The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-25

L mon In all paris OF the country Is SO mani
fest, that perusal of'the message can hardly
fail to inspire confidence in the restoration of
harmony, the discontinuance of agitation, and
the return OF the fraternal feelings of years
past Sentiments on this subject, SO expli-
city expressed, serve as point of union be-
tween those who have hitherto been in con-
: fiict7'
The effects of the message were soon visible,
not merely in the language Of the press, and
the resolutions of public meetings, but In the
tone and temper of conciliated commonwealth.
The unanimous adoption, by the Legislature Of
SoUTH CAROLINA, of a resolution directing the
governor 10 ascertain from the Federal authori-
ty the purpose for which additional troops had
been ordered to Charleston, and whether they
were intended to remain there, excited general
merriment even in Charleston itself. The
resolution Of Mr.. MIDDLETON in the same
Legislature, to the effect that they should not
elect United States Senator to fill the vacan-
cy in the delegation, was answered by the
choice of Mr.. RHErr. Governor FLoyD's mes
sage to the Legislature Of Virginia, recon-
mending the adoption Of resolutions inviting all
the States of the Union TO send delegates to
represent the people in a general conven-
ton, to be held in Baltimore as early as
May, was branded as a mischievous pro-
position, under tho circumstances entirely
unnecessary and unjustifiable. The various
non-intercourse schemes that had been recon-
mended for the southern States were ADAM
doned. Maryland raised her voice for the
Union. The call for southern congress by
South Carolina fell dead. No expression of
hostility to the adjustment was made by North
Carolina. The convention Of GEORGIA, pre-
sided over by the only surviving signer of the
constitution of the State-since called to his
fathers-the venerable THOMAS SPAULpINc-
adopted resolutions acquiescing in the measures
of Compromise. Governor QUIrMAN, SO far
from being able to get up an effective rebellion
in Mississippi, thought it the part Of prudence
and policy to submit himself to the marshal,
to answer an indictment found against him in
Louisiana. An attempt to commit ARKANSAS
in favor Of secession was defeated in the Legis-
lature, and KENTUCKY was unanimous for the
adjustment.
In the northern States results equally favor
able flowed from the policy Of the Administra-
ton. From MAINE, New HAMPSHIRE, Con-
NEorIcUT, New JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA,
MICHIGAN, INDIANA, ILLINOIS, Wisconsin,
Iowa, and MASSACHUSETTS, came such indica-
tions in behalf of this policy that they were
truly said Gin almost solid and unbroken pha-
lanx to stand by and sustain the Compromise. I"
In Congress there were indications equally
favorable of returning concord and harmony.
Mr.. GIDDINGs opened the session with furious
outbreak against the PRESIDENT and the Fugi-
tive Slave law--but it met with no response,
and excited no attention. Later in the day a
member from Indiana introduced motion to
suspend the rules, to present memorial
denouncing the "unholy Compromise -
which was disposed of summarily by the
House. If any further attempt at agita-
ton was made in that body, it was SO
feeble as to cause no impression, and we have
no recollection Of it. The Abolitionists and
their sympathizers there contented themselves
by thwarting the Administration, where they
safely might, on other measures; but they found
it unpopular, as we'll as unavailng, to agitate
the Compromise, and they abandoned the at
tempt The occurrence of the Boston mob,
and the debates in the Senate on Mr.. CLAWS
motion to refer the PRESIDENTS message,
brought CLEAN Of sunshine to the Disunionists;
but it was sufficiently transient. The MAsoNs,
CHAsEs, and RHErTs did their utmost to turn
the debate to a profitable agitation; but they
took nothing by their motion. For the first
time for many months topic Of excitement
was found in something else than the negro
question, and the session of the Senate, instead
Of closing in sectional quarrel over free soil
and fugitive slaves, terminated in succession
of lively partisan skirmishes over the River
and Harbor bill.
The reflections suggested by the events thus
briefly recorded cover too much space to be
crowded into the end of an article. We have
recapitulated the facts-comments upon them
we reserve for the sequel.