The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-30

Of things, il was apparent that there was nc
other Candidate OF either party 50 well calculated
70 aiay sectional differences and guide the vessel
OF State over the stormy Of excitement and gi
| tation.
But whatever reliance might Justly have been
placed upon the character and disposition of Gene
raj Taylor, the prospect of affairs sufficiently
dark and inauspicious. Thoughtful persons look
ed forward TO struggle ON the territorial ques-
ton, at the rst session Of the thirty first Congress
which would convulse the country. In this state
OF things, the event which we have already alluded
to took place, and California presented herself for
admission State, with a constitution prohibit
ing slavery. As California was the only portion OF
| the Mexican territory in reference 10 which the
question was OF practical importance, Mr.. Webster
derived from this unexpected and reasonable oc-
currence CLEAN of hope. Ii removed topic OF
controversy in reference to which II had seemed
hopeless to propose any terms of compromise; and
II opened, as 1t were providentaly, the door for
an understanding on other points, on the basis OF
carrying into execution existing compacts and con-
stitutional provisions the hand, and not
strenuously insisting on the other hand upon APP
plying the anti slavery provso where. as in Utah
and New Mexico, he was persuaded it would be of
no practical importance.
On these principles, and with this object in
view, Mr.. Webster made his great speech OF the
7th of March, 1850.
IL would be too much to expect, in reference to a
subject of so much difficulty, and one which
the public mind has been SO greatly excited,
that speech OF this description should find uni
versal favor IN any part OF the country. IL 10 be-
lleved, however, that by the majority Of patriotic
and rejecting citizens in every part of the United
States, while single topics there may be differ
ences of opinion, it has been regarded as holding
bat practical basis for the adjustment of contro-
yersies which had already gone far to dissolve the
Union, and could not be much longer pursued
without producing that result. II those who have
most strongly expressed their dissent from the doc
trnes OF The speech Eve do not, OF coursc alude to
the mere clanor OF political and personal cnemes)
will pause from the work of denunciation and
make the attempt themselves to lay down practt-
cable platform which this great controversy
in fact be settled, and the union of the States per-
petuatcd, they will not find it SO hard to censure
what 10 done by others as 10 do better themselves.
Ii is quite easy to construct southern PLATFORM
northern platform; the difficulty isto find basis
on which South and North will be able and tciIIing
TO stand together. OF all those who have con-
demned the views Of Mr.. Webster, who has gone
further than he, in the speech Of the 7th OF March,
1850, to furnish such basis? Or rather, we may
ASK, who OF those that have been oudest IN con
domination OF his course, has taken single step to
wards etfecting this paramount object?
Mr. Webster's thoughts known TO have been
earnestly and profoundly employed on this sub
Ject from the commencement OF the session. He
saw beforehand the difficulties and tho dangers
incident to the step which he adopted but he be-
eved that, unless some such step was taken IN the
North, the separation OF the States was inevitable.
The known state OF opinion of leading members of
Congress led him to look for little support from
them. lie opened the matter TO some OF his politi.
cal friends. but they did not encourage him in the
course he felt bound to pursue. He found that nc
could not expect the co operation OF the members
of Congress from his own State, nor that OF many
OF the members from the other northern States.
He gave up all attempt to rally beforehand party
which would sustain him. His description OF
his feelingsat the time was that he had made up his
mind to embark alone what he was aware would
prove a stormy sea, because, in that case, should
final disaster ensue. there would be but life
lost" He believed that the step that he was about
to take would be sanctioned by the mass Of the
people, and in that reliance he went forward.
While the Compromise measures still
undecided before Congress, about midsummer
of 1850 President Taylor was removed from
his high office by death. In the reorganiza-
ton of the Executive, occasoned by this event,
Mr.. Webster, to the general satisfaction of the
country, was placed by President Fillmore at the
head of the Administration. Subsequent events
are too recent to need to be described The corre-
spondence with the Austrian charge d'affaires is
the worthy complement, after the interval of
quarter of century, to the profound discussion Of
international politics contained in the speech of
january, 1924, on the revolution in Greece, and of
1885, on the Congress of Panama. We have before
TRANSLATION of this correspondence furtively
published in Germany, and circulated throughout
the Austrion empire. The fervid appeals to the
patriotism of the people with which Mr.. Webster
has electrified the Union on various occasions dur
ing the last nine months have contributed mate
rally the great work of sectional conciliation;
and his last noble effort on laying the stone
of the Capitol, will be read with admiration long
the Capitol itself shall last