The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-22
Prospects OF the COMPROMISE.

Prospects OF the Compromise.
The fate Of this measure still remains in
condition of protracted suspense, without any
definite prospect Of speedy determination.
The difficulty of keeping the question clear
of sectional issues constitutes the chief obstacle
in the way Of the BILL and this difficulty, we
think, SIS much increased by the course of the
leading journal of the Opposition here. The
Union persists in its appeals to sectional feel
ings; it seeks TO draw Southern support TO the
bill by intimafions that. if the compromise mea-
sure should be applied to the Territories, the
South would have ''an opportunity Of trying
whether slavery could be introduced there
apparently forgetful that these same limitations
must have reactive effect upon the advocates
OF the Wilmot restriction. and quicken and
strengthen their purpose to defeat a bill which
may afford any such opportunity. In view of
this condition of things, we not sure that the
language ofthe Union, in reference to the Cal
iforna bill at the last session of Congress, may
not be applicable to the present bill: ".No terri
ioriai biH," said the Union of January %,
lo49, "can be passed n,clogged by The Wilmot
prouiso, and the Wilmot proriso cannot be passed
at this session."
The latter part Of this declaration may Ger
tainly be re-affimed at the present time, viz:
''The Wilmot proviso cannot be passed at this
session." The decisive vote of the Senate on
| the fifth Of this month rejecting the Proyiso,
when offered as an amendment to the bill by
Mr. SEWARD, is altogether conclusive upon that
1 G. - ~.
"no territorial bill can be passed unclogged by
the Wilmot proviso," may depend upon the eff
| fects of appeals such as those of the Union to
the sectional feelings of members of the House
Of Representatives, which cannot be directed
towards one quarter without producing cor
| responding effect revetsely in the other
This unhappy difficulty must accompany the
compromise measure at every step Of its pro
gress. II appears to be inseparable from it. be-
ing involved, in fact, in all the main points at
issue. The PRESIDENT of the United States,
foreseeng this difficulty from the beginning
and wisely and periodically seeking TO avert
| it, recommended TO Congress the admission Of
California as State, and the prospective ad-
| mission of New Mexico, also, when her people
should adopt republican constitution, and APP
ply for entrance into the Union. by await
ing their action" says the PRESIDENT, in his
annual message TO Congress, "all causes of un-
easiness may be avoided, and confidence and
kind feeling preserved With view of main
tanning the harmony and tranquility so dear to
| ALL" continues the President, 1--WE should
abstain from the introduction n those exciting
topics Of a sectional character which have hith-
erto produced painful approximations in the pub
lie mind; and repeat the solemn warning of the
first and most illustrious Of my predecessors
against furnishing any ground for characterz-
ing parties by geographical determinations
| II the conclusion which the Union predicated
50 correctly with regard TO the last session Of
Congress should prove 10 be correct also in ref
erence 10 the present; If it should become APP
parent that ono territorial bill can be passed
unclogged by the Wilmot proviso, and the vii
mot pToviso cannot be passed at this session.
the inference seems direct and positive that
''the admission Of the territory ~ the form If
States" as the Union has 50 emphaticaly in
sisted, lis all that Is lefi; and pe feruently
hope"-quoting again the impressive language
Of that jounal-"tha zoe pW not foreper lose
the benefit Of That arrangement by misclierous
delay and fatal uItraism"
| How forcibly this is putt "Mischievous
| delay and fatal ultraism.'' How the country
has suffered from both, let a paralyzed Con
| gress, now in the seventh month Of its session.
declare! The seventh month is approaching
It's termination, and with il comes the end Of
the fiscal year. The Government is likely TO
be without appropriations. The conflicting
claims Of the North and the South. as involved
in compromise which has not yet proved TO
be either compromise or an adjustment, seem
To be no nearer a harmonious settlement than
at first; and how much longer the strife is to
continue we do not know nor have we met with
any one who processes 20 know. The Govern
ment is on the verge Of serious embarrassment;
the country is becoming impatient, vexed, in
\ dignant II there no other mode by which this
sectional difficulty may be settled-snce il
seems 80 hard Of settlement by the mode now
under experiment. In our judgment there is:
land that mode u.s." as urged by the Union Of
February Is, lS49, "to propide at once for
| The admission Of California and .Nep .Nerico
into the Union az States, so soon as they shall
form republican constitutions" which Califor-
mia has done already.