The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-13

election OF Clerk or his conduct has imposed upon
him the necessity of explanation and defence, we are
happy to give him the opportunity for such explanation
and defence through the medium Of our columns But
in concedng to him this act of justice duty TO ourselves
and to the democratic cause, requires that should NOT
withhold the comments upon the late election Of Clerk
which his letter suggests. Our position OF the
avenues Of information the people. and of the
ponents of public opinion, requires thai should speak
plainly and fairly, but with candor and forbearanse
Our selfrespec and the independence OF the press
quire it,
In the FIRST place, Mr.. Fomey was the regularly nomi-
mated candidate OF the democratic party in the House.
and according to the ancient and sautary usage Of the
party entitled its constant and faithful support.
until he had been Withdrawn by the act OF the party
equally authoritative his nomination, had him
self declined Moreover. he is pe-eminently worthy Of
the honor which his party desired to confer upon him
He is gentleman known to the whole country for his
talents and his generous virtues He is among he
most eminent Of the conductors Of the democratic press
welding pen which, for vigor, eloquence, and bane
is not exceeded by that OF any Of his contemporaries In
his arduous and responsible profession OF editor he has
done much 10 advance democratic principles and
ures as any other man Of his age in the country He
most eminenty deserved the confidence and support Of
the democratic party and therefore deeply regretted
his defeat
Besides, there other reasons why desired his
election His course as editor and politician has been
hghmnded, conciliaory, and liberal towards all the
sections Of this great coniederacy He has manuy adj
vocated the equality Of the States under the constitution
and has maintained the constitutional rights Of the South
with unwaverng 6rmness and ability We assert-and
we must speak our impressions fearessy-that such
should not have been struck down by the votes Of
southern democrats We believe it was unjust and
ungeneous towards him personally and we fear that it
will produce unkind and hostile feelings in sections
where the South most needs friends The whole whg
party Of the North il nexoraby opposed to the South,
and to all compromise Of the dark question which
fearfuly the peace and integrity Of the Union
And is good policy, under such circumstances pro-
woke and ember the party in the North among whom
the South alone look for frienls' II desired dis
union, light approve Of such course best calcu
lated to bring about such result But we hesitate not
to say that earnestly desire that the Union shall be
preserved and therefore lament any act from whatever
quarter it may come. designedy not, which tends to
such disastrous event. We lament any act whatever
may have been its and motives. that will tend to
the dsoganzaon and dissolution Of the great demo-
cratic party OF the nation; for solenny believe that
the preservation OF this great and glorious Union depends
more upon the preservation Of the national democratic
party than all other combined AS an act tending
to break down its organization, we lament the defeat of
Mr. Foney and the election Of wing by southern demo.
cratic votes.
But Mr. venabe places his justification, in part on the
fact that portion OF the northern democrats deserted Mr.
Forney They did NOT. however, cote for and elect ohig
Even the soers who profess everything else TO be
democrats would vote for Mr.. Foote. wing. who
as much in favor OF soil and aboltonism them
selves But whatever may have been the conduct Of
few northern democrats feel ourselves obliged to say
that while MIR Forney was in the field, he entitled
to the support Of southern democrats Justice party
and to Mr.. Forney obliges US to say SO much.
Mr. Venable also says '.the struggle had become
most undgni6ed contest most shameful expenditure of
public money, amounting each day to more than the
nual salary OF the Clerk" But had the contest become
more undignifed to the democrats than to the wings
Was it more shameful for them to expend the public
time and money in the election Of Clerk than il was
for the wings; and, therefore,, it became proper for
the democrats to relieve themselves from the dscred
liable position which they occupied by surrender to the
whgsl Have not the wings the possession Of the ad
Could they well excuse themselves to
the country for insisting upon their candidate, and thus
preventing the organization OF Congress, the demo-
Gratis who had not such immense responsibilities upon
their shouldersl Would not the very pressure Of the
of having the administration to provide for
have compelled them ultimately to give way and permit
democratic Clerk 10 be elected'
We have been forced into these remarks by Mr.. Ven
abes letter. We feel that the best interests OF the dem
ocrac party and the Union ITSELF require that we should
say as much as we have said We trust thai our com.
ments will be received by all they ntended but il
they are not we cannot help it. We invoke our friends
in Congress and out OF it, to the cultivation OF spirit OF
Cancellation and harmony We invoke them all, and we
invoke the democracy OF the countryside great people
who form the constituencyto rally its banner and to
preserve its organization in its old national form. as the
best means by which the dangers which now menace
and imperl the Union may be averted.
Mr.. vESABLEs LETTER.
To the Editors Of the Union:
GENTLEMEN observe, in article published in the
Union of this morning. the remark that the able and
accomplished Forney OF Philadelphia has been defeated
By reference the proceedings in another column it will
be seen that Mr. Campbell received the OF eight
democratic membersthe last three words in italics II
but Justice to those gentlemen, that the facts be
distinctly placed before the public The impression made
by the article referred to will most probably be- that the
votes OF those eight gentlemen for Mr. Campbell defeated
Mr. Forney-a conclusion unjust TO them IL is un-
warranted by the facts II obvious ALL and admit
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