The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-10

convince Mr. Winthrop, Mr.. Ashmun, or other
leading Wing representatives, that these views lof
MIR. Webster's speech are unsound; but ichat 4
desire Is 10 satJy them that Boston think them
so Notwithstanding all the efforts of two newSpa-
pers and Of some persons TO the contrary" We
not informed who the zoe in Boston, represent
ed by the Old Wing, are. Among the two news
papers and soms persons to the contrary" referred
10, suppose included this paper and the gem
tlemen who signed the address TO Mr.. Webster,
which we published the Sd ult. In that address.
bearing the signatures of some thousand persons,
spontaneously offered a short notice, and which
will be admitted to represent fairly the intelligent
public sentiment of the city, they express to Mr..
Webster their entire in the sentiments
of his speech and their heartfelt thanks for the in
estima BILE aid il has afforded towards the preserva-
ton and perpetuty of the Union.
The Old Wing, as well as Mr.. Mann, in part of
his letter which we have not copied, argues that
slaves may be- advantageously to their owners, i'm
troduced into New Mexico, if legally authorized,
for the purpose Of working the gold and silver
mines; and that they might be into California, if
not prohibited by the constitution or the Wilmot
proviso We are not disposed at present to go into
particular discussion Of this question; but con-
ceive il is fully settled, in the almost unanimous
opinion of persons most conversant with the sub
which the right of mining in those countries is
held, the eagerness with which the mines are ex-
pored by free aborers from every part of the
world, working with their own hands and for their
own exclusive profit, it would be impossible for
shareholders, under any system of laws likely to be
introduced under our Constitution, to secure in
them such rights Of property, and such control
over their slaves, would enable them to work the
mines successfully with slave labor. To shake the
authority ofths opinion must require evidence
of more practical character than mere closet cal
culatons of the cost of slave labor and the produce
tiveness of the mines Who, in such a community
as that which now peoples the gold regions of Cal
fornia is to protect the property Of the STAKEHOLDER
in the mine he may occupy, in his saves--sur-
rounded as they must be by ten times their number
of free laborers-or in the produce of their labors
The difficulty Of the thing is apparent that when
find that the project has not been attempted, and
was not even imagined by any of the trainers of
the California constitution, are quite ready,
without having made the question of particular
study, to confide in the opinion confidently stated
by MIR. Webster, and founded, we have no doubt,
on the results of careful investigation that it is a
moral impossibiity, or at least contingency so
remote and improbable, that it would be the part
of folly to hazard the repose of the country, the
practcabty of transacting the urgent and indis-
pensable business of the present Congress- and even
the integrity of the Union, in any further attempts
to guard against that contingency by the seal of
the Wilmot provso
Under this coalition, we sorry to effort
made to produce the impression that Mr.. Webster's
views are not supported by the general and almost
uniform sentiment of this community for the pur-
pose of weakening the influence Of his opinions else
where. That influence, we have had an opportu-
nifty of observing, has had powerful effect in Civ
ing direction to the public sentiment and a tone
to the popular feeling, in very many parts of the
country most suspicious TO the final OF his
efforts We feel confident that the popular feeling
cannot again relapse into that degree of acrimony
which prevailed both in the North and in the South
some months ago; and although il is apparent that
his opponents ralying their forces to resist his
efforts, we feel strong confidence that they will
ultimately prevail.