The southern press., 1851-12-18
From the Savannah Georgian.
Foote'S Resolutions.

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Foote'S Resolutions.
The Little Pacifcator" Foote, has succeed
ed in plunging the Senate, at the very CON-
mencement of its session, into an angry discus
sion, by bringing forward the following resolu.
ton: -
"A resolution declaring the measures OF adjust
lent to be de finite settlement of the questions
growing out of the system Of domestic slavery
BE u resotced, That the series of measures EN-
braced IN the acts entitled san act proposing to
the State OF Texas the establishment of her north
ern ana western boundaries, The REIMBURSEMENT
by the said State of all territory claimed bv her
| exterior to said boundaries, and Of all her claims
upon the United States, and to establish a terrific
rial government for New Mexico approved Sen
TENDER Q, 1850; san act for the admission Of the
State OF California into the Union" approved
September 3, 1850; can act to establish a terri
torial government for Utah, approved September
3, 1850 San act to amend and supplementary to
the act entitled AN act respecting fugitives from
justice, and persons escaping from the service of
their masters, I" approved February II, 1897
approved September l8i 1850; San act TO SUP
press the slave trade in the District of Columbia
approved September 20, l650-commonly known
as the "Compromise Acts"-are, in The judgment
Of this body, entitled to be recognised as de6ni-
tive adjustment and settlement of the distractino
questions growing out of the system Of domestic
slavery, and as such that such measures should
be arquiesced in and respected by all good cti-
GEMS
'Cui bono?" may we'll be asked of its mover.
Suppose the Senate adopts the resolution what
to the South will its action be worth? We
know well the value of Northern compromises.
a. of all compromises in which one party has on
its side might, and the other only justice. They
are observed 80 long as consistent with the in.
terests of the Nor h-the stronger party-no
longer. Does not the history of the Missouri
compromise, of lS20-of the tariff compromise,
Of l833-.,ell US this?
But, now, having this co mpromise of 1851 the
law OF tile land--passed by both houses Of Con.
gress-approved by the Pre,dent-t ia pro.
posed to brace the rickety concern by-what?
Bya resolution Surely, we are not to be told.
at this late day, how utterly worthless and con.
temptIble are resolutions as safeguards to our
rights Bat, suppose it passed-can resolu-
ton give strength or sanctity to a solemn enact
ment! Cannot any future Congress-, which
may be disposed to repeal the Fugitive slave
bill, with equal facility expnnge this resolution!
II then can do no good, and was designed to
do none. II adopted, it will restore us none of
t 9 rights of which we have been robbed 1t
will give US no guarantee that those left u.s. are to
continue ours. It's introduction only renews
the work Of agitation, awakens into ne " anima-
III.
which exhaustion is now ulling into repose.
Alind-we don't object to agitation where there
is any chance for the South's being benefited
by it. But we do oppose that agitation whose
object is to plunge the country into whirlpool
OF excitement, merely for the benefit of disgraced
or unprincipled politicians.
Says one OF the letter writer's" In present
ing this resolution, Mr. Foote knew, as the whole
country knows, that he was Ringing firebrand
into the Senate-opening wide the door to re-
newal OF the old ntroversy-dividing those
who acted together in the caucus and demornl
lztng the Democratic party, of which he has al
ways pretended to be a jealous member. The
latent motive prompting him to this rolicy is
very obvious. Just at this moment, Mr. Foote
and those affiliated with him are no ,chere, They
have been most effectually done for" If not
taken in" by the Democratic caucus, and their
. manifest destiny" (unless by some bold stroke
they can avert ~ is condition of utter isola-
ton from all other parties now formed, or in
process of formation--a destiny from which
10th he and his friends shrink with adherence.
Inc cornerstone Of the whole building Of the
Union Constitutional party, having been so
solemnly rejected by the builders of the Demo-
cratic party in caucus assembled, and the door
OF the " hig party having been closed against
them by their own voluntary act of reputation
what other chance have they of extrication
from this dilemma; save in just such course as
that of Mr., Foote."
word more. To the resolution in itself We
make no objection. If Congress, we might or
might notvote for it-believing that its rejection
+" onld not weaken nor its adoption strengthen
the Fugitive slave biI-neither diminish nor in.
crease the chances Of it's enforcement. We OBJ.
ject to its Introduction, for the reason that il will
awaken excitement without possible profit and
must inevitably tend 10 the distraction of the
Democratic party. The last mentioned fact how
ever constitutes reason why Wings will ap-
PROVE it.
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