The New York herald., 1850-04-08
Our Washingtoa Correspondence.


Our Washington Correspondence.
-fr t WAsHSolos, April g. 1850.
Mr. Webster and Mr. Cidy-TAe Ca6inst-Coi. Beassn
AND the Slarey @ sshon-Carious DISCLOSURES.
The week Just ending has not been without its de-.
velopements There have been or two of great
signfcancy and OF singular Importance. We shall
here undertake br EFF exposition and analysis Of these
shifings of the wind, to prove that they somes
thing
We look to the Senate for compromise on this
slavery question weexpect nothing from the House.
Nobody expects anything from that dsorganised body,
split up into Fragments and factions, without any
definite object of action among them 1t is expected
that compromise must from the Senate, and
that they are in condition originate It, and pass q
through the chrysals. Very good
When Mr.. Clay first offered his resolutions they
were secuted by the south-he had abandoned them
he had given up everything to the North. When Mr.
Webster offered his speech. taking the same ground
or Just before II proposed to put him the head
Of the compromise committee OF thirteen. The hint
war thi""n vut by Mr. Davis, Of Missssippi-Mr. Web
st,r modotly eded his readiness to submit anl
the bill which this committee IL to report, is to
prdhend California the territories the Texas dsputc
and the balance OF power, thus covering the whole
The speech of MIR. Webster forthwith placed him in
the front rank-it charmed the south-it convinced
great leading movement of Harry Clay was almost
entirely forgotten, in the enthusiasm for Webster.
took the ground that all these slavery disputes should
be acted upon separately and sea,i and that Cali
forna ought to be admitted first, and by herself.
Hence the motion of Col Benton to refer California
select committee, and that Mr. Clay be the chair
The debate has gone forward on Foote'S motion for
the committee of thirteen and il began to be under-
stood that after all the for the head of that
due respect for Webster we believe thatCay is the
of all men. and the only man to head that COM
mittcc.
tn. In, MS
Clay the head of the committee to secure his
cooperation in the plan prepared and to draw him OF
from the support of Benton. This done, and done
far, that Mr. Clay induced to visit Col Benton
his house and to dissuade him from pushing Cali
the mission failed. Benton was obstinaely immova.
bic. The Calhoun men including the Missouri demo-
Gratis, who have been wagng a regular panic war on
Benton for year. had made California the test ques-
ton union disunion and he resolved, and IL
resolved to try thcm and to bring them up to the is
which he himself was to be crucded
The obate stil went N in the Senate Cabinet adj
vsers got around Mr.. Webster-his Northern friends
got around him. and much the astonishment Of the
South this last Thursday he declared substantially
that he opposed to this Committee Of Thrteen-e
wa time to 90 business and that he was in favor Of
going to work from the proper beginning to wit the
admission of California In other words, he had gone
to Benton, had committed himself distinctly
and unequivocally. to Benton's project.
1t is surmised that the substituting by Che movers
in the matter. of Mr. Clay for Mr. Webster chair
Mr.. Webster but our opinion is that cabinet innu-
the of Mr. wcbster's coming ont for
Bentons plan which In point Of fact, Is the plan OF
the cabinet.
Yesterday the speech Of Mr.. Shields approving Of
Wobster's suggestions, alarmed and walked up the
South and they declared their opposition to the PLAN
Of the admission of California first and by herself
a very distinct ground II is this: II Califor-
mia is first admitted there Is majority In the House
who will cut OFF and postpone any action for the terri
tories until the administration gets them ready to
in free States. thus casting the South com.
petey at the mercy Of the North and thus complete.
ly excluding the South from the territories.
MIR. Clay. (and this Is the gist Of the whole thing)
IL n he bei In akenp nj HenfO on
motion to exclude California from the committee and
its general bill and eloquently and most forci-
bly, argued the necessity we'll propriety Of putt
ting ,aliiornia the proposed general CEMENT
Tn. eject Of his speech was instantaneous IL threw
Benton himsof aud II fell like delicious music upon
the OF Mason Butler Footc aud the whole South.
Every man Of them could have gone up aud embraced
old larry Clay, IL it had been in order. Every man
Of thu Fit they had done him injustice, In their op
position TO his resolutions.
Had the vote been tnkcn on Bcntons motion when
Clay sat down. the South would probably have succeed
ed in defeating it, and California might have gone to
the c5fnittcc with tie other issues but Benton raj.
lied secured the floor for regular set-to and shall
exI Get IL on Monday. in true Bcntonian style
The rcsult is doubtful. depending perhaps on the
vote .f Webster. What is to be dons
The Republic Of this morning, speaking for the adj
ministraion. comes out against foote very decidedly.
The meaning Of this is very plain II means that u
administration. he must hold his ground upon Benz
tons motion--he not back out; and though the
South confident he will. there Is room TO believe
that he will not If he in IL viii be as the
follower Of Mr. Clay he stays where he L.. he will at
least have the credit of sticking to the administration
The has to n remarkably interesting crsiss
but for all practical purposes the committee of Mr.
Foote and its general hi proposed including Cali-
fornia will very likely amount to nothing for CALI
fornia by itself will be passed by the House at the
hazard II breaking the session and the cabinet with
srv or' a9pf s@t snon sy a"f ~ be hard to beat
l.. s-Itis is positively asserted by good authority,
that Webster goes with Clay II this be So Ben
ton will, most likely be dehated In his motion