, 1856-01-04
From the Placer Times and Transcript, Dec 18th.
The Slavery Agitation and California.

from the Placer Times and Transcript, Dec. ith
The Slavery Agitation and California.
Each succeeding mail from the Atlantic
states brings us information of increased
perplexity in the political affairs of our sis
ter states The chaotic elements incident
upon the downfall Of the wing party and
the rise of Know Nothingism have not yet
assumed such decided shape as to war
rant the prediction of any general or deGn-
tive issue in the coming Presidential cam
paign, other than that which will be franz
ed upon the construction Of the constitu-
tion with respect TO the power of congress
over the subject of slavery. There is rea-
sou at present to believe that other ques-
tions of internal policy will be made subor-
dinate 10 this and that it will Le the point
around which parties, partizans and patri-
OTIS, will all rally. There is but one senti-
mcnt entertained by the abolitionists with
respect to the institution of slavery, which
is that its extension, whether desired by
the people of the territories or not, must
be prevented by law Of congress, and
that, il the southern states refuse to acqui-
esce in such policy, they shall be permit
ted or rather invited to Withdraw from the
confederacy. The tone of their speeches
is such, as to warrant this Inference. The
tactics which they have thus far adopted
leave no doubt MS to the sincerity of their
intentions. Southern politicians and South
ern people count the issue, fraught though
it be with danger to the Union and de-
struction to the federal constitution. The
battle must be fought sooner or later
One or the other of these interests of
country NQnd government, now common to
all, mnst he sacrificed, or one or the other
of their advocates must retire from the
strife before peace can be secured or the
ancient fellowship Of citizens restored The
events Of last quarter Of n century or
more, have been Fastening to this end.--
At two distinct periods of our history,
when this Issue. with oil its incident, was
fairly presented to congress- compromises
have beeu proposed, to which the most ra-
tional men from oil sections of the confede-
racy yielded their assent, under the belief
that they would constitute q final settle
ment of the vcxed question and afford re-
pose to the country. But their mistake
has proved to be as great as their antici-
pations were happy. Their work was un-
wrought almost as soon as they rested from
it, at least unwrought so far as the dis
caimer of one Of the contracting parties
could do so; and now the same iss NC which
has been thus twice or thrice compromised
is sought 10 be forced again upon the peo-
pie. Fanatics, moved by factious ardor,
and good men, animated by the most con-
sentative patriotism, may perhaps meet
again in congress to wrangle themselves in
TO enmity, and the country, Wild with cx-
citement, by protracted quarels over Afri-
can slavery whilst our foreign policy con-
trolled by our home disturbances may be
allowed to degenerate into system of has
ty demands and speedy retraction, and our
domestic interests remain wholly unprovid-
ed for. II the issue shall be made again,
it is to he hoped that it will be the last
time. We believe that the ideas upon
which it is predicated have been too firmly
Incorporated in the national mind, ever to
be reliuquished until n decisive blow is
struck somewhere. Organized agitation
must cease, the guarantees Of the constitu-
ton must be preserved, slavery must be
left 10 work out its own downfall by the
growth Of an adverse popular sentiment, or
another government or series Of govern
ments must be framed upon the ruins Of
the present These are the alternatives
and there is no doubt but that the black
republican movement, now headed by ST.
ward, Wilson and their supporters, will
sooner or later force the country to adopt
one of them. To the people Of California
it is of great interest that the slavery issue
should have speedy termination. nWe
have no immediate interest whatever Pin
the controversy. Slavery and involuntary
scrvitude of every kind except for the pun
ishment of crime, has been repudiated in
our constitution and in no event can it be
fastened upon US; but while the representa-
tives Of other states engross the whole 0t-
tention of congress by efforts 10 extend or
abolish it, our local interests will he neg
lected. Our isolated position in the con-
federacy demands more than ordinary at
tention from the general government, but
We eau never receive it so long as section
al agitation rules in congress and through
out the Atlantic states. Whilst the sub
ject of slavery engrosses the public ntten-
ton, there is no hope of directing it to the
necessity of building the Pacific railroad,
or providing such docks, arsenals and
means of defence as are necessary for the
protection of our harbor. 1t is to be hop
ed, therefore, by the people of California,
more than all others, that if the slavery
question be raised in the next congress, or
the succeeding one, it will be finally disposed
of one way or the other.
-A,uD.s-