The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-08
The Wing Party and the Slavery Question


ding the adjournment.
The Wing Party and the Slavery Question.
'.In the last Presidential canvass instead ofhav-
ing fair just conception of the views of the two
sec tons, each deceived by such delusve con-
structions and ambiguous phrases into the belief
| that they were acting on common principles, when
the most radical difference in purpose and views in
fact prevailed. Such was certainly the case, to Il
considerable extent, with the Democratic party"
Mr.. Seldom.
To what ex:ent this was the case with the
Democratic party, we showed, at some length,
on Monday. We deny most peremptorly.
however, that such was the case to any extent
with the Whig party. At no time, and for
no purpose, hare the Wings of the North OF the
South resorted to ''the use Of ambiguous phrases,
and the adoption of platforms of doubtful CON
struction" in regard to the slavery question.
At no time have they been ''deceved by such
delusve constructions and ambiguous phrases
into the belief that they were acting on com
mon principles" so far as that question was
concerned. They have never, in national
convention, adopted ''delusive phrases and po-
stions susceptible of double construction"
with the dishonest purpose Of creating the be-
lief that there existed a community of feeling and
sentiment between the Wings of the North and
the South on the subject of slavery. On that
subject, the Wings of the two sections have al
ways entertained, and freely expressed, opinions
the most opposite and irreconcilable However
obnoxious to the South may have been the
course of the Wings of the North on this ex-
citing subject-that course has ever been, in
Congress and out of Congress, open and above
board The Democrats of the North however,
have been in the constant habit of assembling
in convention with the Democrats of the South,
and there adopting ambiguous resolutions in re
gard to slavery, for the cypress purpose of being
understood and used in double sense
at the North, as being in complete harmony
with the anti-slavery feeling which prevailed
there; and, at the South, as generously and mag
unanimously conceding all that the South re-
CURED. This game has been very successful
one for the Democrats of the South. but il has
at length been entirely played out. The Dem
ocrats of the South openly complain of having
been deceived by their brethren of the North
The latter Indignantly repel the charge, and
contemptuously tell their Southern brethren
that, Il they hare deceiUed themselves, it is not
the fault Of the former. The following remarks
Of Mr. SwEETsER, Of Ohio, in reply to Mr.
Seldom, are to that effect Mr.. SwEETsER
said:
"The gentleman from Virginia has taken occa-
sion to put his construction upon the Democratic
doctrine of Intervention, and maintains that the
South, in the canvass Of 1913, held that the Demo
cratic party were pledged by the platform Of the
National Convention, to secure TO the South their
avowed claim to extend slavery into the Territories
south of so 3d. and that the South gave their sup
port to the nominee of the convention upon that
construction of non intsrUention, and would not
have Voted for General Cass upon any other terms
That the present position of the northern and toot
ern Democracy was in violation of the principle
serted and maintained in the canvass Of ls4s.
"Mr. s. said he had risen TO rcpel the implied
charge Of bad faith and to give the true construc-
ton to the national doctrine Of non intervention.
ole denied the construction Of the gentleman
from Virginia. He did not wish to be deceived
himself, or deceive southern gentlemen upon the
subject. II was time that all parties and sections
ofthe country spoke out plainly upon this exciting
topic.
"Thc North and West, in their advocacy Of the
doctrine of non Intervention, had maintained that
Intervention was the let alone policy, leaving
all sections Of the country their legal and constitu
tionsl rights in the Territories, as they attached
under the treaty Of annexation to be asserted and
maintained in legal and constitutional manner.
He had hitherto believed that the patriotic Denoc
racy of the South desired the question of slavery
in the Territories left TO the determination Of the
people Of the Territories, and willing to abide
the decision Of whatever right they claimed in
regard to the extension Of slavery into the Terri
tories to be determined by the judicial tribunals
Of the country and ultimately to the people of the
Territories in the establishment Of their organic
| idu.
eff Southern gentlemen claimed more for the
principle of non Intervention, and desired now TO
perver the national platform of the Democratic party
into a license to extend slavery into any portion of
the now free territory Of the Union il is time that
| there should be a perfect understanding upon that
! subject. The Northern Democracy would not per
init the pcrvcrson, submit to any construction
of the issue openly and fairly made in lsfs,
which would sanction the extension Of slavery into
free territory. The time has come for undsguiscd
| speaking and action upon this grave subject Let
us all speak out, and face the true issue, and take
upon ourselves the responsibility which attaches.
"Thc North do not intend to give the South any
| license to extend slavery. They do not believe
that slavery can lawfully go into the Territories
without the aid which il is not their purpose in.
tention to give
"Tho honorable gentleman from Mississippi has
aUoced that the South will not submit their rights
to extend slavery into the Territories to judicial
determination. II was the first time he had heard
that determination boldly avowcd lie knew the
intelligence and high character Of the gentleman
who made the assertion, and had no doubt of bis
sincerity in making it. Has it come to this, that
the South assert upon the floor Of Congress con-
stitutional and legal right, which they arc not will
! ing to submit TO be determined by the only tri-
bunal known to the Constitution competent to de-
| eide
"Sir, has the Supreme Court of the United States
sunk 30 low that Southern gentlemen are unwil-
ing TO trust their constitutional rights to be deter
mined by that tribunal Is it want of conf
dence in the court, distrust Of The assumed
right The gentleman intimatos his want Of con-