The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-12

THE PEACE" MEAsUREs.-The arguments
employed by the advocates of the compromise,
to recommend the adoption of their favorite
scheme, cannot have been forgotten. It's char
acter was too anomalous and original TO fail of
making an impression upon the memory. The
intrinsic and essential justice and wisdom Of the
proposed measures were not at all dwelt upon.
No eoquence was so daring as 10 attempt TO
captivate the reason by expatiatng upon the
native beauty Of the adjustment" The meas
ure itself was lost sight Of in the contemplation
of its probable effects; and its Inherent bitter
ness was sweetened by the anticipation OF its
ripening fruits. Did Southern man object TO
the abolition of the slave trade in the District or
exclaim against the injustice Of excluding him
from the enjoyment Of the common property (?
He was siIeneed by the prediction that "peace
and conientment" would be restored to the sun
happy country" and that the agitations Of abo
liionsm would be forever suppressed. The
compromise was sort of medical PREPARATION
which, though Dauseous to the taste, would re-
suit in benefit to the general health. After its
passage, the reign of the millennium would be-
gin, when the lion and the lamb would lie down
together, and the Abotionist and tie slave
| owner would be at perfect peace. The adoption
OF the compromise was TO appease forever the
intldmod appetite of abolition. With these
| pleasing predictions, the alarms OF the South
| were ulled, and its demands for Justice satisfied.
| But there were men who read the Developments
of the future differently Impious unbeevers
they were, thus TO doubt the prophecies Of the
apostles of the compromise But they were
men whose minds were not illuminated by any
supernatural wisdom, and who foresaw the fu-
ture in the commonplace relation Of cause and
effect. TO them it appeared impossible that
measures intfinsicallv unjust and oppressive
could have the soothing and pacifyng effects
| predicted, and they could not understand, how
an adjustment" which was not satisfactory to
either of the conterding parties could vet cancel
their demands and silence their complaints
Hence they pronounced the compromise n cheat.
and foretold that 1t would fail to accomplish any
one of the splendid triumphs predicted They
even doubted if the compromise wonld be exc
cuted, and predicted, that if executed, it would
inilamc public sentiment almost to rebellion.
How remarkably have these predictions been
fulfilled, and how signal has been the inefficacy
Of the compromise 1t has been effectual but
not in restoring quiet and conten.ment. These
Wanted peace measures have almost precipirated
two Southern States into disunion, and have
reused rebellion in Massachusetts. Every
where they have engendered discomfort, muir.
|
provoked open nullfcation. So far "a public
expression has given utterance to public senti-
ment. thvec-fourths of the people of this country
are dissatisfied with the compromise. The ad-
justment is IN aborion--no man dnres deny
this. II is not executed, and the mere attempt
to execute it. is resisted by rebellion. The
peace measures have provoked in different sec
tons of the country, disuniop, qualification, in
snrrection, and bIoodshed How IL the stntes
manshp Of those who opposed the compro-
mise of 80, indicated by subsequent events
Is it not surprising that the original friends Of
the scheme still cling TO il, and proclaim its vir
tuel There ia but one, and that is sntisfac
tory explanation Of their conduct Four fifth.
Of those who supported the compromise, out
ragged tho feelings and opnons Of their con
'tituents. Their influence and strength among
those whom they Sepresen. nrc utterly destroyed
They have bot one resource Ieft--they have EN-
bnrked upon ~ compromise and they ar
J resolved to cling 70 Il. They are determined 4