The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-16

usnee, humbly asking Sir Henry whether he
under wsyi Sir Henry answers an s,sS q rset;ss
any proposition from the .a~ericsn government musf
be wih the devstandns that haze powe bind NY
addressed diplomatc nets to Sir Henry aud speosss
rough sketch, Or exposition of the views Of the
and unssalsd as 1t furnished the terms on which the
4meycan 10 willing to settle the question,
is BY Mr.. Clayton called "a Treaty" Sir Henry bows,
and having NO authority. takes Mr. Claytsn's sketch
sd r.essndum, to his government. That u the manner
In which "ths Trssty'' has got to Nev York. and will
no doubt get to London. where It w very opportuns
ly: serve TO enlightsn the British government.
The diplomatic comedy here ceases; but there s IN
epIogse to IT, which ID interesting.
The whole matter WAS under consideration at the
cabinet meeting on Sunday, whom Mr.. Claytons con-
duct was disspprovsd. Ths cabinet thought II was
imprudent In MIR Clayton to pledge the faith Of hisgo
verpmsnt TO 'udum Peetum; ana that no terms
ought TO have been offered to Sir Henry. unless the
ws.S ,Ss Ss%s Is Minister Hsrs.
upon occurred an immense flare up during which Mr.
Clayton threatened to leave the cabinet There vas
not person in the white House who dared to ask him
house and did sot ,ho~ his face 10 the state depart.
ment sll Monday. At last he concluded it was best
for him to pardon his colleagues for differing from
him and be has, accordingly, consented to hold over
for little while longer What q magnanmous soul
Rather than immediate himself he will consent to serve
the country during the pleasure Of the President.
WASHINGTON, Feb. a. 1850.
The Slavery QUESTION IN the Sewate--7He Direct Issue
Brought Before Them.
When the Senate adjourned to- day, the main issue
OF the slavery question was pending on motion of
Mr. Benton to refer the California constitution to the
Territorial Committee, with Instructions to report
bill disconnected with any other subject for the I'D
mission Of California into zoe Union.
This is iDestmaby the most portsnt motion of the
vhoie ses'ion and Involving the NEST Important lea
ture OF the whole controversy.
The first and last in ths matter IA, the
sectional balance in the Senate Give the Senate to
the North, the South is at the mercy Of Northern
Admit California by herself. and the balance of
power IN the Senate and the whole power of the
goy.rbDeDt is In the bands ot the North.
The only sate security of the South against Northern
encroacb men's, is in maintsnng something like an
equality Of power In the Senate.
The motion, then. OF Colonel Benton Il sim ply
tion to admit another fes State aud to add two
Spsors to the Northern streogh toe Senate givisg
power of opgr-s the hands of the North without
single of protection 20 The South against
Northern fanaticisn
The question, then, is Of vital importance to the
South.
admit California alone and thsn you have the power
to exclude slavery oy direct prohibition from all the
other territories, to abolish It in th. District and to
hsrass the South into rebellion by other abolition de-
vices
In consentng to the admission of California By her.
sell. the South then surfepd.r the whole oontroversy
IL The key TO the whole question, sAd to all the
questions involved
1t is the psipsbls proviso.
II .hn'- the doors Of congress to the South in
everything else.
IL .Sejuoes them In everything else.
lt presents the exact point Of submission or re-
distance
apparently, the South have no right to resist the
sdmistipn OF California; but practically IL iavovss
everything Involved In the proyiso, and this gives
ten the strongest right Of resistancs.
The Sonth will resist.
The South will demand the settlement of all the In
cideDtsl questions In the whole dispute, bsfore they
agrte 10 sutsposr their lat foothod the Senate.
We predicted that the California constitution would
bring up the issue In Its moet fearful shape.
II has done It,
~ ir before the Senate.
We ar. at tie beginning ~ the eu a
VIII California be admitted BY herself1
VIII Congress be broken up within the next two or
three monthsy
WIN the South surrender. WIN the North persistin
forcing California into the Union BY berselfl who
knows' God only knows but to-day the aspect OF TIE
csse leoks very much like the breaking up Of hard
winter In q hurricane.