The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-28
The Compromise Committees of 1850
and 1860.

Settllng Inc Dltter SecLlOnal disputes vi luae
day, which had their origin mainly in the
disposition of the territory acquired from
Mexico. Early in February, 1850, Mr..
CLAY proposed series of resolutions, eight
in number, each one of which was framed to
meet some particular grievance complained
of by the North or South. On the 18th of
April, by resolution offered by MIR. FooTE,
the famous Committee of Thirteen was
raised. This Committee consisted of the
following Senators, elected by ballot: CLAY
of Kentucky, Chairman; CAss of Michigas,
DICKINSON of New York, BRIGHT of In
diana, WEBSTER of Massachusetts, PHELPS
of Vermont, COOPER of Pennsylvania, KING
of Alabama, MASON of Virginia, Downs of
Louisiana, MANGUM of North Carolina,
BELL of Tennessee, and BERRIEN OF Geor-
gia. On the 9th of May, 1850, Mr.. CLAY
presented his plan of compromise, agreed
upon by the Committee, which embraced
propositions for Territorial governments for
New Mexico and Utah, without the Wilmot
Proviso; Fugitive slave law; abolition of
the slave trade In the District of Columbia;
the Texas Boundary BILL and the admission
of California. After eight months debate,
separate bills were passed by both Houses in
disconnected shape, embodying the mea
sures recommended. Of the Senators now
in Congress, the compromise was warmly
supported by DOUGLAS and BRIGHT, and op-
posed by HALE, SEWARD, JEFF. DAVIS, and
HAML1N. CAss, WEBSTER, CLAY, DICKlN-
SON, and other Senators also warmly sup
ported it. Some of the extreme Southern
States felt aggrieved at the Compromise
measures, particularly the admission of Cal
ifornia and the abolition of the slave trade
in the District of Columbia but the Union
men of the South rallied in their support,
and in every Southern State except South
Carolina the opponents of the Compromise
were badly beaten. In Georgia, HOWELL
COBB, BOW an avowed disunionist, was
elected Governor by the Union men, by
10000 majority and in Mississippi, JEFF.
DAVIS was defeated for the same Office by
HENRY S. FooTE, his colleague in the Sem
ate, and a leading supporter of the Compro-
mise. In 1852, so strongly had the legisla-
tion of 1850 grown in public favor, that
the Democratic and Wing parties endorsed
those measures in their National Conven.
tions and the only party in the Presiden-
tial contest of that year, who took ground
against them, was the Free.Soilers, with
JOHN P. HALE as their candidate for Presi
dent. Over three millions of votes were
polled at the election, and HALE, represent
ing the Northern opponents of the Compro-
mise, received but 155 900 votes. The
Southern extremists were so badly beaten
in 195O-'5l, they did not rally again in
1852.
Following the example of the states
men who initiated and carried through the
compromise measures of 1850, the U. S.
Senate has once more raised a committee
OF thirteen, under the following resolution
offered by Senator POWELL, of Kentucky ::
RESOLVED, That so much of the Presidents
message as relates to the present agitated and
distracted condition of the country, and the
grievances between the slavehOlding and non.
slavehOlding States, be referred to a special
committee of thirteen members; and that said
committee be instructed to inquire into the
present condition of the country, and report
by bill or otherwise.
The Vice President has appointed as this
Committee. the following Senators:
LAZARUS w. POWELL, of Kentucky,
Chairman. Mr.. POWELL has been Gov
ernor of Kentucky; member of the House;
was appointed Commissioner to Utah, to
settle with BRIGHAM You've; and is now
serving his second year in the Senate. He
is opposed to secession, and honestly desir-
GUS OF bringing about settlement.
R. NJ. T. HUNTER, of Virginia. Is serv-
ing his third term in the Senate. Is OPP
posed to coercion, and is supposed to SYM.
pathise with the secessionists. In the event
of the secession of the Cotton States, he
has already advised Virginia to join with
them. A statesman of great ability and an
honest man.
JOHN j. CR1rrENDEN, of Kentucky. Is
now and always has been conservative.
He possesses more than any Southern
statesman, if we except STEPHENS, the con-
fidence and respect of the people of the
North. BE has proposed at this session,
an amendment to the Constitution, the
prominent feature of which is to restore the
Missouri Compromise, and extend it to the
Pacfic-legalizing slavery South and pro.
hibiting it North of this line. We believe
this proposition is more likely to receive
the favorable consideration of the Commit.
tee and Congress, than any yet made. It