Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-03
RICHM OND, VA.
Friday Morning, May Sd, 1850.
SOMETHING WRONG AT WASHINGTON.

all Southern men especially, to speak out, ''With-
out fear. favor, or affection" mighty issue
hangs upon the point of decision. The interests
of the Southern States are involved in the result,
involved so deeply, that party considerations are
in comparison, utterly contemplate. A great
scheme of compromise is about to be laid Before
the Senate. 1t embraces the great conservative
features of satisfactorily settling the slavery ques-
ton in the Territories, of securing the future sub
division of Texas, and of providing remedy for
the loss of our fugitive slaves. The statesmen
who are most prominent in pressing this plan on
to adoption, are HENRY CLAY, DANIEL WEBSTER,
and LEWIS CAss. Opposed to them, of course
are the great body of unyielding WiImot Proviso
men ofthe North; but there are unmstakable mani
testations of the existence of another element of
opposition, which, unless eternay discounten-
anced, may be successful. We refer to the fact
that sedulous efforts are in progress, apparently at
the instance of portion of the Cabinet, to rally
the Northern Wings on Gen. Tayors policy of
non-actlon, as the most efficient mode of checkma-
ting the patriotic purposes of Clay, Webster and
Cass. Certain Washington correspondents are
writing letters to the Boston Courier, the New
crat, and other prominent Northern Wing papers,
not merely designed 10 prevent the success of the
senate's compromise, but actually charging Mr..
Clay and MIR. Webster with being actuated by hos
tility to the Administration in their course Even
the Republc in its issue of Wednesday, denies
imputing to these statesmen motive so unwor-
thy, but denies it in such manner as to impress
the reader with the belief that designs to insinu-
ate the very thing which in words it disclaims.
we cannot and do not believe for a moment,
that these letter-wrers or the Republic represent
= the views of President Taylor The assurances of
the National Intelligencer III; w,.57ic tenor o. us
public declarations, the known character of his
opinions satisfy us that his greatest wish is to see
the slavery question settled, and that he would be
much pleased to give his official sanction to the
Senate's scheme as to his own live did not think
that of him, we could not honestly support his
Administration.
We are rejoiced to see that at least one journal
in the North is publishing before the Northern peo-
pie, just views of this subject The Neao York
Express, of Monday, contains long and able let
ter, from "a Wing from the start who boldly
writes down his impressions of what he has OBJ
served in Washington. He canddly warns the
Wing party of the inevitable dissolution, which
awaits it, if Northern Wings yield to the efforts
made to enlist them in support of the Presidents
policy against that of Messrs Webster and
Clay, and shows that such course would be as
unjust to Gen. Taylor as fatal to the Wing party
and the country, We extract portion of this
writer's excellent remarks:
TO begin it may be remarked that the co operation
OF Taylor, Clay and Webster is essential now to The
very existence OF the Wing party as National Party
and without Their CO. operation it is split up into Sec
tions doomed to utter rout. The chief and main link
now, which the Wings OF the South have with the
Wings OF the North is in the Presidency of TAYLOR -
But this connection sin danger of being all broken up
1T the slavery agitation does cease 1t is not to be
disguised that what's called the Presidents plan of set
llement-the plan OF indction as to New Mexico and
Dtah,--atter the admission of California has not over
three friends in the whole Southern representation Of
Congress, even if so many. The admission Of Ca
litorna connected with New Mexico and Utah will
be resisted by two or three Southern Democratic
Senators and by eight ten Southern Democratic
members OF the House, because of its boundaries
osensby-but because it is free State realIy-but if
a bill comes down from the Senate Joining California
New Mexico and Utah. it is settled well known fact
that Gen Taylors so called PLAN to discover California
from the organization OF the Territories will not have
one Southern vote. The fact, however, is Gen Tav-
has laid down no infexibe plan Of pacifcaton, and
least OF ALL such plan as.woud separate him from the
land Of his birth, his property his associations He is
Southern President with Northern principes-but
the President OF the whole United States and any plan
Ot pacltlcatlon that Congress adopt his plan and
will have his approval.
Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina the steadiest
and saidest OF the Wing Southern States will without
exception think Or with not over two executions 7
sure vote in solid column when they vote to settle
the whole slavery question at once far Territorial
or political organization is concerned-and who can
believe now, that it with these sober and steady Wing
Southern States there can be any successful Northern
corporation, that the President is going to inerpose
any plan, OF his own5-much more, as is given out
any 'yetoP"
at is understood and known that both Messrs Web |
ster and Clay agree In the plan, that California ought
TO be admitted, and alone III can be, and with its ex
istng boundares,but Mr. Clay has expressed his opn-
ion in the Senate land his opinion of legislative action
always worth having he has been the protouLdest
legislative tactcian OF the ageJ that California alone
cannot be brought into the Union against the combina
lion OF fifteen slave holding Staes,-and their resolve
thatit any thing is settled the whole Territorial ques-
hon shall be settled at Besides, Mr. Clay is un
willing to leave New Mexico under mere military
government or at the mercy, within the grasp OF the
state OF Iexass-and he objects to admitting her as
iotate Just now when there is but little American popu
aton there to govern the State and give that State
the power OF Pennsy vana or New FORK the sixteenth
part OF this government, say.
" Such opinions and such arguments as these from |
great statesman OF halt century's experience whom
time has almost always established to be in the right de-
nand at least the calm consideration of the Northern
States-more especially when these States have seen
him raise in his Kentucky the banner Of uni
versafreedom, and there peril his long worn and go-
rlaus reputation When is borne in mind Also that in
the MAN, the greatest the North has ever sent to
the National councils agrees with hm-yhis rival too
tor many and manya year in the Wing party, and his
rival before poseriy too for an iusrous name the juno
non Is such as at least command respect and make
odons such abuse the correspondent OF the Boston
Courier Indulgesln. That correspondent however and
another in New York and Philadelphia, perseyeres in
the work OF detraction and alienation, under the i'm
pulse otor promise Of patronage here. But granting
them all the success they to desire what can hap
psn from the discord they are creating but the utter
ruin Of the Wing party? Daniel Webster's gigantic
intellect has inspired the whole public with veneraon
FOR his opinions in all matters of constitutional law and
his judgment is reyeed and felt in all sections and by
al parties 1t is his misfortune just now 10 to think
Calliornla being sale, that there is for "a Will
mot Proylso. and trough Gen: TAYLOR is not behaved