Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-30
RIG HMOND, VA.
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 80.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, May 2Sth

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, May 2Sh
There exists here most extraordinary state of
things, of which the Washington papers give the
public no conception, but of which it is right that
the country should be informed The Slavery
question has thrown both parties into utter confu-
sion, and itmay result in their ultimate reconstruct
ton. The Compromise Bill, or Adjustment Bill
or Union Bill, hangs in great doubt Its friends,
convinced that its passage is loudly demanded by
the public WILL are confident of its ultimate sue
cess; but the count, upon the present showing of
the votes and the declarations of Senators, seems
to be against it. tits opposed by most singular
combination of influences. First, the Abolition
lists resist it, because they know that it will de-
prive them OF the Territories the field for their
incendiary warfare. Secondly, the ultra Southern
men resist it, some because they desire no settle
ment at all, some because they persuade them
selves that Southern California may become
slave State and others because, while they really
want the measure to pass, they prefer that should
not pass by their votes, for they wish not to have
it said hereafter that any more righteous than
they in defence of Southern rights Lastly,
am constrained to declare the belief that the Ca
binet is using every effort in its power to defeat
the bill.
1t is from this third element of opposition that
the great danger to the Compromise proceeds
Not that the Cabinet yields any direct influence
in Congress. On the contrary, as at present or
gained, it has scarcely any real supporters
amongst either the Northern or the Southern
Wings But the Cabinet organs being allowed
TO give out that the President insists upon his plan
as the antagonstic policy to the Compromise Of
the Senate, those Northern Wings, who are dis
posed to concur in settlement, are afraid to be
more Southern than Southern President Their
strongest Free Soil constituents proclaim that
they are content with the Presidents plan (by
which, of course they mean that they are content
to admit California by itself, and the Territory
question will come up afterwards.) Most of such
Wing members, therefore, seeing the impossible
lily of sustaining themselves at home, if they
vote for the Compromise Bill, with the Presidents
plan still held up before them by the Cabinet, will
be likely to vote against the BILL And the same
"potcal necessity" Ito use phrase of the Vir-
gnia Democrats) which constrains them to act
thus, has a corresponding influence upon North
ern Democrats who are too discerning to allow
their Wing opponents to do all the Cancellation of
the anti-slavery interest. ! am assured by pro-
minent gentlemen from North and South that had
the Administration fallen into the support of the
Compromise bill, or even had it contented itself
withintlmatngin general terms its appreciation of
any settlement agreed upon by Congress, the bill
would have obtained majority of something like
birJS IL
jorty of the Cabinet Gor it is understood that Mr.
johnson and Mr.. Crawford are both in favour of
the Compromise, and Mr.. Clayton's opinion is
claimed on both sides of the question: have un-
fortunately so far prevailed over the native good
sense of the President as to obtain the influence
of his name in furtherance of their fierce oppos-
lion regret to have to say, that it is quite noto-
rious here, that the member of the Cabinet. whose
appointment was in compliment to Virginia. is per-
haps the most jealous of the Presidents counsel
Tors in striving to effect the failure of the Senate
Dill. And the worst aspect of the matter is, that
the active cooperation, which the majority of the
Cabinet rely upon, in Congress, is furnished by
no other party or faction, but Seaoard and his fol-
lowers, whose avowed principle it is to place the
Wing party on the anti-saverv platform. The
oo)ects OF public men are generally inferred from
their political alliances, and is not unnatural or
unreasonable that this conjunction of the violent
Free Soil wing of the Northern Wing party with
the Cabinet majority should excite strong sus.
picion that great project is forming to build up
Northern Wing party to the sacrifice of all
Southern strength, OF which Seward, of course,
will be the head.
10 all these schemes firmly believe that Ge
neral Taylor is utterly stranger. He has beer
grieVously imposed upon with suggestions tina
the statesmen who are advocating the Compro
mise bill, are contriving his ruin. Could his
honest mind be r ached by truths which would
be apparent but for the banefui perversion which
they suffer in being transmitted to him, do MOI
doubt that he would throw off The evil influences
around him, and see that his true policy, no ess
than his duty, is to give his countenance to the
great plan OF settlement to the fate of which the
country IS looking with such painful anxiety.
1t Is exceedingly painful to be compelled to
take such view as this of the situation of af
fairs in Washinglon but none other is justified nv
me facts W.C.C.