Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-02-20
From the Senior Editor.
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. 8th. 1850

hacks and magnificent distances" 1t ,
was and is very true as to the heightened
streets. open spaces. and scattered build /
ingS. ] however have seen but little of
the city, and canno, speak OF lis improve
ments. except those which have been
made on the principal thoroughfare-
Pennsylvania Avenue. This street is
much improved since my last visit. Many
large and handsome houses, both for~pub-
lie and private use have been erected, and
i, now presents much more the appear
ance of city than formerly.
On Wednesday heard the conclusion
Of Mr.. Clay's great speech on his compro
mise resolutions. The general reader
will have read it before this reaches you;
and they will have discovered that the
telegraph report of his resolution relative
10 the slave trade in the District of Column
bia was incorrect. Lin his speech he adj
vocated the repeal of this infamous traffic
not my purpose now 10 attempt review
Of the positions assumed by Mr.. Clay; but
from conversations around the capital
find that many of the southern members
denounce it with much more viruence
and bitterness than northern members.
Southern members speak of the dissolu-
ton OF the Union as matter already de-
termined upon, and that the Convention
which is to assemble next summer at
Nashville is designed but to carry out the
arran cement. provided the north does not
concedc to them all they want Compro-
mise after compromise is required. Con
cessiOn after concession is demanded
And suppose Mr.. Clay's present PROPOSE
ton, or one even more favorable 10 the
south should be acceded to by the north
for the preservation of the Union of the
States, how long will it be before other
concessions VIII be demanded 50 soon
as the energy aud enterprise Of the north
Shall have regained power approximate
to that of the south, new questions will
arise--more southern territory Will be adj
ded--the slave influence increased. suiii-
Gent II secure the control Of the general
government, anl:Ion again the north must
succunlb
The dissolution Of the L MON should be
deprecated by every friend of his country
The national greatness to which we all
nope our common country will succeed
can be attained much more successfully
by the Mon of the States. than bv a
dissolution. It nited we standardized
we fall This Union however can only
be made advantageous by honorable and
patriotic concessions from both the north
and the south. We have from an ea.ly
day been making those concessions. unit!
We have crippled and almost destroyed
our most important interests. When,vil
it stop. Shall we go furtherl In our
humble opinion we should not But it
may be said that unless we do, the south
will secede. If the government is not now
strong enough 10 maintain its unity. when
viii it be, VIII it be when we shall have
placed ourselves more firmly in the hands
Of the southl We think not Now is the
time 10 take and maintain firm stand.
But again il may be said that civil war
will be the result Of such a course. We
do not believe in the first place tia, the
south will secede; bu, should she deter
mine upon it. and the strong arm of the
law is not sufficient to hold her 10 the COM
pact. lei her go, rather than involve our
people in the horrors Of an intestine war
"a war the most horrible of all other
wars-brother against brother--father
against son, and son against father. Dis
solution is preferable to such a scene as
this would present. Such war when
once commenced will have 10 end save
in the humiliation OF one or the other Of
the contending parties. Under such a
policy the blessings we have heretofore
enjoyed, wouU prove curse. bitter and
eternal.
We have said that we do not believe the
south will seoede. That a portion of the
southern politicians, heretofore and now.
are favorable TO such a course, we do not
doubt. The seeds Of ambition sown by
Burr in his great southern enterprise. are
not yet dead. and only need favorable
opportunity to germinate and spring into
life. But that the people of the south will
furnish this opportunity, We do no, be.
lieve.
This subject. however, is exciting much
interest here. We know nothing abou. it
in the west. The politicians are here,-
the sober. intelligent people are not; and
the safety of the Union. the prosperity of
the people and the perpetuity OF our in
stiiutiopS. rests Ia the hands of the neonIe