The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-20

Nos
While the Omnibus Bill was still under de-
hate in the Senate, President Taylor died, on
the 9Th of July, 1913. All uncertainty was at
an end respecting the policy of the new Admin
istralon, when, after a few days, Cabinet was
selected. and Mr.. Webster took the reins of
Government in Mr.. Vice President Fillmore's
name. Not only was the old Ordnance Of 'S7
abandoned-that had been abandoned IN the
preyious February, and was not to he revived
the aon-iaterceRtion policy, first of General
Cass, then of President Taylor, was abandoned
also. And the thorough, root-and-branch Slave
Power policy of Mr.. Webster's recent adhesion
was installed in the high places OF the White
House and the Departments.
The Omnibus Bill failed. It's theory had
been. that objections on the part of this or that
interest to one or another Of its provisions
would be overcome by desire to advance some
other object among those proposed; and that
thas, by combining a variety of measures in
one enactment, votes might be secured for the
whole which would be withheld from the parts.
The result of a discussion protracted till near
the end of summer showed this to be mista-
ken calculation. For opposite reasons, num-
Der Of Senators sufficient to defeat the measure
found themselves dissatisfied with it as whole;
aud successive votes in that branch stripped it,
one after another, of all its fair proportions,
ill, on the lst of August, it went down to the
House, where it was received with peals of
laughter, as "An Act to provide for the Terri
tOrial Government of Utah."
But as far as possible was the intelligent
Power that governs us from having been baf-
fed. The course of the long debate had only
pointed out its way to the attainment of its
end. Four days after, Mr.. Pearce, of Mary
land, introduced his "Bil proposing to the
State of Texas the establishment of her north
ern and western boundaries, the relinquish-
ment by said State of all territory claimed by
her exterior TO said boundaries, and of all her
claim upon the United States :" by which bill
seventy or eighty thousand square miles of ter
rtory belonging to New Mexico, and as yet to
Freedom, were ceded outright to Texas and
Slavery, and ten millions Of dollars were given
u Texas for abandoning the rest Of her impu-
dent claim. Here was the place where dis
cerning people, alike friends and foes to the
measures in progress, well understood that a
stand WAS to be made, if anywhere. Here it
was accordingly that the stand actually was
made presently after in the House. But the
defeat Of the pending measures was not in the
pfog'daime of tho opposition in the Senate
Just enough New England Wings voted for
the Texas Boundary Bill to carry it. If Mr..
Winthrop, Of Massachusetts, lately appointed
10y Governor Briggs to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by Mr.. Webster's resignation, and Mr..
Davis his colleague, and Mr.. Smith, lately his
Chairman Of the House Committee on Foreign
Relations, and Mr.. Phelps, of Vermont, and
The two Rhode Island Senators, had gone
against the bill, instead of going for it, as they
did, it would have been defeated, and the man
ayers would have had to stop where they we're,
or begin again. 1t was Of no consequence that
four Of those gentlemen, a fortnight later, re-
corded their names against the Fugitive Slave
Bill II they intended to maintain the inner
works, they should have defended the outpost.
From the time of the passage of the Texas
Boundary Bill, the Slave Power and its tool,
Mr. FillmOre's Administrator, had a free course
before them. 1t was f3iIowed, in due time, by
bills giving Territorial Governments, without the
Ordinance. to New Mexico and Utah, and by
the horrible Fugitive Slave Bill. California
which I'D presented itself with a free State
Constitution, was of course admitted - that
ttere was no he p for; the prolonged resistance
10 its admission had been only game to ex.
tort the highest terms and a very thin coat OF
sugar was put around the fatal pill, in the shape
an act-not at all TO abolish Slavery in the Dis
trict-uot at all to abolish the slave trade in
the District, but to forbid bringing slaves into
The district az merchandise, and TO authorize
the sities of Washington and Georgetown tc
br'Ak up jails used for the confinement o.
saves brought into them with that view The
save markets for strangers were thrust across
The city line, the distance of pleasant walk.
The House made as short work with the
business as circumstances permitted. 1t got
through the whole in nine days. The longest
ana the test struggle, was on the Texas Bound
airy Blll. Three days was that measure oil
dreadful significance, and still more dreadful
Angufy, contested with skilful and vigorous de.
termination, by a band of patriotic men, who
ior while were able'to keep a sufficient mum.
DER OF their associates up to their work On
the 4th OF September, 1t was refused passage
20 third reading, by vote of l26 to 80. The
next morning, q reconsideration prevailed by a
vote OF l3l to rs. Again, on that day a third
reading was refused by i07 yeas to 80 nays
Here according to all parliamentary rules, was
al end to the question for a second motion tt
reconsider cannot be entertained and 1t seem
20 as If Almighty Goodness had stricken dowr
Tue adversary at the height of his insolent hope
aud that universal Hallelujah might go ny
uon the free and generous of all lands.
but motion for & second reconsideration
was made. The Speaker, Southern slavehold
es as he was, could do no otherwise than to de
care 1t out of order. But the House, on ap
peal, overruled the decision by vote of l23 t.
o. and then, under the pressure of the pre-
o'O"S question, moved by member from Tex
AZ who had hitherto protested to be in opposi
aon' passed the bill by los votes to 81. Tha
noar' Texas scrip rose from almost nothing t,
PA, so that piece of paper, scarcely wortl
aeeping, with the figure one and three cipher
inscribed upon it, became worth Thousand
polars IN gold and silver coin. How mucl
~ofk Texan scrip did in those three importan
nights, who knows but God and guilty men?
The rest of the budget of measures wer
SSI1opted, almost as of course. On the Fugitiv
pave Bill only one speech was made, and tina
an advocate, Mr.. Thompson, of Pennsylya
a n.a' who concluded by moving the prerio,t
a so;S Without the bill having been com
hnued, or even printed, the motion PREVAILS
~ So vote OF 81 to SO, and the bill was passes
iV9 to 10. The mission Of the Yhirty-Grs
SOngfess was accomplished. 1t transacted it
). ' ina business and adjourned its first session