The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-20

| Its views fairly before the Puplic, we may
find it necessary, in the exercise of pri-
vilege which no conductor Of political
journal can safely or honorably surrender,
to express opposite views OF our own.
| In this brief outline of the course we
propose to ourselves, we next desire to
state that it will be our especial aim to
promote and cultivate the harmony of the
Wing party; to preserve its integrity and
nationality; to carefully abstain from every
thing calculated to ALLEVIATE any gifts mem
bers or to give to it a sectional complexion.
To preserve and strengthen the influence
of the Wing party in the affairs of the
Government, whether in or out OF power,
we regard as primary duty ofpatriotism.
| In the enumeration of some of the lead
| ing characteristics of the Wing party, con-
tanned in preceding paragraph, we de-
signed to show that its principles lie
deeper, and in importance reach far be-
yond any question of transient ext
gency, however important in itself, or
than any particular branch or measure
Of public policy Of more permanent
nature. About many such questions not
fundamental, individual Wings of the
highest ability and experience may differ
with each other or with Wing Admins
tration without compromising their char
acter as Wings, or destroying their use
fitness to the party and to the country.
We believe that the Wing party may boast
more numerous body Of able and patriotic
men than were ever before, in the history
of parties, banded together for the protec-
ton and preservation of the highest inter-
ests of society and government. Open
questions must be permitted to exist in
any political or party association for such
elevated purposes. This occasional inde-
pendence of individual opinion and action
upon particular points of policy is one Of
the inevitable results Of the character of
the materials of which the party is COM
posed. The members of the Wing party
want the cement which secures rigid
discipline in party operations, and though
they may thereby often lose power when
within their grasp, yet the country is
compensated by their united opposition
to the excuses of their successful op-
ponents. 1t is not matter of surprise,
especially at the present juncture, and
amid the distracting issues growing out
of the subject of slavery, that di-
versity of opinion should exist among
Wings as to the best mode of disposing of
them. Nor do we consider that the course
of individual members of the party upon
questions of so peculiar and extraordinary
nature should be regarded as test Of
their adhesion or of their opposition to gen.
eral Wing principles and Wing policy.
While, however, we thus recognise the
right of individual members of the Wing
party to independence ofthought and free
dom of action on this or any other par
ticular question Of policy, we may, on the
other hand, feel il to be our duty freely to
comment upon their course, whenever, in
our opinion, it is likely to prove injurious
to the general interests of the party and
of the country.
But whatever differences of opinion may
exist in the Wing ranks, and between the
North and the South, upon the exciting
subject of African slavery, or whatever
discontents may prevail among Wings at
the present moment on other accounts, we
have an abiding confidence that those diff
ferences will in time be reconciled; that
these discontents will pass away, and that
the union of the Wing party, like the
union of the States, will be firmly estab-
lished and long endure, to illustrate the
excellence of our institutions, and to bear
our country onward in the career of pros
perity and glory, so happily entered upon,
to the highest point attainable by human
wisdom.
The Office of political journalist, how
ever important and digni6ed in all its le-
climate objects and purposes, is suffi-
GENTLY vexatious and harassing, without
the mingling of those personal reflections
and ordinations which 80 often take the
place of more rational, effective and ele-
waited controversy. For our course in
conformity with this sentiment, we offer
to our contemporaries of the press the
guaranty of twenty years of our general
demeanor while the conductor of public
journal in more limited sphere.
The admission of California into the
Union as a sovereign State, and the course