The national Republican., 1861-03-05
THE NEW GUARANTY,

The Senate has concurred with the House,
by the necessary two thirds, in passing reso.
luton proposing to the States, such an amend.
ment to the Constitution as will make it i'm.
possible to change it hereafter, except by the
assent Of all the States, SO as to give to the
Federal Government the right to interfere, in
any way, with slavery in the States. No such
right exists now, and it has been uniformly dis
claimed by all parties and sections. The most
recent disclaimer was made in the House this
wipter by vote absolutely unanimous. But
inasmucks as the right might be acquired by
an amendment of the Constitution whenever
three fourths of the States desired it, and mas.
much as it has become possible that the slave
States adhering to the UnionImay be reduced
to fourth Of the whole''number, or even less,
a new guaranty for them, to meet new condi.
ton Of things, has been asked, and so far as
Congress is concerned, has been granted. This
new guaranty must receive its final confrma-
ton from the States, but such confirmation
cannot be doubtful, if the free States see rea
son to believe that by confirming it, the sppre
hensious of the border slave States will be al
layed and their national loyalty strengthened.
This is really all that is needed in the way of
new guarantees, and all that would have been
thought Of by the people Of the non.seceding
slave States, if unfounded expectations had
not been excited among them by politicians.
The territorial question has been manufactured
here. 1t did not arise, either in the course of
events, or from any popular movement. The
records show that only a few months ago, the
whole body of the Democratic Senators, with
unimportant exceptions, voted for resolutions
declaring that there was nothing in the condi.
ton of the Territories, requiring new legisla.
tion in respect to slavery, and if that was true
eight months ago, it is true now. The status
OF the Territories, 80 far as Congress is con.
cerned, is precisely as it was settled upon the
demand of the South, by Mr.. Clsys compro.
mise measures of 1850. That status the North
do not propose to disturb, nor would the South
have desired to disturb it, but for the instiga.
tion of shortsighted politicians, who discov.
cred that the only way to preserve the Union,
and restore harmony, was to revive an obsolete
and useless quarrel. The South have nothing
to gain by disturbing it, as there is no terri.
tory into which they can possibly introduce
slavery.
Thus, then, as the new guaranty now &C.
corded by Congress, SO far as Congress has the
power to accord it, meets all the real wants and
real wishes of the South, it is not to be doubted
that it will satisfy everybody except the seces-
sionists per Sc. The friends of the Union in
the slave States, should not hesitate moment,
in taking the ground, that everything has been
obtained here, which was really needed for the
protection Of slavery as a domestic institution
This is good ground to stand upon, and to fight
the secessionists upon. The only basis upon
which they could predicate appeals to the ap.
prehensions of the South, is taken away. If
the Union is to be broken up, it cannot be be.
cause slavery is not as safe within it, as it has
been for the past seventy.two years. If new
possibility of danger has been evolved by
events, it has been met by new guaranty
adequate to the danger conclusively and at all
points.
TRIAs-Further details of the affair at San
Antonio are received, but we notice nothing
of interest, except that body Of two hun.
dred Knights of the Golden Circle, formed
within the town, Joined Ben McCullough's ran.
gers, in demanding possession of the United
States property.
The following is the order issued by General
Twiggs after the surrender:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS,
San AntOnio, Fe6 l6, 1861.
The State ofTexas having demanded, through
its Commissioners, the delivery of the military
posts and public property within the limits of
this command, and the Commanding General
desiring to avoid even the possibility of col.
lisio0 between the Federal and State troops,
the posts will be evacuated by their garrisons,
and these viii take up a. soon as the necessary
preparations can be made, the )jne of march