The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-21
The American Congress. and the Slavery
Quest taon m England.

fFrom the Name hester Evening" Tunes, Dsc 10
The question Of slavery In the United states ~
every year becoming more and more omin nous OF
the dark and doubtful issue that awaits the lnev-
table struggle between the Central Government
and the Southern States. Three times In tue
history OF the Union has the peace Of thus great
confederation already suffered from the shock or
hostile interests and passions arrayed against
each other on questions at domestic policy, asso-
ciated with tins foul STAN on the institutions OF
the republic. And now, another contest. more
determined and seemingly less open to amcable
compromise than all former ones, appears To
threaten AGAIN, # not the safety, at least the uan-
quillIty OF the Union.
One of the first questions that WILL in all proba-
bilty, he brought tor discussion before the new
Congress, involves elements of the iiercest dlscord
between the Northern and Southern states. Tue
introduction OF a new tree State into the Union
would destroy the present political balance between
the pro and anti slavery partIes Ia the Senate la
the House Of Representatives there ~ an aciual
democratic majority IN favor OF an utter exclusion OF
slavery from all States thatmay hereafter clam
admission into the general confederation. la the
Senate-no matter what may be their relative extent
orpopuatIona all the States equally represented,
and have, consequently, the same power TO annui or
control the measures Of the lower House. Whilst
the House OF Representatives, therefore, EXPIRE
the general sense of the whole American people,
all questions affecting the aggregate interests
orpohcy OF the Union, the Senate Is the espe-
cal protector and consevator ot the separate
nights and interests ot the individual states.
Hitherto, the slave holding States have had their
stronghold ~ the Senate, and though vastly inferior
IN wealth and population to the tree states OF the
north aud west, have always been powerful enough
TO control the policy Of the more popular branch OF
the Legislature the subject OF slavery. TINS
question has now, however, asssmed d much more
formidable aspect than on any former occasion; Tor
the Tree soil party strengthened by political anal.
gamation with the democrats OF the Norm and
West, has IN the recent elections acqulreda suPrc-
macy decisive enough To render II Onnipoient "a
the lower house ot Congress. They have Accord
psslp I.ts flx In uf 1e
pfovIso, anu admit no more states into tue Union
except upon conditions that render the absolute
prohibition of slavery lmperaiIyc In the wntlea
constitution IT every new state.
Against this policy the southern states nave
sbnouuc.d their determination TO make an enec-
tusi stand They have raised The old cry OF mutt
hea,ioD, aud threatened a ACKNOWLEDGMENT oi the
Union, should any measufe COMPROMISING the
rights 1T any future states to frame whatever do-
Institutions they choose, be dchnitely saac-
uontd by tongiess. Tue whole question VIII ne
ctssnfily be raired by the peton already ior"aTd-
I'd by the provisional government of Californih,
for ine formal admission OF that State into ue
Union.
From the tone and temper oi the American press,
IL " quite obvious that both parties are Thoroughly
bent upon rigid aud uncomprumising eniOfcrmrnt
81 their Ies,~ctiye VIEWS There can De no DOUBT
that the admission of California a. a tree state
would give 10 the ifee-soIl party majority IN botn
bouss that would enable them TO legalze the conGi-
tons oi The Nmot proviso. Al pre- sent thls Pvs'so
Oregon was admitted, two sessions ago, INTO the
Unlon this proviso. absolutely prohioltive OF SUI
very, was inserted by Congress IN the law whl.n
organized that TERRITORY into a coniederattd STATE.
Mr. Calhoun and the Southern Delegates protestu
most veh,mently against the introduction oi snSn
a clause. as n gross violation OF state rights. lhe
y Prohibition vi slavery IN California VIII De oPPoseu
by the Southern Senators, not only as an IN
iracuon of State rights, but as invoiEins a,So
a breach Of the Missouri compromise. lhe
acquisition Of Texas, however, and tne conlb'H
Of New Mexico, has vastly added TO me tsIfi'ones
II the United States, and II may iilry De con-
teDdt d that the provisions OF the Missouri COM
pI,mise are Applicable only TO such States as
w,fe comprised within the Union at the time
that compromise was Effected Nov, mat com
promise, pfohibuIng slavery IN all the future
states of the Union that might De iOfu-o ont
o the territory north OF certain ht,.de
rs dg 30 mn wss made on the admission Of Nus
souri, into inc Upio,. In Is2l The obvious inten-
lion Of that COMPROMISE, on the part OF Congress,
was 10 limit the extension OF slavery, wi.hou'
any direct interference with the rights OF IN
dependence OF any exstiog stairs IN wncn
slavery was then established. Texas, Wv
Mexico, and one.half OF the wnole terrroty
of California. he unique stionaby south OF the line
II the.Mlssouri COMPROMISE; but oa what poss bic
grounds can II be alleged that tney are IN any
way implicated IN the provisions OF that arrange
usstl The Whole of that vast territory mas
been ceeded to the American Union, nearly thirty
years subsequent TO the Missouri compFomise, and
- the propery oi the confedefa',o states, suoec,
10 whatever conditions the central government and
Legislature may AT 10 insist upon IN any iaiufe
.xeDsics II The rights aud privileges OF ncorgors-
uun. The determination Of the southern slave
holding States to enforce the application OF the
| Mnsouri compromise to all the newly acquired
| territory south of the boundary line, is a mos'
| andacions and uawarrsntsble defiance of the pro-
u.x .,ohta ..d aovsrs,cnty of the whole conc ra-