The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-09

has been uniformly represented by Wing
For some twenty years II was represented by
the ever faithful JoHS REED, the presen
| Lieutenant Governor Of the State. For The
last seven or eight years, it has been represent
ed by an intelligent aud heightened Wing gen
| tleman, Mr.. JOSEPH GRINNELL. There was
no good reason why it should not continue to be
represented by Wing but in an evil day our
Wing friends there nominated Mr.. ZENo
ScUDDER, and Mr.. ScUDDER entered into a
correspondence with certain free negroes and
fugitive slaves in New Bedford, to whom he
pledged himself that he would, lat all times
and under all circumstances, advocate and act
for the repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law 1.-THE
repeal of all laws which countenance vestige
of slavery in the District of Columbia and
to prevent the admission of any new slave
States, or the organization of any new slave
territorial government"
1t must be obvious enough to any one who is
acquainted with the people of Massachusetts
that no man could receive their confidence who
would condescend to solicit votes by entering
into any such humiliatng covenants. 1t is in
that State esteemed the duty Of representa-
tive to act always with reference to the circum-
stances existing at the time he may be called
upon to act. The idea of binding his judg-
ment to any particular measure, or set OF mea-
sures, is not consistent with that free exercise
of his discretion which is Indispensable to wise
and well-considered Legislation. The idea of
conciiating, as political party, an assembly of
free negroes and fugitive slaves was not pala
table to the people of the tenth district; and it
would have been strange indeed if candidate
who had solicited suffrages by such means
could have commended himself to majority of
its intelligent voters.
1t was well understood by the Wings of Mr..
ScUDDER's district, that the Administration
was pledged, by every implication, to the sup
port in good faith of the adjustment to which
Mr.. ScUDDER had thus declared his opposition.
1t was we'll understood from the formation of
Mr.. FLLMoRE's Cabinet from his selection of
Mr.. WEBSTER as the Secretary of State, and
from the well-known cordiality existing be-
tween himself and Mr.. CLAY, that no Wing
could indicate disposition to reopen the agi-
tating controversy of the last session, and claim
to be considered as supporter of the Admin
istration. To agitate the abolition of slavery
in the District of Columbia, to seek the repeal
of law which was merely the re-enactment of
a constitutional provision, with the pledge of
pursuing these objects at all times and under
all circumstances, was in effect TO assume
hostile attitude towards the Administration of
which Mr.. ScUpDER professed to be sup
porter How then could he expect to rally the
friends of the Administration in his behalf2
Was it not mockery to claim to be a friend of
the Administration, while he was opposed to
the policy which it deemed essential to the
peace and welfare of the country2
The recent official exposition of President
FnLMoRE's views, and the entire unanimity
of the Wing press in its support, indicate, with
sufficient distinctness, the line which separates
the friends Of the Administration from its enc
mics. For the future, at all events, we imagine
that no one will venture to proclaim himself
supporter, in good faith, Of that Administra-
ton while he arrays himself in opposition to
the policy upon which it has staked its for
tunes.
We see it stated in some of the papers that
the custom-house officers in Mr.. ScUDpER's
district have been actively electioneering in
his behalf. We do not know that there is
any truth in this charge. 1t is the received
Wing doctrine that custom-ho house officers should
be content with the exercise of the elective
franchise, without busying themselves too
much in political affairs. We have no rea-
son to believe that the present Admins
tration entertains any other than Wing doc
trines upon this or any other subject. With
out meddling with the exercise of private
judgment. every government is entitled to ex-
pect from its appointees decorous regard to
those measures and that policy by which it
seeks to commend itself to the people. We
have never doubted that it was alike the right
and the duty of Government to sustain itself by
its friends rather than its enemies, for it is OBJ
vious enough that no government can command
the respect of the people which cannot com
mand the respect Of its official incumbents.
Ii Mr.. ScUDDER should be elected to Con-
gress, he will come to Washington professed
political agitator of the negro question. Such
a man is neither Vine, nor a friend of Presi-
dent FILLMORE. He could do no good here
for his constituents or the country-and we sin
cerely hope that he may be permitted to remain
in the 10Th district, and solace his disappointed
ambition by such local honors as it may be in
the power Of his New Bedford correspondents
to confer upon him.