The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-26
The DI.tress sf tho Unje u.

on the compromise after the Southern States
had al determined not to resist it, Whilst any
ofthem were celebrating, we attempted to per
form our duty in discussing that measure, for
the question as to what was TO be done was
practical. But when all immediate resistance
was renowned, we were disposed to abstain
from further reference to the topic, except when
provoked by the commentaries OF Others. We
were content with the performance Of our duty
on the subject. We found that majority in
the South differed from us. And believing that
time and events would vadcate the course we
ments with composure. And we intended to
consider such other topics as became of public
interest. We believed that the compromise
was fatal to the Union and Constitution The
preparation of such hagitious scheme Of plum
der ard fraud as that, in the face of such Con.
stitution as ours, was such sarcasm on written
constitutions and on free government, and on po-
pular integrity and intelligence, that we knew it
would produce violent reaction, or mark moral
revolution in our political system. The argu-
ment, however, had failed generally with the
States of the South and we could only await
the vindicaton of our course by events-those
eqents which obedient to the great moral laws
of the world, so frequently intervene in human
affairs, to expose to punish and to counteract the
puny purposes of human folly and perversty.
Having been defeated in what we considered the
only adequate and legitimate remedy, the resist
ance of the States to the compromise, we felt for
our friends and ourselves absolved from the re-.
sponsibility of all the consequences-and We are
determined still to repudiate all such RESPONSE
bility and to see that those who assumed it by
adopting different policy, shall not evade it.
But we are not permitted the repose on this
question, as we expected and desired The com,
promise is even more futile and evennescent
than we expected. We supposed that the
North, flushed with such victory and the
recreant South, supported by such an ovel-
whelming vote, would be able to get along
for few years. or at least through the next
Presidential election. We thought that c, M
promise ticket might prevail. But behold the
thing has already failed. 1t is discovered at
once that the compromise is precisely the thing
that won't do. 1t is either too much, or too
little The North reasoning logically enough,
insists that if slavery is so confcssedly odious
that the slave trade is abolished in the District of
Columbia, under the pains and penalties of Abo.
liton it ought not to be enforced north of Ma
sons a. DIXon's line by the federal reclamation
offugitive slaves; and that the vast and afluent
territory of California could be wrcsted from the
South on such fmsy and shallow pretcnces,
why cannot the national District of Columbia,
OF i've or SIX square miles, be also redeemed from
the curse and the disgrace And if the Union
loving and national South submit to the one,
why not to the other9 Accordingly, the North
repudiates the compromise. Vermont very fatty
and frankly nulliied The fugitive slave law at
once. But this we were told by the Union
compromisers was a mistake, an oversight, COM
mitted in haste, and in ignorance, at the close of
the session, and that would be renowned the next
year. Such was the testimony of respectable
and responsible Vermonters, and, among others
ex Senator PHELPS wrote a letter to that effect
Well the Legislature has met again-and an
attempt has been deliberately made to repeal
the law, and the attempt has utterly failed and
the Southern submssonsts, modest gentlemen
who promised what great things they would do
If the compromise was not respected, where are
they! Quiet as so many mice. Well, there is
the Boston outrage, the Christiana outrage, and
the Syracuse outrage-all cases of the public
rescue offugtives from the hands of federal au.
thority, with violence ard, in one case, with
murder This we were told was treason, and
hanging was promised as the appropriate rene.
dy, for Southern violated honor and right. Well,
trials have occurred in two cases out of the three,
and what is the result-the culprits are un.
touched
Well then, what is become of the political and
party consequences of the compromise? What |
are the chances of electing an original compro.
mise man? Mr.. CLAY, the protector of that
measure, sunk from the moment of its passage
INTO the class of the most hopeless of unavaila.
bles-and Gen. CAss, his lieutenant, may posi-.
Oily get the complimentary nomination of his
own State, and may be the second choice of two |
or three other States. Mr.WEBsTER has OBJ. |
tanned the nomination of his party in one State, |
but that party is in minority there, almost for |
the first time, and that on account of the COM |
promise-whilst Mr.. FILLMORE has no chance of
the nomination of his own State for the came
reason. Hence, General ScoTT becomes the
prominent candidate of the Wings, for he did
not vote for the Compromise, and has promised
lla' ne will not promise to support it,
AS The compromise has failed to secure the
po'll'cal or party objects for which it was con.
trved SO 1t Is consolatory to reflect that il has
ia'eu 70 accomplish its selfish sectional objects
to great extent 1t has, indeed, given the North
preponderance in the Senate; but by giving
her exclusive possession Of California Il b..
withdrawn, perhaps, two hundred thousand of|
her young adult males, and devoted them 70 m