The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-06

tutional rights of the South has grown with rapid
growth since the Presidential election of lS4S
We cannot see, and we have never been able to
see, how any man of ordinary understanding
should have failed to anticipate any other result
| the legitimate and necessary consequence OF the
election of the Philadelphia ticket. In the summer
of S4S it was as plain that the election of Zachary
Taylor and Willard Fillmore would be the heaviest
blow which southern interests received, as it
at the last session of Congress, il is at the
present session of Congress candidate was
brought forward for the highest Office within the
gift of the people, who, though southern man,
failed and refused to whisper word in favor Of
southern rights and southern interests, and who
willingly endorsed the political history OF Willard
Fillmore, the author of the letter to the Erie Abo-
litionists. Yet large portion OF the South gave
its jealous support to the Philadelphia nominations;
while another portion stood Indifferent, with their
arms folded and saw without sign OF dssatisfac-
ton northern man defeated who had been true
and faithful to the constitutional rights Of the
South, and whose election would never have been
doubtful, but for the hatred entertained for him by
those who cherish hostility to the institutions of the
South. - Washington Union.
| We utterly deny that General TAYLOR has
manifested the slightest ''hostility to the con
stitutionai rights of the South in any way !,
| or on any occasion, '.since the Presidential
| election Of lS4S," OF before that event. The
principle upon which his mode of adjustment
is founded-that is, that the people of Terri
| tory. in establishing constitution for their
government as State, have the right to es-
tabsh or to prohibit slavery as they may
pease--s principle as universally recognised
at the South as ii is at the North. 1t was ex-
pressly and formally recognised by Mr. CAL
HoUN, and the political leaders, who, with him
assumed to speak for the South. 1t has been
be gainsad by that print now or hereafter.
So also with regard to the principle of non
Intervention by Congress, TO the establish
ment or prohibition of slavery in the territory
acquired from Mexico. To that principle also
the Democratic party at the South had com
mitted itself When, therefore, President TAy-
EoR recommended to Congress to refer the
question whether the introduction of slavery
shall or shall not be prohibited in the territory
acquired from Mexico, TO the people of such ter
ritory when they should come to form State
constitution previous TO their admission into the
| Union as IA State, he planted himself on ground
that no Southern man the least pretensions to
intelligence and truth will pretend TO regard as
hostile to g the constitutional rights of the
SOUTH
But it seems that General TABOR, though
southern man, during the whole period that
he was before the people of the United States
as candidate for the Presidency, ''failed and
refused to whisper one word in favor Of south
ern rights and southern interests" and this
the Union cites as fact that might have
been regarded at the time as of sinister
omen 10 those rights and interests. Cannot
the Union see that had General TAYLOR
taken sides in favor Of either southern rights
and interests, or of northern rights and in
terests. he would have made himself party to a
merely sectional excitement, and contributed TO
the formation of strictly geographical parties;
and that such course ON his part, SO far from
tending TO promote the restoration Of harmony
to the country, would have infallibly produced
directly contrary effect? MOI General TAY-
LoR, and we rejoice To say it, did not plant him
self OH Southern ground, or Northern ground;
but he planted himself on national ground, from
which he can neither be seduced nor driven.
We marvel not little that the Union should
after the extraordinary misinterpretation which
was placed on most important passage in Gen
eral CAss's letter to Mr.NIcHoLsoS by the Dem
ocratic leaders and presses at the South, have
the effrontery TO charge General TAYLOR, as it
has recently done, with aiIo,cing himself, by re-
manning silently making no attempt to curry
! favor with either section of the country-t0 be
understood and represented at the North as
being with the North. and at the South as be-
ing with the South. on the slavery question
! Ii General CAss failed To make himself under
stood in a carefully written exposition of his
views on the slavery question-if. on a very
material point, his letter on that subject was
misunderstood and misinterpreted by the Dem
ocratic leaders and presses at the South, who.
but for such misunderstanding and msinter-
probation, would have withheld from him
their supports General TAYLOR. because
he forbore 10 write out his views ON that
question for publication. to be charged, at
this late day. with purposely aiIoocing himself
to be pledged at the North for the WiImot pro
viso. and at the South as against that mea
surel
But that miscOnstructon of the Nicholson
letter by the Democratic leaders and presses at
the SOUTH II is singularly curious affair.
and worthy of brief notice, after what has
recently taken place in relation to it. in both
Houses of Congress, during the present session.
The passage in the letter which the Democratic
leaders and presses at the South so wholly mis-
understood, was in the words following. to wit:
81 am opposed 10 the exercise of any jurisdiction
by Congress over this matter, [slavery in the ter
ritory acquired from Mesico,l and am in favor
Of leaving to the people Of any territory, which
may be hereafter acquired, the right to regulate
il for themselves, under the general principles Of
the Constitution"
This passage, we must do the author the
justice to say, ,oe never considered as ambipu-
Gus in the slightest degree We considered
and treated il at the time as an explicit decla-
ton Of opinion, on the part of General Cass.
that the people Of a territory, while territory.
and as well in their territorial capacitv AZ