The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-16

THURSDAY MORNING, NOV. 10, isls.
The Duty Of the Democratic Party.

democratic party is 10 stand before the administration
General Taylor in an unusual, if not unprece
dented position. II is clear that he has received Il
many States large democratic vote, to which in con
siderable degree in the doubtful States. he is indebted TO
his election Its equally clear that in many States, and
some which he has carried very large wing vote ha'
been withheld from him-and withheld on the expires
ground that he unfit 10 receive IT, 1t is equally cleai
that Mr. Webster has said, in as short, and sharp an
singing sentence he could irame that General Tay
or's nomination nomination not bi TO be made
1t is certain that the Taylor prints charge without con
tradction Mr. Clay with having written recent prl-
vate letter. denouncing the selection OF General Taylor
as degradation of the wing party" and 1t is added
that Mr. Clay on the day of the election, did not GO
TO the polls 1t is unquestonabe that Genera
TAYLOR has not avowed himself in favor of a singl,
ehfg neasue-that the wings of the North, almost 10
man. fear that he is unsound upon the great question Of
the Provso-and that very many of his earliest and mos
influential friends ihe Taylor proper most zeal
ously reminding him that eminent wing leaders have
done all they could keep him down; that he came frs
into the only upon grounds not PARTISAN bu
upon grounds and pledges directly opposed 10 all partisan
ship and that therefore he is not wing President but
Taylor President and belongs not TO the wings or 10 the
democrats, but TO the Taylor 1t is likewise unde
nable that the old ultra oftdefeated whigs-the bank
men and the black tariff men--the Clay men and the
Webster men-are. notwithstanding all this, sraining
every nerve to get possession of him. control his ad
minstraon while it lasts; to select his officers for him.
and long to dash his power and his party to pieces
as the wings of 1910 dashed to pieces the YET
brstng breakers of an ultra true blue wing policy.
1t is possible that Gen Taylor may escape this last
Ia. hoIa q
us very great and imminent We fear that he will come
Washington with no political experience and, it is
reasonable to suppose therefore with but small political
information He will find waiting for him here the old
wing managers and leaders who have ruled ths>whig
party for years 1t will require great decision and great
judgment for him to escape their clutches. His few first
steps-if taken in wrong drection-will settle the mat
ter fatally against him. If, on the other hand, he shall
from the first plant himself firmly on the independent
ground which he first stood before the nation then all
the engnery of force and fraud of terror and caoley will
be set in action at once him from his position
quarrel with the other section of his supporters
will probably be before him. and scarcely be escaped
This intestine feud OF wings may not mprobably be
still farther complicated and embttered by savage strife
on the question of slavery between the wings of the
North and of the South Now neither of these sections
neither the ultra wings the Taylor proper-w be
strong enough to sustain him snge handed either in Con-
gess before the country The ultra whg secton-tha,
is far the most and best organized portion Of
their partycan make terms with anybody and, true
to their old instincts and unmndful of their old dsas
ters will be all ready fight their old battle over again.
and of course to lose it heretofore. With the mode
rate Taylor it is not yet quite Their course and
their destiny involving the destiny of their leader, YET
in their hands By their acts they must be judged
Let the democracy watch their behavior. Let the de-
mocracy watch them for the present certainly with more
of msgiving than of hope Let the democracy, while it
so watches hem hold on TO its organization with grasp
which temporary disaster only tighten, and ceave to
its party principles in their entreness and their sctness
the only sheet anchor by which they hope to ride
out the storm. By the most jealous maintenance of our
principles and the most vigorous observance of par
y organization, alone make ourselves felt and
respected, party, in the slippery times which are
surely to come!
Meantime, with the motley array of the elements
OF opposition which have triumphed in this election
rests the work of governing the country. Let them
try their hand If they begin the ultra wing plan
nay any plan that properly be called whig-
their day is short They find already before them
whole structure of policy 1t is built upon an inte
gble plan. 1t is squared upon great fundamental prnc
pies The country has its working and is to see
and to think over its working more and more Let the
wings pull it down if they think best Let them thus
make themselves the "archtects of ruin" 1t will be
for the democratic party to subject the substitute which
they may propose 10 a careful examina,ionan exami-
nation always to be conducted in the light of their own
well-tesed and we-settled principles of public policy
IT, as we fear, the policy of General Taylors admnstra
ton shall, upon such an examination, be found wanting
them he well knows, the democratic party-includnr
those democrats who have given him their votes
will rally, man. to pluck him down from his place
power In that event the wing party even if united,
could not sustain him, Divided it must be- he will
find, in leaning upon it, that he leans upon broken
reed
Among other signs of the times we mark the follow.
ing passage in recent speech of Mr. Senator CLAYTON
of the abes and most efficient of General Taylors
supporters. Mr. Clayton may be ready TO be uhig I'M
der the regime. but he certainly anxious not to
He has already devised neu name for his
party Will he strive to make il new thing as well
So far words go, his standard good one He pro-
esses to adopt the Jeersonian platform of 1901 Will
he spoil his text by wing commentary 1t is at least
sane to suppose so, until we the contrary II rumor
(and very reasonable rumor be not in fault Mr. Claw
toms voice will be heard among the foremost at the cab
net council-board of the administration
We on the of revolution in the politics of the
mpht partv ia tia