The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-06
The Democratic Caucus.

The Democratic Caucus.
We have not yet found any satisfactory Off
cial explanation of the refusal of the Demo
CRATIC caucus, on Saturday evening, to endorse
the measures of Compromise. The nearest we
can c6me to it is the statement in the Epening
Post, of New York, one of the oldest and per
haps the ablest DEMOCRATIC journal either
side of the Potomac, which has been for
years under the control of a succession Of ster
ling JEFFERSON and JACKSON DEMOCRATS,
whose say-so has been omnipotent with the
party. We must confess that the Post has
given very fair and candid account of the
matter. 1t is said by the Post that the
'liberal DEMOCRATS" omen of the class Of
Free Democrats, to which Mr.. GIDDINGs be-
longs) in the caucus obtained the victory in re-
gard to the resolutions and that in "regard to
the nominations the other wing of the party
carried the day'' That is to say, it was a
barter OF principles for offices. The Compro-
mise DEMOCRATS snapped their opinions for
the spells, and have the Speakershp and the
subordinate offices in exchange for the prestige
of being the ''best friends of the Compromise"
This explanation of the Post is clear and SEN
sible. II agrees with the antecedents of the
DEMocRATIc party. 1t is merely carrying out
the principle which, according to Mr.. HAL
LETT, has merged the Democracy of MAS
sAcHUsETTs in miserable Freesoil faction.
1t is merely a reaffirmance of the policy of bar
gain and sale by which Mr.. CHASE was elected
to the Senate from ONO. By that arrange
nd tba nrn.nr m
sold the United States Senatorship for two
State judgeships, and the local offices through
out the State were divided pro rata between
the Democrats and Abolitonists, with decided
advantage to the latter So, recently in New
York, we find perfect type Of the proceedings
of the Saturday night caucus The Old Hun
kers and Barnburners or Freesoilers came toge-
Their; the Hunkers acquiesced in giving the
Compromise measures the go by, while the
convention seemed to endorse them, and in con-
sderation of these remarkably liberal terms, they
gave the Freesoilers the State offices, with a
single exception!
There can no longer be doubt that the
leaders Of the DEMOCRATIC party have agreed
with the Secessionists and Abolitionsts to g-
more their respective sins against the Constitu-
ton and Union, and unite with them in elect
ing PRESIDENT. Whether the DEMOCRATIC
people will endorse this arrangement remains
TO be seen. Forour own part, we think that such
a triumph of the sentiment of disunon as the
success Of this combination would indicate,
ought to be averted at any sacrifice of personal
interest and ambition "When bad men con
spire good men must cooperate"
Since the above was written we have re-
ceived the Philadelphia Ledger, of yesterday
morning, and copy from the letter of its Wash
ington correspondent, Observer, the following
piquant paragraph:
"Take it as you please, the Democratic members
have made faur pas in tabling similar resou-
ton, and they must pass it now in the House, and
show their hands, if they would not be dstanced by
the Wings. The they have not passed il is
simply this; The Freesoers of the North and the
fre-eaters OF the South wanted to work themse ves
back into the party not by any means, because they
sorry of their previous course, (ar from it, but
because they powerless outside of the party,
now that they repudiated by the Wings and by
the country. Don't you for moment believe in
spite of all the mssatements and skilful political
lies told the subject, that the secessonists who
have been kicked out by the people, OF those who
have been returned because they promised to behave
better, have actually changed fronts and become
Union men, They are no such thing; and their
talk and conduct here docs not show the slightest
improvement their former position. What
they now want is the control of the Baltimore Con
venton; and because they are alone too wenk to
effect this they naturally look TO their old friends
and allies the Abolitionists and Freesoilcrs of the
North, to help and assist them; and the Freesoil-
ers, with the gratitude which always marks poiG.
cal factions working for the Same end, have once
more shaken hands with the Secessionists and by
their cooperation effected the victory in the
oflast Saturday. The thing sticks out as plainly
as the nose mans face; but the dear creatures
have no idea any one porceives IL. I'VE want }
pledges from our brethren of the North cries a
Nullfer; nor dove want pledges from the chv-
airy the South, respond the Frecsoilcrs Clear,
for these pledges would drive them TO the wall, and
establish peace and good will between the North
andSthe South, in spite OF them