The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-22

were four candidates from slave States against on
IRON the East and North. They all members o
The republican party; there any distinct diff
terence OF political principle or sectional interest u
The contest between them The old lines of party dlys
ION had become nearly or quite oblilerated, and con
sequeny tue leaders OF the federal partya formidable
though conquered band-arrayed themselves in the
yass. each according TO his personal liking preference
IL was almost, II not wholly contest OF mere persona
preference among the people II was perceived tina
the popular feeling ran strongly IN favor OF the military
southern competitors (Mr Calhoun) yielded his preten
sons To the first bonors 1t understood at the time
in favor OF the hero of New Orleans The contest
al last to be narrowed down between the champions o
the East and Southwest, (Ir Adams and General Jack
son. and by the favor OF the great western chief tM
Clay) and his friends the star OF New England shone in
the ascendant But there was calm IN the political
elements The contest for final ascendency became ercel
and rather sectional The followers OF both the
retired aspirants from the South (Mr Crawford and Mr.
Cahoun) took position the side OF the rising fortunes
OF the military Chief and with the advantage OF the adj
matlon for the hero, the second trial, General Jack
was borne e Eo n over % the poas fortunes Of
The result Of this contest has had powerful and last
ing influence upon the political history and condition Of
the country An extraordinary degree Of personal acri-
| mony was eBgendered IN a competition which turned
Chiefly upon personal preference and attachment on the
side, and personal anlpahy and hatred the other
These strong passions 10 be mutual and ecprocal
between the leaders and followers OF both artes and
they increased IN intensity until at last the politics OF
the country were resolved into personal ldolarya sort
n
to chief was substituted for patriotism and regard Tor
the interests of the country The hghes, public interests
subordinate considerations and the support Of
ayorlte political chief became the primary object in the
party conflicts OF the day This stale OF things most
nauspclous to regularand constitutional operation OF
the government, or 10 wise and stable policy in any
branch OF public interest and economy. Nor General
Jack son the man TO cultivate harmony under these clr
cumstances. Even before the close OF the OF
sectional interests were seized upon as grounds
OF future party divisions, and the means OF acquiring or
OF securing personal pre-emDence, The overthrow
after uneasy reign OF four years. o the only man from
the North who in period OF forty years, had been
raised to the head OF the government, made deep I'M
precision upon the North His expulsion from power
the result mainly OF the combination OF the whole SOUTH
against him could he could New Eng land, Ever
erase that tact from their remembrance.
The natural fruits and consequences Of This condition
OF the personal and sectional politics ol the country were
quickly manifested The very first proposition OF grave
nature which was made by General Jackson after he came
into power the removal OF the large Indian tribes of
the South which had long repressed the growth the
States oil that section to the vacant territory beyond the
Mississippi The question: was not strictly sectional
one--ior the policy in progress al the north
westyet was sufficiently so 10 invoke for tine second
me ihe spirit OF iana,lcsm and whatever OF sectional
jealousy could be brough. 10 bear upon the question.
II honorable senator's will take the trouble to examine
the files Of old papers slowed away in the clerks Offices
of the two Houses OF Congress, they will find OF
memorials, petitions, and renonstrances OF women, as
well as OF men, bewailng Indian wrongs and lmplorng
the Derposton OF Congress in their behalf quite
luminous those which, at later date, have crowded
upon Congress The subject OF African slavery Nor
will you find the debates upon that subject marked with
less degree of pathos aud eloQuence, of fierce
vectve and denunciation of the proposed aggression
upon the natural and equal rights OF the Indians, than
we hear from day 10 day. upon the subject OF the
wrongs OF the African race IN the South And will
say those gentlemen of the Senate who have INDUCED
in this strain upon the question before the Senate,
that think they will find IN those debates choice
flowers OF rhetoric yet unculed with which, II they
disposed, they can adorn their future efusions.
Butthe overwhelming popularity OF the adminisira-
on together with the comm unity OF interest which exist
cd IN pyt. al he IN Iud
from their ancient possessions, ovemaich for the
rawlings of fanatcisn, sectional jealousy, and the interest
of party The policy of Indian removal permitted
triumph and the story OF Indian wrongs and oppres.
sions has ceased from that day TO create sensation in
any quarter.
The country, however, bad but brief respite from
agialIons OF the most serious character The ee-
men OF faction and discord engendered in the fierce
conflict for supreme power which had Just terminated,
continued TO develop their natural results The action
OF the government became violent and irregular The
extremes OF passion and the intensity OF personal ambition,
which had characterized the preceding canvass, had led
to in legislation The tariff of 1928 regarded
injurious and oppressive TO the South and 10 add TO
the discomfort IN that quarter General Jackson committed
wha, thought them and still think, caiiial bunder.
lie dismissed from his confidence and drove opposi.
tion the only remaining but powerful southern chief,
(Mr Calhonn,) and took under his patronage and tram
ing for the succession TO himself gentleman from the
North but OF very different character and petensons 30
far as the location of successor concerned, the
policy wise enough but more sklliul and expe-
rlenced statesman would have conciated the two rival
has avors between them have preserved their uni
ted influence in ad ustng all the embarrassing questions
which likely to arise under his administration The
result OF the opposite policy undoubtedly to precp-
tate crisis in public affairs which threatened for time
domestic convulson and the disruption OF the Union.
oi personal injury to iavorlle clef was added TO
the OF sectional grievance which already existed al
\ the South The energies Of great intellect were thus
concentrated IN great sectional movement lie had
around him band Of devoted followers, who. for talent
and all the elements of popular influence and control
have never been surpassed ~ thls country. They had
the address stir up aesh all the smoulderng enbets
OF original opposition to the constitution in the South
The States OF the North represented and believed
by thousands to be the exclusive benehcares OF the sys
j tenn. The issue essentially sectional one; and
then, believe, for the first time, in the mutual crmina
tons OF the North and the South, the ofensve and
nauspicous question OF the relative claims of free anC
slave labor ic the fostering oil the government intro
ducel into our discussions The contest between the
North and the South at that period was further aggava
ted and the Union brought into imminent jeopardy, BY
the revival OF old theory OF the right Of State TO null
lily the legislation OF the federal government; and al
though that extreme remedy received the solemn sanction
Of but State, and that of the largest class, ye
such the appreciation OF the disasters TO the Unor
which resor 10 in maintaining the authority OF tn,
federal government IN that single State might bring in 1T
tain that compromise proposed and acquesced in
which in fact, defeat OF the northern policy The
southern movement against the protective policy was
crowned with success.
Well, sir, the country had brief repose upon tbt
termination OF this controversy; but the causes OF pur,
dIscord between the North and the South deepl,
laid in the nature OF the discussions which preceded h
adjustment and In the terms OF the adjustment itself
southern dIcaton and exacion; while, at the Soulh, th
segtiments OF jealousy and dstrist of the northern