The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-25
A Second Chapter I'm the History Of an
Administration.

at Testeksstsr.
A Second Chapter i'm the History OF an
Administration.
We have described in previous chapter the
demonstrations that were made in both sections
Of the country by the opponents of the mea-
sures Of Compromise after their passage.
These demonstrations were confined mainly to
the Free soilers and the Disunionists; but they
were sufficiently significant and active to keep
the public mind in disturbed and irritated
state. There was no longer any such appre-
hension of evil as existed at the time of Mr..
FMLMoRE's accession to the Presidency; but
evidently the intention still prevailed in certain
sues, regardless of the consequences in which
it might involve the country.
This agitation was sufficiently active and
earnest to create or renew the alarm of prudent
and rejecting men. To such men it was obvi-
Gus enough that the mutual ordinations and
menaces Of the opposing factions not only tended
TO the permanent alienation of the slaveholding
and mons laveholding States, but must inevita-
bly, produce political separation. States can
not exist together as an united nation upon
any other condition than that of reciprocal
amity as well as common interest To hope
otherwise is to hope for a result which,
if il were possible, would not be desirable, and,
if desirable, could not be achieved The sense
of insult is keener than the sense of wrong
and the Pharisaical assumption of superior
godliness and virtue, by men who thank
Heaven that they are not like the slave
holders, might well induce the exaction, by
the southern States, of the strictest recognition
of their constitutional rights as the alternative
of revolution. Whether or not the Constitu-
ton were an :. atrocious bargain, /" and com
pact with hell, - it was, at all events, either
bargain or no bargain-a compact or no compact,
binding in all its parts or in no part-to be
observed, or repudiated altogether.
Great anxiety of course prevailed in all parts
of the country to learn the course that would
be pursued by the Administration in view Of
this state of dne public mind and Of public af-
fairs. Would it adhere to the measures of the
last session. Would it, by yielding them
reluctant and wavering support, reopen in eff
feet the whole controversy, and renew the early
scenes of the session that had closed in such
hopeful assurances of peace2 Or would it
adopt and express willingness to abide by the
adjustment, in all its parts, as the best that
could be attained for the country under all the
circumstances Of the case?
The Administration did not hesitate to take
the responsibility. In moderate, but decided and
unequivocal language, the message of the PREs-
IDEHr expressed the intention of the Admins
tration to abide by the Compromise, and called
upon good citizens everywhere to trally upon
the only means of restoring peace and quiet to
the country, and maintaining inviolate the in
tegrity Of the Union"
The message was SO distributed through the
country to the various postmasters prior to its
delivery as to elicit the uncontrolled and unbi-
ased expressions of the public press. The edi-
torial profession Were thrown upon their own
judgment, and those Of them who might other
wise have received their inspiration from for
eign sources, were compelled to utter their
own sentiments Of appreciation or censure.
An honest and spontaneous record of public
sentiment was thus accidentally secured. From
all quarters, North and South, there was a con-
current expression Of satisfaction and applause,
responsive to the course of the Administration.
The moderation, the frankness, the irmness
with which the PRESIDENT had assumed and
proclaimed his position on the measures of
Compromise, commanded universal respect and
almost universal appreciation. Journals Of both
the great political parties spoke in the same
language; and, with the exception of the antic-
pated censure of the Abolition and Disunion
presses, there was hardly murmur of dissent
So general, so overwhelming was this mani
festation of controlling Public OPINIoN-so
prompt, decided, and unequivocal was this
judgment of the PEOPLE in favor Of the policy
OF the Administration--tha the spirit Of Dis
union was quelled and baffled, and retreated
sulleny to its lair.
The feeling Of the people on the receipt Of
the message is so well expressed in the Ian
guage Of leading northern journal, that we
cannot better convey il than by citing its own
language. 1.-THE PRESIDENTS views on the
subject of conciliation," said the Boston Daily
.3drerf;ser, 'sand the necessity Of sustaining
the Com promise measures Of the last session
are SO clearly stated; his purpose Of carrying
them into effect, so far as depends on himself,
is declared in terms so explicit, and at the
same time SO conciIiatory, and his reliance on
the unanimous support Of the friends Of the