The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-27


with the passions, prejudices, and opin-
ions of both sections of the Union. Now,
it was evident that no bill establishing ter
ritorial governments over the territory
could pass Congress without bringing up
the Wilmot proviso question:, indeed,
any such bill could pass without having
that proviso Incorporated into it. The
mere discussion Of that question in Con-
gress, and the necessity of having to vote
uponit, were to be deprecated and avoided,
if possible, because such discussion, and
such vote, even if the proviso should be
voted down, would, in all probability, SOW
the seeds of future agitation and excite
ment broadcast over the whole of the free
| States.
| In the South, too, what evidence have
we that there will be general acquies-
cence and satisfaction with SO much of
the compromise as relates to the govern
ment of the territory acquired from Mex
ico1 Are the Southern members of Con-
gress united on that subject' 1t is well
known that they are not. May not fierce
strife spring up in the South, in conse-
quence Of the opposing votes and con-
hicting views of the different members
from that section on the COMPROMISED We
do not say that such will be the case, but
certainly the "signs of the tines point
in that direction. So far, then, from there
being any certainty that the manner in
which the territorial question is proposed
to be adjusted in the compromise will
allay agitation and restore permanent har-
mony to the country, it is more than pro-
bable, nay, it is almost sure to give rise to
renewed and continued agitation, in both
the North and the South. 1t is not so un-
equivocal in its terms as not to admit of
contrary interpretations, North and South.
While at the South it is held by distin-
guished men to secure all that the South
desires, other equally distinguished men
in the same section maintain that it sur
renders all that the South has contended
for Equally conflicting views Of its eff
feet are held at the North-some contend
ing that it will open the whole of New
Mexico and Utah to the admission of
slavery; whilst its supporters from that
section contend that slavery is now pro-
hibited by the local law in those Terrific
ries, which will not be abrogated by the
compromise, and thus that it will have all
the effect of the Wilmot proviso. Is itnot,
then, manifest that Northern men who sup
port it will be arraigned for surrendering
the principle of the proviso, and that
Southern men who support it will be ar
raigned fer surrendering the rights Of the
South, for which they had pledged them
selves to contend so strenuously' Can a
measure like this give harmony and tram
quillity TO the countryl Is it not rather
to be feared that, if adopted, it will prove
a prolific fountain, from which will flow
continued agitation and discordl That
plan for the adjustment of this question is
the best which takes the subject Of slavery
out of the political arena, and extin-
cuisines it as political issue in the party
contests of the times. In this respect
we humbly conceive the PRESIDENTS plan
superior to any that has been suggested.
The PRESIDENTS plan, if adopted and
carried out, can be attended with no such
consequences. 1t will leave nothing be-
hind it to agitate about. II gives fnality
to this vexed question of the inhibition or
admission of slavery into the territory ac-
CURED from Mexico, and in no wise con-
hicts with the other measures contem-
plated in reference to fugitive slaves and
the slave trade in the District of Colum-
bia-both of them subjects of high and
grave importance, and neither of which
is any more dependent upon the adop-
ton of the territorial portion of the COM
promise plan than it is upon the adoption Of
the PRESIDENTS plan. Either or both
may possibly be defeated, though the
Compromise bill should pass. If the Com
promise bill should pass, and the fugitive
slave bill be lost, will not the Southern
supporters of the former impute bad faith
to its Northern supportersl And if the
bill respecting the slave trade in the Dis
trict Of Columbia should fail to become a
law, will not those Northern members of
Congress who support the Compromise as
whole, make loud complaints against its
Southern supporters Will there not, in
either of these cases, be mutual imputa-
tons of bad faith, and mutual ordinations
and recriminationsl Where, then, will
be the harmony, the absence of which the
Senator from Kentucky so eloquently de-
ploresi May there not, in either case, be
startling addition to the five bleeding
wounds so graphically described by the
Senatori
Upon full view of the whole question,