The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-27

able; that the South never had been so much uni
ted, and that she would secure her equal right t
the new territory. We observed that we though
souri, Compromise line, and that enough South
ern members would support it, to secure it
He unused a moment, and said perhaps, nay
probably, it would be patched up that way, and
that although he would not support such
measure. as he thought it unconstitutional he
would Nevertheless acquiesce. And afterwards
the proposition was made in the Senate, and did
receive the almost unanimous note of the South
ern senators.
| Mr.. STEPHENS asks US to what he retreated
and asks whether it was or is retreat to say to
| the South that they were and are bound In hon
or to say nothing of patriotism, to abide by that
action of their government, which was in con-
formity with the demands of Il large majority OF
her own people? To this we answer, that the
retreat of Mr.. STEPHENS consists in the dscrep-
ancy between his position in lS4s, on the CLAY
roN Compromise, and his position in 1850 on
the Clay Compromise. In his speech of lS4S
he said:
ain regard TO these territories and the rights
of the South, hold that when the stipulatons
Of tho late treaty shall be complied with, and
the money paid which is provided for in it, they
will constitute an acquisition, made Mt the cost
OF the common blood and treasure of the whole
Union, towards which the South contributed as
generously AZ the North, and in ,ohich The Soul.
is entitled 10 just and equal participation; and
that il is the duy Of Congress 10 see 10 that me
Just and equal rights of my section are guarded,
protected and secured by oil necessary legislation
Now let US ask Mr. STEPHENS what pnrticipa-
ton the South has secured, by legislation in
any of the territory!
Why, in all that vast territory, the most val
liable ever acquired, the right of tho South to
enter and to occupy the most important Of po-
litical pecuniary and social rights, is not worth
a hundred dollars.
Mr.. STEPHENS contended in his speech on the
CLAYTON Compromise, that the laws of Mexico
remained in force in the new territory until re-
pealed by Congress, and that they prohibited
slavery And he said
81 shall neuer give my sanction while have
seat on this floor, to any legislation on the part
of Congress, by which the rights of the South
ern people to an equal and just participation in
these territories, while they remain territories,
shall be endangered, nor shall those rights be en-
dangered or surrendered by my approval, by
continuance of the municipal laws Of Mexico.
Now, according to Mr.. STEPHENS, the NUM-
cipal laws of Mexico are still in force in New
Mexico and Utah-for they have not been re-
pealcd by Congress. The acts for the govern
ment of those territories passed by the last
Congress, rs part of the Compromise provide,
indeed, that they may be received into the
Union, with or without slavery-as their constr
buttons may prescribe al the time Of their admits
sion. But, as Mr.. STEPHENS contends that the
Supreme Court would be bound to decide
against the right of master to his slave in any
of them, unless slavery is established there BY
Congress, or by their State constitutions, 1t fol.
lows that now after the Compromise, the rights
and interests of the South in them nre not only
endangered, but absolutely forfeited. If the
support of the CLAY and CAss Compromise is
not retreat from the grounds assumed in OPP
position to the CLAYTON Compromise, by Mr.
STEPHENS, we don't know what retreat is.
But Mr.. STEPHENS himself has admitted his
retreat He was, and is supporter of the
Georgia platform, if not one of its architects
That does not entirely approve, but acquiesces.
And it acquiesces not gracefully, but growlingly
and menacingly in the Compromise, and threat.
ems that if one more little aggression is commit
ted against the South, Georgia will go for the
toughest kind of disunion--she will go for dis
ruption.
| Mr.. STEPHENS said he claimed protection Of
slavery by Congress in the territories, but
that large majority in the South dsclaimed it,
because they denied the validity of federal leg
isIation on the subject. And hence he claims
that it was not retreat for him to say that they
were bound in honor to say nothing Of patriotism,
to abide by the action Of their government, which
was in conformity with the demands of large
majority of her own people. But it does not
appear in that light to US. According to him,
he demanded more for the South than large
majority of her sons did But, they consid-
cred, they got much less than they demanded,
and hence, according to him, very much less
than he demanded. Now, is it exactly the ap-
propriate course for him to take, after having
been foremost in demands to become one of the
foremost in acquiescence-an to divide his
speeches between censure of his comrades for
not insisting on more, and still louder censures
for not submitting to what they get, confessedly
much less than he thought they ought to have
had.
But the truth is, those who were disposed to
accept and even struggled to obtain 36 30, were
consistent For they held that Mexican law
did not govern the territory, and knew that sla-
very had always occupied every part of this
country, except where prohibited.
Mr.. STEPHENS says he does not admit that the
question is not settled. He only said the crisis
is not passed. Very wel--we think if the
| question were settled the crisis would DO past.
But we did not intend to dwell on this sub