The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-05
SOMETHING FOR THE COMPROMISES.

1t is well known fact, from one end of the
country to the other, that the notorious English
bill would not have passed the House of Rep.
resentatives but for the desertion of dozen
previously Anti-Lecompton Democrats, who
turned Compromisers, and affected to see in
the bill way to reconcile themselves once
more with the Administration. Messrs. Cox,
Lawrence, and others, freely admitted that they
did not like the terms of the compromise, but,
for the sake of peace, and the Democratic
party, they would accept it as it stood. They
had doubtless had enough of life outside the
Democratic camp, and were glad for comfort
able excuse for returning to cover
The Hon. Eli Shorter, of Alabama, is one of
those Southern members usually denominsted
Fire. Eaters, and, after some scruples, he too
came over and joined hands with Cox, voting
for the compromise. Mr.. Shorter, upon his
return to his district, found some opposi-
ton in certain quarters to his vote, and at lis
head an obstinate editor, who will not be con-
WINGED that his Representative voted wisely
when he helped pass the English bill. There.
upon, Mr.. Shorter issues very long address to
his constituents, in which he defends his con.
duct, and says some things which our Northern
Compromises should hear.
The address opens with an array of imposing
names of Southern politicians who voted with
Mr.. Shorter for the Compromise. Having es-
tablshed the fact that he was in excellent com.
pany, the honorable gentleman proceeds to ius.
tify his vote by argument. He SAYS:
81 do not consider that the South has sacr;.
feed any important principle in the passage Of
the conference bill. If the task of drafting II
had been intrusted to me, am free to saw that
1 would have preferred its language in acme
respects different from what it is But under
the rules of the House, it could not be amended.
and we were forced to accept or reject it as a
whole. When, therefore, the entire Black Re
publican party denounced the bill as an ont.
rage and insult to the free North and the
Southern delegation, with an unanimity unpar-
alleled in the history of sectional controversies
In Congress, demanded its passage; and after
voting (from extreme caution) for seven days
with the Black Republicans, In COMPANY with
only four Southern members, to postpone the
final vote, In order to obtain time for invest;oa
tion and discussion, deemed it to be nv sol
emn duty to sacrifice whatever preiudices
may have entertained against the bill upon the
altar of united South 1 thought then, and
still think, that | did right. The bill itself
when properly understood, cannot be construed
as making any concession to the North. /,
embodles no compromise of the Slavery cues
ton, SO far as the South is concerned.n
This extract is mild, in comparison with par
agraPhs which follow. We subjoin few 81 eel
mems:
| BY the bill, the North has been compelled
to consent that thirty three thousand people b
Kansas may be admitted into the Union as
State with q Pro Slavery Constitution, while
they cannot be admitted as an Anti. Marer,
State until they number ninetythree thousanS
souls. The truth is; that Kansas was alread,
practically lost to the South as slave State.