The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-27

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clusion that it was on the whole, a fair and Just
settlement, which ought to be sustained by the
people And we believe that if the WING
press and WIG candidates in Massachusetts
had planted themselves firmly on that adjust
| ment--if the WING committees had worked
faithfully and zealously up to that standard--if
| there had been in the the Vine ranks gen
erous and prompt acceptance of the settlement,
and determination TO uphold it-that Massa-
chusetts would have been VINO at the present
moment by an overwhelming majority. If the
| same pains had been taken in certain quarters
| to natonalize the WING party that were taken
u sectonaliZe and aboltionize it, not only would
cast for the Free-Soil candidates, but many
Wing voters who staid at home would haye
| been brought to the polls.
But there was unfortunately portion Of the
WING party of Massachusetts who were more
| Free -soilers and Abolitionsts than they were
Wings, and who were more disposed to go
| with CHASE, and HALE, and GIpDINGs, in
| their opposition to the adjustment, than with
Mr.. CLAY, and Mr.. BADGER, and Mr.. WEB
| sTER, and the Administration, in its favor.
These gentlemen imagined that they were to
advance the Wing cause by opposing the
(''peace measures" while they were under dis
cusson in Congress, and by seeking to render
them unpopular, in anticipation of their pas
sage. They had unfortunately found an organ
in journal that had at one time enjoyed the
entire confidence of the WING party of the
State, and was still supposed to retain consider
able influence. Through this channel they poured
| forth their complaints and invectives, pursu-
ing policy which we will do the Atlas the
severe justice of describing in its own Ian
guage:
" The sleeping dyaught which was applied to stu
| pity the energies Of the Wings, and to make them
give passive obedience to the course things were
taking the cry that Congress had passed certain
peace measures which would give quiet to the
ton. 1t will be remembered that this paper never
believed in the efficacy Of those measures, taken
,rhole yet they passed. Whils they icere before
Congress, opposed Of them, the double
ground that they toouid be unsatisfactory TO the peo
Pile Of the free States and ,coud not satisfy the Nid
Hfers Of the South. We frequently stated that, in
stead of giving quiet to the country, they would
| aggravate the existing sources Of dsquiet Their
effect thus far has been eracty trhat predicted
Multi cation is rampant than the South,
and the anti slavery element in the North is more
active than before. The Fugitiv Slave Law is
| added to the number Of bleeding wounds, and
| will become Of moro dircful import than those
l previously named in the catalogue. 1t is a law
that rerer can be enforced the free States ,oiiout
Irritating and erasperating the people. While it
| remains law, every attempt to enforce it will
II fer in he rnrpT tu md
failure to carry out its provisions will give the
agitators in the South fuel to feed the flame
l of Southern dicontent, and warm into new life
the sectional asperties of the people of the slave
States. in Congress the questson of repeal can
| not be winked out of sight. II will come up it
will be discussed, and it will, trust be carried
but it cannot be done without creating discomfort
| and heart burnings. The passage of that law
l. win prove, has been often predicted, the fruit
full mother of sectional animosities."
! Now, who can be surprised that the Wing
party was beaten, and badly beaten, in Massa-
chusetts, if any considerable number of its
leaders entertained such views as are here ex-
pressed by the .4tlGs2 1t was well understood
that the present VINO Administration was in
favor of The measures in question. 1t was APP
parent that President FILLMORE had selected
his Cabinet from among the friends of the
Compromise; and it required, therefore, no
very extraordinary sagacity to divine what
would be his policy IN this behalf. The lead
ing Wings 10 Congress, with some exceptions,
were rejoiced that the Compromise had pre-
vailed; and the people every where were glad
in the prospect that the way was open for
the restoration Of harmony and for a return
to the ordinary business of Legislation. I'm
der these circumstances portion Of the
Massachusetts Wines, entertaining similar
views with the Nullifers and Free soiers
Of the "ineficacy" of these peace measures,
set themselves ndustriously TO work to show
that the measures were all wrong, and to stir
up seditious opposition to one of them, and thus
aid in working out the fulfilment Of their own
prophecy. Such being the course Of portion
Of the WING party, and Of the WING journal Il
| which we have alluded, who could wonder If q
great many weak brethren were driven into the
Free soil ranls7 that great many sensible
and prudent WHIGs were rendered compare
4 lively Indifferent TO the RESULT and that many
more were not reluctant that Whiggery should
undergo a slight purgation Of its Free-soil anC
. Abolition elements7 The election came-anc
the Wmos-in our judgment, and in that o.
, better observers, with better opportunities o
. judging-the Wines were beaten, not because
p they were too little Free Soil-not because they
p sustained the measures Of compromise and ad
l. jus,ment-not because they sustained the provi
sions Of the Constitution re-enacted in the Fugi
:. tive Slave Law-but because that wing Of tn,
, VINO party which had joined the Nullifers anc
e Aboltionists in actively opposing the Adjust
ment, still worked together with the same allie
Il | m decrying the measures which composed
s it, and stirring up unavailing excitemen
d in regard to them. The only district in which
the point was distinctly made in favor OF th
s | adjustment by the Wmes was in the city o
I Boston. 1t was perfectly well understood tina
d Mr. APPLEros entertained the same views will
Il Mr.. ELIOT and was a friend Of Mr.. WEBsTrI
a aud ~ tho Adrninistration-and Mr. AppIrTo,