Washington telegraph., 1849-07-25
s.HoNEsrY Is aHr BEST POLICY !"

banner" of the 10Th inst, congratulatory
of the subsidence of the schism in the
ranks of the Northern Democracy. The
Banner is pleased to see that the-issue
is about to be made up between Democ.
racy and Whiggery on the Slavery ques-
ton. Many of it's friends in New York
and elsewhere. it remarks apologetically,
"inaamed and excited by the incendiary
efforts of designing fanatics, were induced
during the heat of the contest last year,
to believe that the Wilmot Proviso would
be only matter Of dispute between the
North and the South, irrespective of party
Recent developments, it says, have re-
vealed to them Gts friends) its real posi-
ton, and the principles acknowledged and
promulgated by the Democratic party
upon this subject. are now universally
subscribed to by the Democracy both
North and South. We most cheerfully
subscribe to the caption of the Banners
article, but the substance does not tally
with the caption, and for this reason we
purpose giving it passing examination.
First, then, in regard to the issue.-
From this the Wings have nothing to fear.
We would deprecate and avert the agita-
ton of any question that might have
tendency to weaken the bonds that bind
together the sovereign States of this glo-
rious Union. We prefer the Union as it
stands to any sectional division of it, and
yet we would not passiveiy submit to
fragrant violation of our constitutional
rights as member of the cpnfederacy.
We must confess that WE cannot fully
comprehend the sentence il regard to the
Wilmot Proviso, being onY matter OF
dispute between the North and the South,
irrespective Of party, but the fault, we
are free to admit, may be il the dullness
of our mental vision. The history of the
last canvass shows that there was wide
difference on the Wilmot Proviso ques.
ton, but it was not mere difference be-
tween the North and Sou.h, neither was
it irrespective of party. There was a
difference division, in one of the politi-
cal parties of the countryon :his question
That division occurred in the ranks Of the
Northern Democracy; there was no split
in the Democracy South, neither did it
create schism in the Whig party
True, some few fanatics in some OF the
non-slaveholding States left the Wing
ranks, and united with a portion of the
Democracy in the support of MIR. Van
Buren-a course which probably caused
the defeat of the Wings in Ohio, but in
the Whig party there was no split. The
Whig party, North or South, has never
taken grounds in favor of the Wilmot
Proviso. This cannot be said of the
Democratic party or of its late President,
who signed bill sanctioning the very
principle against which the South is con-
tending, and the Democratic press of the
South pretending to be vehemently bat
Ting Notwithstanding the author of
that missile, himself Democrat, publicly
recorded his declaration, sustained by
proof, that the President was in favor of
the measure, that act of the. President
was by the Democratic press, North and
South, defended and applauded as the
very quintessence of Democracy. The
fanatical portion of the Northern wing
were delighted that Southern President
should admit the principle for which they
contended, thereby giving them conf
dence in the business of their cause, and
the Southern wing appeared to be equal
ly as we'll pleased that the matter was no
worse. 1t was only yielding principle
He was compelled to sign the bill, said
they, or Oregon would remain without a
government. 1t was sound doctrine Gust
at that particular juncture) to yield the
principle to obtain government for
Oregon, but it would have been treason
most dire, to have done the same thing
for California. When principle is con-
tended FOR, it should not be yielded unless
erroneous and not founded in justice, or
by compromises mutual agreement be-
tween contending parties in which each
is willing to make partial sacrifice, for
the peace. the safety and honor of our
common country.
But, says our contemporary, "the prin-
ciples of the democratic party on this
subject are mos0 universally subscribed to
bv the Zena0cr1cu both North ami South