The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-19

! in that transaction. These resolutions
were denounced, according to our recollec-
ton, by Mr.. WISE, Of Virginia, as dis
graceful to the party that offered them,
and as betraying the South: They were
called properly "Janus-faced resolutions;"
bearing northern and southern face.
They were prepared in caucus with Messrs.
BURKE, DUNCAN of Ohio, and several
other such, with RHErT, of South Caro-
lima, and other fre-eaters. The first set
of resolutions were a little too strong for
the North and were amended; the chivalry
giving up little, for the hazard the
dough-faces encountered at home, and
for the degradation TO which they submit
ted in becoming tools in this party opera
ton.
In order to give our readers clear in
sight into the humbuggery of these Ather-
ton resolutions, and to expose again the
miserable party operations of the dough-
faces and the chivalry, we publish letter
Of The Spy in Washington, written in De-
cember, 1888, in which, on careful ex-
animation, it will be seen how the South
was betrayed. We call particular atten-
ton to the difference between the original,
the chivalry resolutions, and the Burke
lied modified resolutions. In the third
resolution the chivalry asserted the uncon-
stitutionality Of agitation. The Burke-ized
resolutions admitted the constitutionality,
only saying it was against the true spirit
and meaning, &c.
| In the fifth resolution the chivalry said
| Congress could not "regulate"- the
word!-the removal of slaves from State to
State, &c. The doughfaces said "pro-
hibit;" and thus the Southern Democracy
admitted that Congress had the power to
REGULATE" but not prohibit" and thus
/" betrayed the South"
! In the Union Of February IA, 1850, Mr..
BURKE says: "The New Hampshire mem
bers voted for the 2lst rule, prohibiting
| the reception Of Abolition petitions,' &c.
Our readers, by comparing the fifth
chivalry resolution with the doughface,
will see that the words ssentertained or
considered by the House," &c., were
modified: the object of which was, that
| Mr.. ATHERToN might say, the right Of
petition was not invaded. And to prove
this, by reference to Mr.. ATHERToN's
remarks on presenting his resolutions and
unworthily moving the previous question,
as reported in the National Intelzigencer
next day, it will be seen that he said:
al may be pardoned for saying Of that constitu-
'ency, CHS own,) that they arc too intelligent to
be misled by the idle and utterly unfounded pre-
tence, that the adoption Of such resolution is a
denial of any right of petition
If we are not mistaken, this same Mr..
ATHERToN, with Mr.. Burke, voted for the
Wilmot proviso.
| We ask the attention of our readers,
especially of the South, if they ever
thought the Anterior resolutions were in
tended in good faith to do good, to this
letter of The Spy in Washington, that it
may be remembered and referred to when
ever the Union shall be so shameless as to
attempt to make ''party operations" appear
to be the acts of patriots.
| 1t is proper TO add that the accuracy of
this curious piece of political history was
vouched for by the National Intelhgencer,
on the strength Of circumstances which
left no doubt on the minds of the editors
of that journal. 1t seems that a copy of
the resolutions of Mr.. ATHERroN, as ORR
ginally drafted and intended to be offered
in the House of Representatives, was for
warded to Charleston, and immediately
published in the Mercury, through which
channel they found their way back to
Washington some days after they had
passed the House in different form. A
comparison Of the two sets of resolutions
of course disclosed the alteration which
they underwent on their way from the
caucus to the Hall of Representatives:
Correspondence Of the Courier and Enquirer.
WAsmSeros, Dec. %, 1898.
| ! have waited for some days to see how the
southern journals would treat the party alliance
between northern and southern Locofocoism on the
subject of slave petitions, laid down by the reso-
| lutions Of Mr.. ATHERToN, presented on the IIth
instant. These resolutions, il is now well known,
were the result Of proceedings; but the
whole history has not yet been told. The first eau
Gus (or there have been ftco) was convened ON the
evening of the sth, aid announced TO you in my
letter OF the 9Th. AT this caucus certain rcsolu-
tons were adopted but were afterwards essentially
altered. They we're altered because II was avowed
that New England Locofocoism (aiias Abolitionism)
would not submit to them, and therefore, that
their Representatives in Congress dare not vote for
them. The alteration was made at the second eau
Gus, held on the evening of the 10th.
The Richmond Whig wonders at the sacrifice, as
he considers II, of southern interests and the new.
coined amalgamaton between the North and the
South on the slave question. Let me say to the
eruditc editor Of that print, that the whole move
ment was a political party movement, intended to
destroy all concert in action among the southerp