The republic., 1851-07-17

them1 They certainly constitute a great compact
with the North, which has thus far saved the
Union. What sense is there in breaking up such
a compact? And il il is not intended to violate it,
what good can possibly arise from continued agi-
tation, creating prejudice against a2 viii the
friends of Governor Trousdale answer haR He
commenced this agitation in his very first speech,
and has kept it up eur since. Will he continue it,
Speech OF Senator Downs.
The Hon. SOLOMON u. Downs delivered
speech, on the 7th ultimo, at great barbecue
given to him near Trinity by the people of the
parishes of Catahoula and Concordia, in Louis
lana, without distinction of party, in which he
defended his course on the Compromise ques-
ton with great ability. The dsunionists of
the South are trying to affiliate Mr.. Downs
with the Wings, on account Of his support of
this healing measure. We most cheerfulIy
exonerate the Senator from this unfounded inn
putation. His political tenets are far from be-
ing those of the Wing party; but at the same
time we cannot withhold from him the tribute
which is justly his due for his enlarged Amer
icanism outside of party issues, for his noble
love of the best form of government which God
has ever bestowed upon man.
Mr.. Downs has the following cogent rea-
soning on the nature Of compromise, and of
the particular compromise upon the faithful
observance Of which is now to be tested the
strength of this Union:
eff there be any among US seriously dissatisfied
with the present state of things on the slavery
question, let me reason with them, not op.
ponent, but brother, fellow citizen, planter
and a public servant. To such l would say,
sWhat do you want? What do you cxpectf How
can you obtain what you aim at" You say we
got less by the Compromise than thought we
were entitled to- So thought /, and strenuously
contended for more. But should we take nothing
and be satisfied with nothing, unless get all we
ask? We could have got more, stated on
former occasion, if those from the South who op-
posed the Compromise had agreed to support it.
The boundary of 35 3O-equai to SO 80 from geo.
graphical considerations-was offered by the
friends Of the Compromise, but Mcssrs. Mason
Davis, and others, would not support it on that
condition. How can they now, then, require the
Compromise to be amended, so TO get what they
refused when offered? The bill abolishing the
slave trade in the District of Columbia ia also
objected to. But that will not justify voting
against the Compromise bill, for il not part
of that bill. 1t was passed separately Afterwards
was little insisted on as unimportant, and could
also have been omitted as condition, if that would
have satisfied the opponents OF the measure. IL
ought to be recollected, too that the Compromise
was choice OF evils. If it had not been passed.
what would have been the consequences? Califor-
MIA ,co,tld hare been admitted that is certain The
slave trade in the District would not merely havo
been abolished, but slavery itself! The instruc-
tons of the Northern Legislatures went to that
point, and nothing bat the Compromise induced
the members instructed to atop short fit. The
Wilmot proyiso would have been imposed on
Utah and New Mexico, and war between
Texas and the United States have taken place,
with the South arrayed the side of Texas ;
one or both these last mentioned events must
have happened and the Fugitive Slave bill
would not have passed with all its important con-
sequences-its faithful execution and the retrac
ing of their steps in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and
other Northern States, in their unconstitutional
legislation against slavery. Were not all these
sound considerations They we're, in the opinion
Of ALL the Southern States except one, and ma
jority of their members in Congress-. But il was
certainly not sufficient for those who wanted to
keep up the excitement-wanted an issue with the
North; it destroyed all issues, wanted disunion,
yet il was death blow to that! What community
or individual ever got all they desired in egisla
ton? Legislation is the result of actions of many
minds, of different dispositions from different
sections, protesting different interests, actuated
by different motives--is, in fine, the work of a
majority, and therefore necessarily implies that
there must often be dissentients among those
who are disappointed 1t is so in own Le-
gislature and police juries, and other delibera-
tive bodies, well as in Congress. What section
of the State parish ever got all they wanted in
improvements, reforms. any thing else? When
was there ever election without somebody being
Disappointed Yet we do not fight about it. We
conclude il ia the natural result Of of the least
doubtful of our republican principles that the ma
jority must rule, and we acquiesce. This is all
that is required to the Compromise. L his is all
| the South, except South Carolina, have desired.
They have not said that they are pleased with it.
we don't want you to say so-all they ask is not to
| destroy the Union account oft At least before
we dissolve the Union, if the evil complained of be
so great let US try, in the ordinary way, to reme-
dy it.
"This has not been done. session of Congress
has intervened since the Compromise passed Ma
ny who disapproyed of il were members, yet no
| attempt was made TO remedy the evils complained
Of In Mexico, in South America, and in some
other countries 1t has often occurred that elections
we're decided and public measures disposed Of by
the sword; but this has not been the American
habit, and hope II will not become go in future.
eff, however, the injustice Of the Compromise
were greater than it is generally considered to be
by the South, ought not to havo an object in
view, and see our way clearly, to know how il
would benefit Us before we begin a civil war? To
begin fight without knowing who we are to fight
with, or what we were fighting for, would be rsth.
er novel proceeding"