The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-29

We arrived yesterday AT the House OF Rep
resentatives in time to hear the greater part OF
the speech of Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia. The
main object of the speech, as we understood il,
was to insist on the finality of the Compromise,
and to urge union of its friends from both
parties, in the ensuing Presidential contest. 1t
is not necessary for us to repeat the high esii-
mate of Mr.. STEPHEN's talents we have hereto
fore expressed. So that we may be permitted
to say that they were exhibited on this OCCASION
At great disadvantage. The truth is the Com
promise is failure, which no ability
"Nor ford prose nor honied lines of rhyme"
can avert or disguise. The only part of that
scheme, the only plank of that platform-the
Fugitive slave law-which mitigated its often
siveness to the South-has practically failed
Throughout all the North but two or three
cities remain where its execution can be relied
on, and there only ut an expense of five times
the value of good slave, and then only to- re
cover one who has been taught by his sympa
thisers that it is his right and duty to cut the
throat of his master on the first opportunity
Such slave is worse than worthless, and his
reclamation is curse instead of benefit to
the South.
Mr.. STEPHENS admits, or contends truly that
neither pahy-Whig or Democratic-can be
relied on TO maintain the Compromise, and that
ats only hope is from union of its friends from
both. WE'LL if this were to occur, or whether
1t occurs or not, another and perhaps the most
important element of the Compromise would
be sacrfced-and that is its fnaty and the
quiet it stipulated in the phrase of "a final set
Element" But if the friends of both parties were
able that they would constitute a majority. 1t
Ia absolutely certain that agitation, the most
active and acrimonious would Immediately re-
sult all over the country. So that as peace mea-
sures, as an attempt TO buy peace for the South
by ACCOMPLISHMENTS of territory and of rights, it
has resulted as all such exl edients always have
lit has only whetted the appetite of the, ag-
gressor. The Compromise then is an utter
failure-nothing remains of it for the South but
law rarely executed and then injuriously-
nothing but the splinter Of plank, as the plat
form fos new party. And when We consider
that on such splinter it is proposed to embark
in contest with every Northern ism, led on by
the fame of brilliant military chieftain, il must
be obvious that the attempt is infatuation.
Now, we did well hope that the Southern
Union party, of which Mr.. STEPHENS is dis.
tinguished leader, would, on seeing the failure
Of the Compromise, and that by Northern senti-
ment, proceed to cooperate with the Southern
Rights party in some effective manner. For
the supporters Of the Georgia platform are alb
solved by events from any further support Of
the Compromise. They are absoved by the
tsrms Of their own pledge, they are impelled by
their own pledges and their honor to renounce
It, We need not go any further than Mr. WEB.
STIR for authority, for the doctrine that con.
tract, and a Compromise is the most sacred OF
contracts to the parties ratifying It, whenbroken
in one part or condition, absolves all from IL
other obligations
But II the Union party persists in this posi-
too Of Mr.. STEPHENS, we must give Il up. We
would decidedly prefer connection with the
Democratic party with all IFS Freesoilers in
cluded Nay, we bad perhaps as well now give
notice that we have good reason TO believe thai
the Freesoilers themselves are willing 10 make
a better compromise with the South than this
abortion, so called. For that was wretched
and incongruous compound, equally offensive to
Southern rights and Northern fanaticism. For
If il was exPedient by any shuttle of squatter
sovereignty, or the right TO admit State, TO OK
clude slavery from new territory, il was absurd
TO provide for its assertion, in its most odous
form among Northern anti-slsvery populations
Whilst therefore, we suppose we can make
with Freesoilers themselves better compro
mise for the South than that Of 1850, We will
hardly go In for any such platform as danger
Gus splinter Of the latter.
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