Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-09-10
From the Washington Union
The Passage of the Compromise Measures.

ceye the people with regard to them This line of
conduct is called for by the exgencies of General
SCOTS position, and the nnwillngness of the south
ern wings to sustain him without express decla-
ration of adherence to the fugitive slave law. The
southern friends of Gen. Scott speak of the compro
mise system of measures all of which were en-
acted at the same time, and then, after asserting
that Gen. Scott sustained that Compromise, they af-
firm that he is in favor of the fugitive slave law
This is a Justification of history, and we sorry
to see that the wing candidate has lent his counte
nance to such proceeding.
The fugitive slave law did not constitute portion
of Mr.. Clays Z" omnibus bill,' the series of acts
presented by the committee of thirteen called.
The report of that committee was made on the 9Th
Of May, 1850, and was accompanied by the follow
ing bills, and none other, (Senate journal, page
a bill to admit California as a State into the
Union to establish territorial governments for Utah
and New Mexico, and making proposals to Texas
for the establishment of her western and northweS
tern boundaries
GA i'll to suppress the slave-trade in the District
of Columbia
These were the measures which were known as
the adjustment compromise measures at the time
General Scott committed himself in favor of the
Compromise. All the measures embraced in the
6rst bill mentioned above were stricken out by the
Senate except that which proposed territorial gov
ernment for Utah and the compromise measures,
embracing the fugtive-slave law and the abolition
Of the slave-trade In the District of Columbia pass
ed separately, as follows:
l. THE BILL PROVIDING TERRITORIAL GOVERN
NENT FOR UTAH passed the Senate July 3l,.1850Eby
vote of thirtytwo eighteen. 1t passed the House
of Representatives, September 7th by vote of nine
tv-seven to eighty FIVE
2. THE TEXAS BOUNDARY BILL passed the Senate
August 10, 1850, by vote of thirty to twenty. 1t
passed the House of Representatives, with the New
Mexican territorial bill attached to it amend
ment, September 6th by vote Of one hundred and
eight to ninety-seve
3. THE BILL FOR THE ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA
passed the Senate August g. 1850 by vote of thir
ty-four to eighteen 1t passed the House of Repre-
sentatives the 7th of September by vote of one
hundred and fifty to ffty-six.
4. The BILL PROVIDING A TERRITORIAL GOVERN
MENT FOR New MEXICO passed the Senate August
Is, 1850 by vote of twentyseven to ten. 1t pass
ed the House, amendment to the Texas bound
airy bill, on the 9th of September, by vote of one
hundred and eight to ninety seven.
5. THE FUGITIvE-sLAvE BILL passed the Senate
August %, 1850 by vote of twenty to twelve.
It passed the House Of Representatives on the 18th
of September, by vote of one hundred and nine to
six.
6. THE BILL TO SUPPRESS THE sLAvE-TRADE IN THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA passed the Senate September
l6, 1850, by vote Of thirty three 10 nineteen 1t
passed the House of Representatives the 9th OF
September, by vote of one hundred and twenty
four to fifty nine.
The policy of Gen. Taylor's administration urged
the separate admission of California State with
out taking any action with regard to the other sub
jects of difficulty mentioned In the last days Of that
administration serious danger arose between Texas
and the authorities of the United States in New
Mexico relative to the extent of the territory and
jurisdiction of exas. That difficulty wore a most
frownng aspect when MIR. Fillmore came into pow
and he imprudently adopted Gen. Taylor's poll
cy with regard to it. But he soon saw the danger
which menaced his administration, and used all his
influence to settle the Texas boundary before col
liSOn should take place in New Mexico Had il
been possible for the whig party to have admitted
California and settled the Texas boundary question
without passing the other measures involving slave
ry, it would doubtless have pursued that policy
which would have been the Taylor policy, only mod
flied by the difficulty with Texas There were ind
cations that such the desire of the adninistra
ton; and, to defeat that policy the New Mexican
territorial bill affixed amendment to thu
Texas boundary bill, thereby forcing the northern
friends of Mr.. Fillmore to aid in excluding the vii
proviso from the territorial bill and aid in it
passage in order to relieve him from the blunder hi
had committed with regard to Texas. The Wilmo
proviso being thus disposed Of there no Difficult
ty the next day in passing the Utah bill, which wa
similar to the New Mexican bill.
After the protracted struggle which Terminated
the sixth of September, 1850, the majority in the
House of Representatives determined to regard eacl
of the measures relating to slavery constituting
part ola system of settlement and to enact them Mr.
Fillmore hesitated when the fugitive slave law wa
presented for his signature and he submitted to tn
Attorney General for opinion to its constitu
tionality Mr. Crittenden considered it in confor
nifty with the constitution, and the President at
tached his signature to it. Since then 1T has BEEF
regarded by ALL except the abolitoniSts of the nort
and MIR. Stewards higher-law followers, part 0
the Compromise, and portion, as it were OF trea
ty ofpeace and amity between the different section
of the Confederacy. But the who nominate
General Scott for the Presidency refused to consde
it in that light. They made open war upon it ; an
in their State Conventions they affirmed that it wa
more sacred than any other isolated act of ord
nary legislation, and could be modified repeale
without breach of good faith All the State Con
which hrOueht rd Cen tank thc
ground, and they used the name of Gen. Scott
sustain them in their warfare with the administra
ton, which was waged because the adminstratio
regarded the fugitive slave law part of the
promise-a part of the settlement of our difficulties
Mr.. Seward and his followers did not pretend tina
they had any other cause of quarrel with MI
Fillmore and Mr.. Webster than that furnished
the course they pursued with regard to the fugiti1
slave law ; and never in military civil contests
men select their leader who is foe 10 the
cause. If Gen. Scott not enemy of the fug
tive slave law, and to that extent enemy to tt
compromise measures he must have deceived tt
abolition whgs and obtained q nomination fro
them by false pretences. Ifhe susains all the mea
of the Compromise, then he has been induce
by selfish motives of personal aggrandzement,
league with the enemies of his principles to bres
down an administration which conscience approve
Hon. A. w. VenobIe. of North Carolina.
This distinguished member of Congress addresst
a large meeting at Richmond, Virginia. on Thursda
The Richmond Enquirer states that the audien
was crowded. that Mr.. Venable listened to wi
breathless and undated attention for nearly tv
hours, and that his eloquent remarks made de-