee the honorable chairman is entitled the gratitude
of his country for his patriotic and perseverng labor in this
good work. He has done many deed before in her service
which will carry down his with honor to posterity as
statesman, orator. and patriot But has he de-
vo ed himself to higher object brought pure motives
nor more zeal power to its support have observed his
course with warmer feelings than choose express and
come what may, he at least will be free from reproach
success or failure of this plan depends very much
the effect it may produce upon public opinion That will
probably decide Its fate We cannot of course expect any
thing like unanimy In all political COMMISSIONS there are
those who look with selfish objects and calculate cooy
their advantage from the troubles of the country While
the fire remans, the cofagation liable to b ak out and
extend indefinitely There will be wanting persons
enough to supply the fuel and fan the fame We all
know that this Is the very of things which renders our
condition the more alarming We all know there is many
man Ia the country who would regret the restoration of
tranquility, even ii that attained by the very measures
be now loudly advocates In such event. his occupation
would be gone He would become bankrupt in his political
capital and with the departure Of the public agitation
would depart the hopes which tha, agitation alone |
maintains The reason is there for a union Of all
who realize the danger and desous of aver,ing it,
1t viii be OF little to carry isolated measure,
leaving the causes OF difference go with their work
be admission OF California deman led by strong public