Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-10-06
From the Free Soil Courier.
Position Of Parties.

have heretofore chiefly divided it is certain
ly singular one. The machinery Of each,
operating through the system of National
Conventions, has forced upon the party a
leader confessedly obnoxious to large por-
tons Of its voters, and that on grounds The
most satisfactory and conclusive. 1t IS far
from being in either case matter Ofperson-
al antipathy, since towards one at least
many people feel sentiments of respect for
his skill and proves in military life. On
the contrary, the opposition Of both arises
from profound conviction that they either
were placed by the accident OF birth and as
ISOLATION, or have voluntarily assumed po-
sitions in relation to the great truths OF free
dom and mans equality, far behind the
spirit of the time, and totally at variance
with the doctrine which underlie all our de-
larations and constitutions. That the force
of habit, and the almost inappeasable pref
udices growing out Of long continued partl-
san warfare, should operate extensively to
preserve existing organizations, and so rem
der difficult any attempt TO organize anew,
on grounds distinct from and necessarily an
tagonistic to the old parties, is matter not
to be wondered at. Tie spirit in which
party strife is usually conducted, is any
thing but conductive to such a temper OF
mind as will predispose its posscssor to
candid hearing of opposing opinions, or
even to the liberation OF them. Party men
are pretty distinctly informed that III order
to he such, ellectualy, they must set out
with the presumption that all opponents are
unprncipled false, selfish and depraved
and are therefore to he watched, like mid
night robbers All their professions of pa
trloism are to be referred to desire 10
cheat the people into the support OF bad
measures, for the benefit of the cheaters.-
If they dlscIaim the bad motives assigned
to them, his is but proof of the lmpudent
chrontery with which vice is capable OF de-
nving the most self evident truths; and, IN
short, whatever they do in politics. is sure
- he characterized by the base hypocrisy,
the Machlavelan intrigue, and the revolt
mo seishness, which in most cases even
their worst enemies, would shrink from
laying at their door in private life.
1t is evident enough that changes,no mat
ter how just and salutary, which are sou ght
to he effected by the fusion ofelemcnis thus
strangely liscordant, must necessarily be
slow. 1t takes some time for most men to
he brought to see that ideas which they re-
alv supposed To he true and important, are
only trllmg and uniounded PreludIces-
And in proportion as prejudice is the basis
of union, a separation becomes more dlill>
cult and painful. Men united merely Tor
sound aud true reason, ceases to exist, nut
there seems to be mutual attraction be-
tween those who look upon each other as
the defenders of faith rendered dear from
habit and association, but Tor which no ad-
euuate defence can be made out
Here is the reason why the Democratic
and Wing parties still labor To preserve
their organizations, although they are both
so situated by the operation of their own
conventions, that neither has chance To
contend for any distinctive measure, or tn
make show of fighting for anything more
than 4 naked party triumph.
third party based on an lmperishaoIe
idea, and commenting itself 10 the heart
and conscience of the whole nauon' has
suddenly appeared as a disturbing force in
the movements OF parties. II has united
the masses who were disailected and dis
rusted hy the surrender OF candidates and
principles on the part of the two great par
ties with the noble band of true hearted men
who have so long and so mantuliy contend
ed against the tide of prejudice and wrong
and II now presents its principles ana lis
candidates to the nation, freely challenging
scrutiny of both, as regards their eminent
fitness to meet the present emergency. Ii
the two great parties had been contendlng
for great principles, under the lead ot men
who truly represented them, the new party
in spite of its strong claims on the people,
would find but little encouragement seek T.
lug To break the serried ranks Of the old par
ties. Their par,sans would find abund-
ant excuse in the importance oil the primer
pies of governmental policy involved Tor
spurninr the doctrines Of those, many OF
whom they had been taught to look upon
in politics as their natural enemies.
But now no such state of things exists.
The masses, more or less convinced that Inc
strife between the parties represented by
CaSS and Butler on one side, and Taylor
and Fillmore on the other, is a mere partI-
san struggle 10 sec which of these parties
of worthless shall be placed in seats OF pow
tIy anu NlSlGHSG ldNolS w P"""''"S~ w
their followers, and having no particular m
tcIest themselves in the settlement OF the
important question, are everywhere avail
ing themselves of every opportunity 10
learn the exact state of the issues said to be
involved, and are rapidly making up their
minds in accordance with what we have
stated above, that nothing is presented IN
the objects of either, the Taylor party or the
Cass party, which is worth their attention
oratall commensurate wItl the mighty ques-
ton which the Free Soil party has beenor-
ganzed TO meet and determine. To this
conviction of the people, the old parties
have nothing but mere prejudice 10 oppose.
Appeals TO principle they cannot and do
rot make. There are no principles 10 APP
peal to. All the old issues have been sweep,
under the current of supposed availability
and now the strife has become merely a
contest for the loaves and fishes, and the
more desperate the more unworthy Its OBJ
ject.
Accordingly the whole force Of both par
ties is turned by common consent iTom the