Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-07
From the Wdshingtaa Republic
THE QUESTION or THE DAY-THE RICH
MOMD

Y From, the Wdshingfaa Rept5to
| THE QUESTION OF THE DAY-THE RICH
MOND TIMES.
We have carefully examined the several counts in
/ the indictment which the Richmond Times brings
against US. The first relates article in which we
ventured to question the policy of involving the admis
son OF California with matters requiring the consent Of
any State to give completion and effect to law for that
purpose purpose ,.,. ;,
the Congress of the United States deem the admission
OF California advisable, why should it give any one
state veto upon law admitting her into the COME
deracy! 1t would be novel proceeding, truly. for
Congress to pass law admitting California, provided
Texas consented to matter totally irrelevant to that
question. 1t is giving Texas right to veto an act re-
atlng to another State We told and are happy to
believe that if the committee of thirteen bring in bill
embracing the admission of California and the Texas
boundary question that portion OF pertaining the
admission will not be made nugatory by the refusal of
Texas to agree to the terms OF arranging her bounda-
| ries. If not mistaken in our information we
shall plead the action of the committee to this count of
| the indictment.
| The next accusation amounts to a complaint of our
having reproduced Mr. Prestons speech and the pro-
positions which that gentleman presented to the last
House of Representatives in relation to the territories
| acquired by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and
IN ns Of h so vs. hssa
guilty of having revived that speech; indeed we plead
/ guilty OF having imagined that proposition of settle
ment, so recently introduced by Southern member of
Congress and sustained by every Southern colleague,
might be brought to the notice of the public without do
ing violence the sensbilites Of the gentlemen who
| made it, or those who supported.
The next count consists in charge that in a re-
view OF the proceedings OF the present session OF Con-
gress, we counseled better organization and under
standing amongst the Wings, and closer sympathy
| and cooperation between the Wings of the several
branches Of government. This, the Times thinks
would have been unexceptionable, if it were not for
something else which, being found subsequent arti-
ce may be said to constitute the fourth and last count
This something else is having suggested to the
representatives OF the people decent respect for
the will OF their constituents. AT time when
Congress is composed of members from both sections
OF the Union who have committed themselves to pro-
positions which will not bear the of scrutiny thew
should, in as far as possible respect the dilemma in
ences should be mutual No one side should Weld all
We would not have the South succomb to Abolition
lists the North Frustrated before Dlsunionss The
middle men of both sections should take matters in
hand and settle the controversy upon broad national
| grounds
As the Times has republished portion of the arti-
Giles upon which 1t bases its structures, shall leave
defence against its surmses and dsparagng deduc
| tons to what is written.
Upon the general question: we would add as an alb
stract proposition, California should be held account
able for what Aboonists Of other States may do But
we do not say that such political necessity may not
arise which would justify partial and temporary njus-
tice to any State or Territory Whether there be such
necessity subslstlng, is question upon which older
heads now bordering. The peace, the quiet, the
harmony, and the stability of the Union are matters in
comparison with which trihing Inconvenience any
|
membership, is small matter Indeed, if California
can be made to contribute to the perpeuity and peace
OF confederacy Of which she desires become an in
tegral part she has ample consolation for any seeming
transient injustice herself in the reflection that in her
small wound the country is made whole--that though
delayed longer than necessary when she she
brings healing on her wing.
The whole question, in its present condition, is con-
fined TO the consideration ot1he necessity of which we
have been speaking Does exist in that plain papabe
shape which admits of no doubt? We have commended
Vat hat tborai ,ot
that difference between the Presidents message and the
| various rumored propositions in embryo which many
suppose: But when we speak OF the Presidents plan
we speak OF 1t as Whole-aS recommendation resting
upon principles applicable to all the territory question
They who contend for the admission OF California as
part OF the Presidents platform, with any reserved pur-
pose OF lettering the remainder OF the territory any
time, either as Territory States with the Wmot
in our judgment, abuse the of Administration
The Times will understand us as speaking own
opinions in this respect And the Times will further
understand when say, that we have not seen that
degree OF acquescence in the Presidents plan as a
whole, which satisfies that there not those in
Congress who make point of the message for the ad-
mission OF California, who would not after taking that
much by it, abandon and repudae it respect to the
remainder; We know the Abolitionists would that
the Free Sellers would, and have no great faith
that those who appeal higher obligations or their e-
gislatve proceedings than the Constitution oaths COM
pacs, agreements and moral compromises, would not.
| 1t will be observed that a compromise based upon
action in part and nonactio in part rests upon reci
procal understanding, upon plghted faith avowed and
recognised between the parties such compromises are
| the special children OF confidence and mutual trust
The question presented in this form, with assurances
that the principle OF the compromise understanding
will be carried with good faith by the party derv
ing the first benefits from it, in respect to what remains
to be covered by nonacti0n, thing but when the
probabilities that the gamers will struggle for what
is left, it is different thing altogether 1t is then no
compromise at all but the beginning OF false play. Any
one entertaining purpose to apply the "Wilmot' to
| New Mexico deals unfairly with the subject when he
nvokes the Presidents recommendation, in urging the
immediate admission of California. He would be deal
ing more fairly with the question to urge California upon
its own merits, apart and in defiance of recommended
| tons or objections from any quarter.
The nsgnifcance of the whole controversy in so far
respects any practical effect upon the slavery part
of in the territory in dispute, has allowed
magnify the difference between the Presidents plan and
any suggested arrangement into the Importance that
has been given it, The turmoil that has been produced
by agtaors and the sectional dstrusts which have been
excited by fanatics and factions, amentabe things
They should be queled and with them those who make
profit of public disturbances If the temper of the
times was reasonable and rusttu the recommen-
daons OF the President patriotic and considerable
there would be trouble about the settlement of ali
difficulties Taking things they are when the Com
mlttee OF Thirteen reports shall be found where our
sense OF duty to the country locates u.s. We are not
gifted with the prescence that ascertans what others
intend to do perhaps before they know themselves and
must therefore pause till something tangible presented
| When measures up for action we shall 90 for
them or against them, as ourludgmeL warrants And
In this connexlon, would inform the Times that at
no period have we ever presented ourselves the pub
| he as the organ OF any body, in manner to i'm
plicato any in the responsibility of what is published
| in these columns.
| Mr.. Richie on the Nashville Conpention
he Taf1a