The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-03-15
From the Bait. Clipper.
The Policy of the South

Senator Butler, Of South Carolina, and
other Southern Senators, appear to under
stand the true policy of the South, better
than some Of the representatives from that
section of the country.-We have always
understood, that all the South could ask
in justice of Congress, and all that it would
ask, in relation to the subject Of slavery
in the new territories, was, to let the whole
subject alone and permit the people of the
territories to act for themselves, admitting
or rejecting slavery at their pleasure
This position is distinctly assumed by Sem
ator Butler as the policy recommended by
the South, and we believe that it truly rep
resents southern feeling. But Messrs. lnge
and I1illiard, of the House, have assumed
very different position. The former said,
she held to be the duty of the South to re-
sist the admission of California with her
present constitution and broadly inti-
mates, that her admission as State, would
be just cause of dissolvlng the Enion.
The latter gentleman said-"up to this
time they (the south) had maintained some
thing like balance of political power and
equality in the senate; but to call upon
them to welcome another free State, was
to throw the weight and councils against
themselves, and to break down the balance.
He repeated; that to admit California would
be to transfer political power to the ene-
mics of southern institutions, and drive the
South into hopeless minority for all time
to come.'
In the Senate the North and South are
equally balanced, and the next State ad-
mitted must give the prepoRderance to one
side or the osher. If there be any force
in the argument used by Mr.. Hilliard
against admitting California as free State
it can be applied with as much propnety
on the other side, against her admission
as slave state. The objection raised by
the Southern members is to the constitu.
tion ofCalifornia, because Of its prohibiting
slavery; and the ridiculous plea is urged
sthat it was formed at the instiSation Of the
President OF some Of the pnblic officers
The President no doubt desired that the
people Of California shonld adopt a State
government, but he did not nor could not
dictate to them on the subject Of slavery
The exclusion of slavery was their owl
lspontaneohs act; nor could their determine
ton on that point have been changed. haC
the President and Cabinet united theiI
infuence'for that purpose. The allegation
of improper influence having been used
is fimsy pretext to cover the real objec
tion. Suppose that California be rejected
what is to be the result? Will she annu
her constitution and recede to her forme
condition? No. She will either continue
to knock at the door of Congress for admiS
; sion as a free State, or proceed to act as al
, Independent power.
+ Messrs Inge and Hilliard are at issu'
with their own friends, and are advocahn;
: policy which we do not believe will' b
approved by the Southern States. Th
people of the territories cannot be foree'
to adopt slavery whatever they may fee
disposed to do voluntarily; and they shoul
therefore be leftto shape ont their owl
course. MIR. Inge says, that the Whine
proviso is dead. We say, let it be buried
J and there let it end: and yet little will b
; gained by its destruction If the right b
Edenled to the people Of the territories
, act for themselves.
He has studied the aspect Of affairs I
, little purpose, Mho supposes, that perfeC
? equality can always be preserved in tn
Senate of the United States, between th
free and slave States. No people wi
voluntarily adopt the institution ofslaver,
, for. however individuals may affect to col
/ slider it "a political blessing" we believ
: that nine-tenths Of the shareholders consit
: er it curse of the most affective characte
j, We therefore take for granted, that wha
: ever States may be formed out of the te
: ritory acquired from Mexico, they viii II
) ject slavery. Congress has not the powe
r if it possessed the disposition, TO comp
) themto adopt slavery--why, then-shoul