The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-15
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH Is, is4o.


|
The political complexion of the thirty first Congress
has not as yet been determined It's character will de-
pend upon the members yet to be elected The duty of
the democratic party distinctly written in
letters Of light than it is at the present moment During
the last four years Its wise policy has been the polar star
of the government and IFS has equaed the most
sanguine expectations of its friends Yet nowithstand
lug the prosperity which reoces the country the people
have fit to elevate General Taylor to the presidential
chair There many circumstances which conspred
10 produce this result but may safely say that wish
10 alter the policy.of the government not among
them. General Taylor denied that he the exponent
of any party, welded any scheme of party policy
lie allowed himself to be represented at the North
friend of the Wilmot Provso and at the South its
envy. His election the result of a combination Of
extraordinary circumstances, and among the rest Of
the singular coalition between the southern slave
holder and the northern opponent to slavery, thus carry
ing along with them the fragments of every party and Of
every faction The President thus chosen has been in
augurated He has illustrated his no-partyism by calling
around him. as his constitutional advisers distn-
gushed for their hostility to the policy of the demo-
cratic party; and the signs of the times all produce
the apprehension that his administration will partake
of strictly federal character. There is scarcely any
reason hope that those great republican principles,
for which the democratic party has always contended
will escape the assault of the party now in power IL
the vague expressions of the inaugural have any mean
ing they announced that extensive system OF internal
improvements will be sustained by General Taylor, and
that the restrictive policy will be revived and restored
Already we see efforts made by the whg leaders and by
the whg press prepare the public mind TOR the desuc
ton of the revenue bill of 1916, and the restoration OF
the tariff act of 1912 In this situation OF AFFAIRS every
feeling of patriotism and OF duty demands that the demo-
cratic party should rally man around Its ancient
banner and strain every in defence OF lha nope
system OF public policy for which It has labored or more
than half century If it falters now, II 1t becomes
ukewarm or Indifferent their success, the abos oil the
past and the efforts OF its great apostles IN times mat
have gone by, lost to the country; the edhce which
has been reared with 80 much will be torn down,
and its foundation scattered to the winds.
General TAYLOR has announced, almost IN SO many
terms that all the questions OF domestic pohcy-emora-
cling, of course the bank, the tariff internal improve
ents the distribution of the proceeds OF the sales OF he
publc lands and the fate of slavery in the District OF
Columbia and the Territories of the United States
should be left implicitly Congress lie admits Also that
he will not exert the influence of his high position to
SWAY the purposes of Congress II he adheres to this
declaration he will have nothing to do with the leglsa-
ton Of the country but to sign the edlcs oil Congress-
and execute its will If he adheres to this position then
the political character OF that body becomes matter OF
the greatest importance and the democratic party, by
gaining the ascenaency in the halls OF legislation may
retrieve the disastrous defeat of last November, and
force the President to sign Its laws instead OF
those of federal enactment retract his own words
and retreat from the position which he has deliberately
assumed. We have already majority IN the Senate
The Hsuse of Representatives is then, allimportant
we gain the ascendency in that branch OF Congress
it may not only prevent mischief but may so shape the
legislation of the country to support and strengthen
the admirable policy of the late administration But even
i if we cannot obtain absolute majority OF the next
House of Representatives. the proper exerons Will Sc
cure SO large minority that the incongraous materials
of which the wing majority is composed may be unable
to carry through any project injurious to the interests OF
the country and OF the people, The democrats have
strong, common platform on which to stand They are
bound together by common principles. The wings, on
the other hand, have no common ground Their party IL
made up condicn interests 1t consists OF fragments
and represents every of political belief The desire
for power and the emolumens OF office, which bound
those fragments together in the late civil contest will
now prove source of bitterness and strife All cannot
be sustained from the public crib; and when the spoIs
are divided, those who 60 away empty handed may be-
come more or less dissatisfied with General Taylor, and
hostile TO his administration II cannot 10 any event, be
supposed that they stand together in one solid pha
anx and therefore, large democratic minority In the
next House of Representatives may expect to receive
almost every question which arise, most decided ad
vantages from wing dissensions These advantages may
many cases. be decisive in arrestng mschievous legis
laon We therefore most respectfully urge upon ouI
democratic friends everywhere the necessity of speedy
and effective organization. They may effect much BY
prompt and energetic action. Let them cast aside all per-
sonal differences and frown down all the efforts OF mere
personal ambition Let them bring forward their strong
est men, and keep their strength united The majority il
the Congress is not yet lost Eighty-nne members
are yet be elected and if the democratic party does liz
duty, has "scope and verge enough" to make up fol-
the wing majority of the number already elected Thu
House of Representatives of the thirty-rst Congress
will consist of two hundred and thirty.one members
Eighty wings and ifty-two democrats estimated 3D.
others have been elected which are SAID to be no
strictly belonging to either party; and among these in
i cluding with Others Holmes of Charleston On mos
great questions they will probably 90 with u.s. and thu
Atlas claims some as wings who may give Democrat
votes New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Mis-
sisspp Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana