The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-05
From the North CGoIinian.
Census of IS5O-The Balance Of Power.

From the North Carolinian.
Census of IS5O-The Balance Of Power.
The total population Of the United States, as
shown by the census of 1850, is 1929, 49S
OF this number, 1886 ,27l, reside in the free
States, and 6,62l ,227, in the slave States. The
free inhabitants Of the free States number ID,
646, l52-the free inhabitants Of tho slavehold
ing States number 6,44l,757 From compari-
son of these respective statements, we perceive
that the number of free people in the Northern
States is more than twice as great as the number
of free people in the slaveholdng States. The
disagreeable reflections which this fact taken in
connection with the history Of parties in this
country during the last few years, is calculated
to suggest, are only slightly aeviated by recur-
renee to that feature of the Constitution of the
United States by which three-ftths of the slave
population is represented in one of the houses
Of Congress For after we have marshalled all
our strength We are still in minority, both IN
the Senate and in the House of Representatives.
In the House Of Representa- YES Of the present
Congress- the members of which are apportioned
among the several States on the basis OF the
census of 1850, the slavehoding States, not in
GLIDING Delaware have 80 members, the free
States l43 members-tba whole number being
| 1913. In the House of Representatives of the
portioned by the act Of May 23d, 1850, on the
basis Of the census of 1850, the Southern States,
excluding Delaware, will have SS representa-
tives, and the Northern States l45, the South
loosing too members, and the North gaining t,ro,
which makes the majority Of Northern votes
exactly four greater in the House OF Represen-
tatives of the next Congress- than in the present.
And when il is reconcled that this result is
brought about without any increase in the num-
Der of representatives, it becomes startling
fact.
The balance Of power is on the side of the
North and what is more, the disproportion be-
tween the representation of the two sections in
Congress is decehnially increasing in favor OF
the North. The attempt has been mace % the
opponents Of the institution Of slavery to con-
strue this circumstance into an argument that
people without that institution are, other things
being equal, more prosperous than people with
it. We protest against any such Inference
When il is recollected that the Ordinance Of
1887, and the Missouri compromise appropriated
exclusively 10 freesoilism the great Northwest
One of the very best regions Of country, in an
agricultural point of view, on which the sun
snines-and containing, by the census of 1850
a population, TO speak in round numbers, OF
100000; and when it is recollected further
that the apathy Of Southern merchants has per
mitted the cities Of the North to monopolize the
Importing trade, while Southern cities have Ian.
guished for the want OF that very trade when
il is recollected further that the history of the
government of this country exhibits a course Of
legislation generally if not uniformly in favor OF
the North-taking Southern farmers to enrich
the manufacturers Of the N)rth, and consequent
ly greatly increasing the population OF the latter
section by building mp manufacturing village.
and when il is recollected finally that immense
numbers Of immigrants are arriving monthly AT
the Northern cities, and that by far the greater
portion OF these continue To reside in the free
States, we say when all these facts are recol-
lec,ed the proportionably greater increase Of the
population Of the North than that Of the South
may be accounted for without any reference to
the insttution Of slavery.
But our object ut this time Is not To vindicate
the institution Of slavery, or to show that il u
calculated TO advance the prosperity Of the
South We wish to remind the people Of the
South that they are loosing ground, and that the
North is gaining on them in political power
that unless something is done to prevent it, the
time is not far distant when the Representatives
Of the free States will be abet muster two.
thirds vote in Congress, and thus illustrate the
executive veto ITSELF should it be interposed to
arrest the progress Of aggression. How lar of
is that time! Under the law Of May 23d. 1850,
he number Of members Of the House OF Repre-.
sentatiyes is fixed at 233 OF these the North
will have las. Eleven more added will give
majority of two.thirds. The North may then
-un rough, hod over the executive vets, should
Il be interpcsed, or propose amendments to the
Constitution ad ibiinm, yea, and adopt them
too, when by the admission Of free States, car.
red out Of the great Northwest, threetourths OF
the States Of the Union shall be enlisted under
the banner OF freesoiism. We do not say that
his state Of ffirs is nigh, yea, even ut your
doors," but il will be brought about sooner or
later, unless the latent energies of the South
shall be rogsed into action. And what should
be done? This IL the vital question. And we
wish that the attention Of statesmen at the
South were more intensely directed TO its solu.
ton, even though il might be to the neg ect Of
questions of a party character. j. this CON
paratiye weakness incurahlel And must the
South. like the imbecile Nusselman, who sees
danger, but has not the cncfgv to escape from
IL, cry "God is great, the will vt God be done"
and iuake no effort TO reg III her lost position!
The South has dec ded by overwhelming
popular majorities against any political treat
ment nf the disease of tho body polite at pres
emit has decided To abide BY The recent COM
promise measures enacted by Congress With
that decision We are content. Bat it does not
! follow that because one course Of treatment Is
rejected, we must give up the patient AZ lost
We do not hope by any suggestion of our own,
now or hereafter, 10 throw much light upon
this difficult subject II by exhibiting the
ldinger which meances Us, we shall succeed in
callinr the attention ~ wiser heads than our
Town to the necessity Of averting il, our object
will be accomplished. Il may be said that We
are sounding the tocsin Of alarm rather late in
in the day, and that the country has passed the
crisis. The agitation through which the coun.
try il passing we consider the result 10 great
measure Of past acts Of aggression. We are
Iendeavoring now, forgetting for time the in.
ljuries already received, TO remind our people