The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-27
Ths bass OF comproniso.

We lay the following interesting extract rom the Rich
mond Enquirer Of Friday lasD before readers We
beg leave call their attention to IT, for the purpose Of
fIlly understanding The position which have assumed
weeks past, and which destined occupy on
the great subject OF the day We 20 for the whole doc.
rne Of non. Intervention. We supported il on the occa-
Of the Missouri Compromise for we then commended
lin the ls2o) that Congress had authority under
the constitution TO NEEDLE with the question Of slavery
that il neither specified in the instrument itself
had conveyed certain limited powers the federal govern
ment it among the means necessary or proper
for carry ing out any Of the specified powers We still
m nlan the same opinion.
The same principle applicable to the settlement OF
the serious struggle which has lately agated Congress for
several months Il easy that the various and
complicated questions, touching the question OF slavery
which involved in the contest could be ad
usted only in that spirit of Cancellation and compromise
in which the constitution itself formed The pub
| lie passions wrought up 10 violent pitch Of
excitement. until section arayed against section
and the Union itself brought to the verge of the
abyss Then the prudent and moderate statesmen of the
country became seriously alarmed and the question with
them was, How is the ship be preserved from the ship
wreck which threatens 10 nguf i'll Amid these diff
cutes, system was proposed in order 10 settle every
Point at and to give peace distracted country
The difficulty OF adopting this system almost great
the danger which environed But the Adjustment
finally adopted the basis Of compromise One con
cesssion made TO section of the country, and
another another. Though the South had been origi
naly the aggeved party, yet, upon the whole, the bal
ance in The settlement rather against her but the
Adjustment made without sacrificing her rights her
honor The principles OF the constitution. She obtained
he hand NJ tha Il,
relation to the Territories Of Utah and New Mexico ;
she obtained also efficient system for the reclamation Of
her fugitive slaves according the guarantees OF the
sttuion But is not to be denied that whilst many
of the southern States acquesced in this Adjustment il
with the avowed hope, and with the express under
standing that this agitation to cease. and possible
forever. .Thus far and farther" they were in the
habit Of saying This Compromise is be carried out in
good faith else how repose any confidence in
each oher II the sovereign partners Of this great con
ederacy cannot trust each other sit better to part
at once. and, If possible in peace Indeed if the viola
ton Of faith be added the aggressions OF the ia
natcs. how can The Union be maintained We are but
repeating expressions which have employed from
time TO time in our columns for several weeks
The faithful execution OF the terms of the Compromise
was. therefore, essential element in its composition
But there Others 1t commended by the friends
OF the Compromise that Congress should still further
carry out the doctrine Of that they were
neither 10 NEEDLE with the abolition of slavery in this Dis.
tct, nor with the extension Of slavery in the Territories
nor with the slave trade from State State nor with the
existence OF slavery the States themselves To refresh
the memory OF our readers on these points, we beg leave
to repubish from the Union Of September the fol.
lowing brief paragraph, which was thrown into an article
Of Friday last:
The appeal /. now made to oil men and to all sections
10 the North well TO ths 5outh--io exinguish
'och Of dcod, and 10 respect each others eelng. and
hi. q ,r.ton in a spirit Of cone,aron When hi. solemn
covenant has been made hsr leg The South
mod, q mI. Dc ,epseisd tks ihs eo~.utior ise Pas.
he Wllnt Proviso interfere with slavery this District.
slurb the slave trade between state aud State the
insr save III. Unon live under The oiecng banasr Of
conuon coun'n and ,nfrninasts ogana all Who
-
Bat scarcely had the last stroke been given 10 this
work OF paccaon before the free soilers OF the North
began to revive the agitation They talked OF measures for
aboishing slavery n this District And scarcely had the
-,sem OF compromise itself gone into operation before
they bryan TO declare upon the fugiiiveslave law
to resist It's execution, and 10 threaten its repeal-al.
though this measure had been one Of the principal con.
sderaons which had induced many OF the southernes 10
scquiesce in the Compromise.
We have therefore now arrived at a crisis when,
alter contemplating the transactions OF the past we are
bound look the future What is to be done to save
this glorious Unioni All the efforts which were made
by the last session 10 preserve il will have been thrown
away II this alarming agitation is continue All our
hopes 10 be dashed 10 the ground II The fugitive. slave
bill is 10 be repealed, II il is to be shorn OF its eff.
cheney, II onslaught is to be made on this District
or the Territories or on the States Of this Union
The friends Of the Union are still placed between two
fires The extremists Of the South are dissatisfied with
the Compromise itself, II were carried out in nil
good-faith. They are calling for conventions or for
legislatures to devise plans Of relief; and the range Of
coanievailing which they are proposing runs
from secession TO single conven.
ton to general southern convention The fanatics of the
North on the other hand. are demanding repeal Of the
fugitive law. and threatening attack upon the slave
institution in this District Yet we happy to see some
rays Of light whichsre penetrating the gloom which sur
rounds u.s. The public sentiment Of the North appears
to be rising in all its majesty put down the clamos Of
the aboli,onists The tone Of their press 10 becoming
clear. and healthy. and irumpettongued The Judiciary
determined to enforce the law The great body Of the
community appeas 10 be equally decided in raynr in,he
spirit Of enlightened ORDER around the laws otheand
The great meeting which u called in Nav York 10 about
Ia - - - - :.