Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-08-29
The House of Representatives.

We have not yet figured out the precise posi-
ton of the two political parties in the popular
branch of Congress, and we have som doubts
whether any absolutely certain calculation
could be made; for though nine-tenths of the
members elect are either wings or Locofocos,
there is a small squad of hybrid politicians
called Free Sellers, who, III themselves M
considerable, are numerous enough to hold the
balance Of power between the two parties,
which are nearly equal in numbers. AS COM
plete returns from Indiana and one or two other
States are yet wanting, it would be difficult to
ascertain the exact strength OF the wings In the
next House; but knowing as we do, that in
Tennessee we have lost one member, that In
Kentucky we have gained nothing, and that in
Indiana we have probably lost one or two Con-
gressmen, it may be reasonably presumed that
the wings will be unable to command a work
ing ma ority. Our opponents, however, will
have gained little by this result, for they will
be quite as far from having the ascendancy as
the wings. Nevertheless, the facility with
which Locofocoism cOalesces with the odds and
ends of factions may enable it to secure the
Speakership in Congress, for as it has already,
in the Northern States, nearly completely merg-
ed its identity with Abolitionism, even so may
it, upon the meeting of Congress, effect acorrupt
bargain with the dozon Free Sellers in the
House, and thus throw the wings into an abso-
lutte minority.
In acknowledging some regret at the failure
of the wings to obtain a ma ority in the House,
and thus to render certain a countercheck to
any %factious and improper legislation on the
part of adecidedly Locofoco Senate, we must
confess that we experience no very poignant
sensations of sorrow at the prospect. Had the
wings retained the control of the House, they
could, at the best, have exercised but a negative
power. Positive legislation was an IMPOSSIBLE
ty, so long as the Senate continued Locofoco;
and the wings would consequently have been
in some measure vested with a responsibility,
altogether disproportioned to their strength.
more perilous position for a party cannot well
be imagined, than to make it accountable for
acts which its sanction cannot secure, or its
hostility defeat. Now, at least the whig party
will be exempt from the trials and dangers OF
such an ordeal; while the opposition may be
compelled to come before the country with an
array of adopted by a Congress hostile
to the administration and upon the excellence
of which the people will be required to pro-
nounce. Let Locofocoism forward its batch Of
panaceas for the evils of the body politic-let
it retain its infamous Sub-Treasury system, un-
der which astounding robberies Of the public
treasury have been perpetrated-let it adhere
to every jot and title of its disjointed Tariff
act of lS49-let it refuse to cooperate with
the wings in the necessary and salutary re-
forms called for by the people, and it will then
have accumulated enough of tangible legislation
for the popular verdict. The judgement of the
masses is not to be feared, and the wing party
will be willing to abide it.
The loss of a wing House will, in another
point of view prove an advantage to the party.
Whatever abolition tenets may find favor with
the majority must be shouldereG by it. Should
a Locofoco Congress enact the Wilmot Proviso,
the South will know upon which party the re-
sponsibility must devolve. We shall soon be
enabled to learn practically the terms and con-
ditions of the recent compact between Locofo-
coism and Free Soilism; and the South, which
of late has seemed blindly impelled to affiliate
with a party that elsewhere is united by the
bond Of ferocious hostility to slavery,
will understand and deplore the fatuity that has
allied her with her direct foes.