Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-02-22
Affairs at Washington.

AMONG other things from the Federal City, we have
laltery received the speech Of Senator DOUGLASS on
the question Of supcrseding the " Missouri Compro'
mise 1t is clear, manly and decidedly merlt"rlous
effort With no pre,ensions to ornament, 1t is direct
and pertinent throughout.
He proposes TO supersede The " Missouri Compro.
mise by which, in 1920 Congress assumed 10 rsS
portion Of our territory lying above the line of 36' 3O
North Latitude. This was the boundary our North
ern masters then prescribed TO us. 1t was intended to
debar US entrance into the territory acquired from
France, except below that line. And when We &C.
qured territory from Mexico, which was rich and
valuable JeloD that ne they refused to give us equal
privileges of emigration 10 extend the same line
West 10 the Pacific. So again, in 1888, Compro-
mise was made, reducing the Tariff for protection in
certain proportions every two years. until nt The end
of decade we to be blessed with Free Trade or
ad-valorem 20 per cent dutes equal on all things
We submitted TO Protection ten years with the pledge
that our rights TO be respected at the end of that
time Northern interests took the benefit Of the frs,
nine years, and befure the terth had expired, new
Tariff was passed more odions in its protective ea-
lures than any previous one. Our opponents reaPed all
the benefits Of the Compromise and then deliberately
fused comply with their part of the agreement And
now, when they have taken Southern California
enough for three large States, below 36' 3Olhey offer
to open New Mexico and Utah, where slave property
would be comparatively valucless. They have taken
to themselves Ehe meat and left the naked bone for
comforts sake. Glorious brotherhood Of freemen
And yet to so into ecstatic raptures when our
masters toss us this bone.
Let il not be imagined from the course OF these OBJ
servations that we in anywise captious or would
be even utterly unthankf ful for the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise. But its history and present repeal
(shoud it be ccprumnated) exhibit very morIifying
stale Of things to tie Southern people, if viewed in
particular aspect. We can no longer appeal to the
Constitution as our safeguard. Its authority is no
longer what intended to become by its trainers.
The real Constitution of the Union is hereafter, fear
the power of the North and the power of the South
A compromise between the two makes the Constitu.
tion. Since 1920 we have lived under no other; and
here in 1851, after the lapse Of more than 30 years-be
powerful party having ridden recklessly rights
upholdng or setting aside the MissourT Compromise at
their pcasure-they seem ready to come forward and
declare tina, it was all unconstitutional and must be
repealed When it is thus clearly demonstratcd-ycs,
and openly ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the States have no
longer the power to enforce their original rights it is
indeed time to stare the fact in The face we'll
may that the States are beneath the feet of central
power which, like the Roman Government, will look
TO them in future only for purposes Of Central asgran
disement. Every four years. the Imperial purple is to
be up and bid for. We to receive baubIe and
in return, to pay for gliding throne.
In the mean time, Minister to Mexico, Mr.. |
GADsDEN, has submitted Treaty negotiation by
which we may acquire extensive and fertile territory
and, if ratified, this will give an opening for the
emigration Of shareholders, and will pave the way
for the formation of Sarestates the tendency Of
all which will be to restore the balance of power lost
by the admission of California and the sale of part of
Texas In addition to this development, another may
be unfoIed soon in the direction Of Cuba. The affairs
Of that important island growing continually more
critical and may not be long before this country
will be called upon by every motive of security to in
corporate the Queen of the Antilles among the Stars
of the Union.
When new States are to be admitted from territory
acquired by the GApsDEs treaty, or elsa should Cuba
be properly presented, we will then ,uho ourriends
are Until then, We must be excused from going into
ecstaces the abstract remuneration of gross
We cannot kindle in our heart fancied ren-
zy Of delight on the occasion, ring forth aduaory
graulations for chance at the salt plains and frozen
hills of Utah and New Mexico.
Upon every fresh array of facts tending display the
nferiority assigned the South in this siserhood of
States, feel that our section has been wronged and
lseply wronged and we cannot we'll repress the feel
ngs thereby aroused. 1t may useless it may be some
what eaptious; but we cannot join in swelling an.
thems of praise until we see the final issue CT all this
parade of Constitutional reform.
As for this political aspirant or the other, at WASH
Rgton, feel but little sympathy. According to
heir merits and claims, their independence and CON-
is.ency, shall we weigh them !