The New York Herald Supports the Compromise of 1850

From The New York Herald, September 8, 1850

"Very Important News From Washington. Settlement of the Territorial Questions in Congress"

The House of Representatives, yesterday, followed up their good work of Friday, by passing, by a tremendous and overwhelming majority, the Senate bill admitting California as a separate and independent State of this confederacy, by a vote of 150 to 56, and also, the Senate bill provided a Territorial government for Utah, without the Wilmot proviso, by a vote of 97 to 85. Several amendments of an ultra character, were proposed to each of those bills, but they were rejected, after considerable debate, and the bills passed by handsome majorities. Thus, within the short space of two days, the House of Representatives have passed four of the most important measures connected with the slavery agitation, which grew out of the acquisition of new territory through the Mexican war, viz:--

The Utah bill,
The Texan Boundary bill.
The New Mexico Territorial bill.
The California bill,

--leaving, only the Fugitive Slave bill, and the bill for the abolition of slave traffic in the District of Columbia, to be disposed of, the former having been passed by the Senate, and the later being now under consideration in that body. ... The whole of this disagreeable subject will, therefore, be shortly wound up, and a quietus put to the ultras and fanatics of different sections of the Union, who have exerted themselves to the utmost to keep alive the slavery agitation, and maintain an estrangement of feeling between the Northern and the Southern States. The subject, therefore, which has caused so much disquietude and uneasiness to the friends of the Union everywhere, as well as to the admirers of our political institutions at home and abroad, is set at rest in a manner satisfactory to all, and no impediment now exists in the way of this republic pursuing the even tenor of its way, and arriving at that extraordinary and unlimited commercial and political greatness which destiny long since shadowed forth for it. . . .

Now that the danger which immediately threatened the perpetuity of the Union has been safely passed, and the public mind can reflect calmly on the escape which the country has had, the statement who nobly and patriotically threw aside all predilections and feelings, and stood together shoulder to shoulder, in restoring harmony in our public councils, as well as throughout the country, must not be overlooked. To the efforts of Messrs. Clay, Webster, Cass, Foote and Dickinson, supported by Mr. Hilliard and others in the House, in the country indebted for the adjustment of a question which, at one time, wore a dreadful and ominous aspect.... At this important juncture, those statemen stepped into the breach, and by their motal firmness and patriotism hushed the storm and calmed the waves of disunion. . . .

Now that the slavery agitation is settled, we have a word or two to say to Mr. Fillmore and his cabinet. The field is now clear for them, and they have every opportunity to conduct the government of the country in a manner that will add to its prosperity and reflect credit on themselves individually, and the party with which they are identified. To conduct it in that manner, he and his cabinet must carefully avoid all sectionism, all isolated ideas and disturbing principles, and identify themselves with nothing but broad, general and comprehensive legislation, having in view the well-being of the whole country--or our whole family of States--and not to that of a part, or of a single State or section of States.... At the present time the whig party are partially divided on the issue which a Seward and a Greeley have tacked to its tail. Those isms and fallacies must be avoided by the new administration, if Mr. Fillmore and his cabinet desire that they or the whig party shall remain in power. They have now an opportunity to disprove the charge so often made against them by their opponents, that the whigs, as a party, are incapable of managing, in a proper manner, the affairs of the country. By taking this course, the whigs may retain control of the government for an indefinite period; but as sure as they adopt a contrary policy, so sure will they tottle and fall. We need but refer to the past history of the whig party in confirmation of what we say. The game is in their hands, and on the manner in which they play it depends the success of the present administration and that of the whig party, for, perhaps, a quarter of a century to come. Within the recess of Congress Mr. Fillmore will have abundance of time to regulate his policy and lay his plans for the future.