North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-08-09
rFrom the New York Journal of Commerce.


not been formally concluded by the Treaty of Qua
f daloupe Hidago, when, the troubles were brewed
which have since disturbed the country. The Demo
cratic party were flushed with victory and confident
of the future. Their opponents were dlsheartened
and overwhelmed with the dazzling achievements oil
The Polk Administration. NJ serious embarrassment
were apprehended by the former, in dsposing OF
their acquisitions, while the Wing party seemed
to place its sole hope of success in turning to account
the military fame acquired in the war, by success
full General.
This was the state of things at the commencement.
Of the session of Congress of Is47-'9 Inc w linos
Proviso, though sprung upon the public al PleVloGs
session, had not yet entered as an element in.o ne
ensuing Presidential contest But II was $50
by prudent and sagacous minds, that II QUIZ Prov
a fearful and terrible engine of mlschief, unless the
Territorial questions were at once settieo' AScolo
ingy eminent and patriotic stateslnen' III ~ .io
of the United States, applied themselves win tne
most serous earnestness the task OF avertlng the
impending danger. They saw the storm lowering In
the distant future and sought to guard agalnstlt.
(n,1rOuise after long and arduous discussion, was
greed upon and sanctioned by the Senate, which, If
concurred in by the House, would undoubtedly have
prevented the subsequent unfortunate agitation OF
The Slavery question. The Bill thus passed by the
Senate, devoived ultimately upon the Supreme Court
the settlement of the constitutional question respect
ing the introduction of slavery into the new terrific
ries. Unfortunately, the Bill did not pass the Senate
until late in the session. 1t was discovered by this
time, that General Taylor was available candidate
at the North, and that nothing had been said by him
which would prevent the Wings of the North, who
supporting him. MIR. Seward, who has just been
elected the Senate, arrived at Washington about
the time that this Compromise Bill had passed from
the Senate the other House. 1t was, motion of
Mr.. Stephens leading Wing of Georgia, laid on the
table and the AnSlavery question was thus reserv-
ed as element in the approaching Presidential
question. The defeat of this Compromise Bill was
attributed to MIR. Sewar8-and the subsequent use
which he has made of the Anti-Savery excitement,
renders The justice of the imputauon than pro-
babe.
The Presidential contest Immediately afterwards
commenced with more than usual vigor.
The Democratic party nominated candidate
pledged to the doctrine of nOn-interpentiOn. The
Wings nominated a candidate uncommtied that
subject, and repudiated Mr.. Clay, whose opinions
were well known. The Wing candidate was sup
ported at the North by Mr. Seward and his friends,
in favor of the WiL0lOt PrOUso, and at the South
opposed to it.
for reasons Numerically opposed each other, at
the North and the South,) rendered any Compromise
of the Territorial question through the agency of his
administion, impossible.
The session Of Congress Of IS49-'50 commenced
under gloomy auspices. CONSPICUOUS W hig poiti-
clans of the South, instrumental in procuring the
nomination of Gen. Taylor, took the most extreme
Southern ground, while his leading Northern friends
demanded the enactment of the Wilmot Proviso.
w lille the contest ragged at Washington, in almost
every Northern and Southern State great excitement
and the nveterate feeling of sectional animosity
seemed to prevail. Secession and disunion began
be talked ot-whe at the North, the most disloYal
sentiments were avowed at numerous public meet
ings.
Another Compromise was introduced, but although
advocated with consunnate ability by the abest
statesmen in Congress, yet the GOODNESS of the admin
Istratlon and the opposition of Mr. Seward and the
Free Sellers, again defeated it.
w hat would have been the result of the defeat of
all attempts TO compromise, had not the death of
General Taylor been speedily followed by the adj
iustment, no human sagacity now determine.
With his death, expired the peculiar ascendency or
nrpH nTlIO he AYo1p
of those politicians whose intrigues and combina
lions his nomination and election to be chiefly at
tributed; and the same event, lanenable in itself,
stored the Conservative branch OF the Wing party
power.
The first fruits of that rest ration was the passage
of all the measures, in succession. which were en-
braced in the Compromise Bill. The imminent dam
ger which threatened the Union averted, and
pring demagogues were foiled in their mad expert
nents upon the strength of the Confederacy So far
as respected the action of the Federal Government
the slavery question finally disposed of and
settled Anti-Savery agitators could no longer con-
troll great national measures in Congress-, but were
thrown back upon the more confined and limited thea
ire of agitation afforded in their respective States
Ii therefore Anti Slavery agitation be still cherish
ed and stimulated, 1t will be to aid existing political
cques and combinations, and not for the purpose of
accomplishing any patriotic end. 1t accomplish
no measure of Importance. Its sole and purpose
will continue to be, in sustaining those politicians
who have risen its turbulent waves into temporary
popularity. The Wing party expect to
come into power again, while in alliance with Anti
Slavery agitation The Free Soil and Abolition par
ties will find the Compromise settlement fatal TO their
growth extension. The repeal or modification of
the Fugitive Slave Law can never be effected by
them and there is other measure Of the Compro-
mise series which it is pretended can be reached
by further agitation.
But in another form, the fruits and consequences
OF Hnti-SIavery agitation destined, fear, to
survive the and time with which it originated.
1t certainly has done nothing to ameorate the con-
dltion Of the free coored population of the North
And how has it affected the condition of the slaves
at the South2 Has it relaxed their bondage, or
turned the thoughts of STAKEHOLDER upon ernanc-
patton 1t has done such thing-nor would 1t, |
probably, If continued for a century. The present +
FugtfiUe SlaUe LaIU is the rk Of the 8nti-SLaUery
Gg1tOrs. If there had been AntiSlavery agitation,
the fugitive slave law of 1898 would never have been
superseded by the Act of 1850. 1t would not have !
been necessary The old law, enacted during the adj
nnistration of Washington, would have been abun-
dainty sufficient. If the law in force, be that
horrible instrument of oppression which its enemies
represent it TO be- the fugitive must thank his pretend
ed friends, the aboitonsts and agitators, for this
BOOM They have invited the South to demand the new
law, and Mey are entitled the honor of having COM
PEELED its enactment.
slave, has been productive of much other mischief.
1t has postponed indefinitely any effective exertions
favor of gradual abolition in Maryland, Virginia,
kentucky, and Missouri. 1t has strengthened the |
opponents of such measures, and reacted lamentaby
on both races 1t has increased the rigors of slavery
at the South. The vigilance of the master has been
lncreased-and on the appearance of any symptoms
unav Jrable to obedience, the slave has been sent
further South, or disposed of to more distant