Washington sentinel., 1854-02-05
THE COMPROMIsE OF $50.

In the discussions which the Kansas and Ne
braska bill has given rise to, we perceive, in
many of our exchanges, that the real origin Of
the compromise of 1850 is not understood
Some journals attribute those measures to Mr.
Clay, whilst other journals give them different
paternity.
Believing that history should always be vim
dicated, and having no purpose to injure any
one, and no desire to hatter any one, we beg
leave to state briefly the outlines of the com.
promise of 1850, with view to give to each
and every person connected with it whatever
the record awards.
There were five separate and distinct things,
which agitated the public mind four years ago
all of them having direct influence to the
slavery question. They were: the admission
of California, territorial governments for Utah
and New Mexico, the Texas boundary, the
slave trade in the District of Columbia, and
suitable legislation to give force and effect to
that provision of the Constitution which de-
clares that fugitive slaves shall be delivered up.
These were the fve bleeding wounds which
Mr.. Clay pictured SO graphically when he de-
nouneed the whig policy of non-action.
A number of resolutions had been submit
ted to both branches of Congress, and bills had
been presented to provide for the exigencies
which had arisen, when General H. S. Foote,
then Senator from the State of Mississippi,
moved to raise the celebrated committee OF
thirteen. That committee, through its emf
nent chairman, Mr.. Clay, made its report to
the Senate; but it did not propose any original
bill. On the contrary, it united the bills which
had been previously offered and, by that
process, constructed what has been since known
as the Omnibus BILL"
The two territorial bills were reported by
Judge Douglas, and the committee of thirteen
adopted them. The fugitive slave law owes its
paternity to Mr. Mason, of Virginia. We do
not remember distinctly who proposed the law
for the suppression Of the slave trade in the
District of Columbia. The Texas boundary
bill, with the ten millions of ofindemnity, although
not originally proposed by, yet received its
present form and shape from Mr. Pierce, O
Maryland. The omnibus bill" was broker
up, but yet all its parts we're finally sanctioned
by the two houses of Congress, the only ma
terial modification being that which was mad
with regard to Texas.
The compromise measures of 1850 originate
in the Senate; but they gave rise to ferc
struggle in the House of Representatives.
powerful effort was made to defeat them in tha
body, springing from two sources : the one pure
honest and upright; the other impure, dishor
est, and mean. But, by uniting the New Mex
leo territorial bill and the Texas boundary bill
enough northern whig strength was obtaine
to carry both. Afterwards the fugitive slav
law was carried through the House of Repre-
sentatives; and very much credit is due t
Judge Thompson, of Pennsylvania, then tn
chairman Of the Judiciary Committee, for hi
prompt and resolute action on that occasion.
We submit these remarks, beause the Kansa
and Nebraska discussion has directed the publ
attention more particularly to the compromis
measures of 1850, and because many of OF
exchanges seem to have a very dim and in
perfect idea of the real paternity of thos
measures. It is true that Mr.. Clay lahore
with infinite zeal, unfinching courage, an
tremendous ability, to heal the bleeding wount
which afflicted the country. 1t is true th,
Mr.. Webster taxed to the uttermost the r
sources Of his sfupendous intellect to sustai
the compromise of 1850. The statesman
Kentucky and the statesman of Massachuset
have gone to the grave, honored by all honor,
bic men and mourned by every America
whose grief is a fitting and worthy tribut,
What we have written was dictated by no d.
sire to diminish the claim which Clay an
Webster, dead though they be, have to tn
respect and admiration Of the country. IF sue
an ignoble purpose could move us, we kno,
that we have not the strength to execute il
We only wish to vindicate history and to CO,
rect misapprehensions. That is all.
nrARREU