Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-04
The Political World.

the time for such movements approaches, are en-
abled from til preliminary movements of the sever
al parties, to ascertain pretty accurately the course
which each will adopt in the coming struggle. TIE
recent Convention movements in Pennsylvania have
no doubt Swallowed forth the course of the great boz
dy of the Wings of the North. They will go for
ScoTT, or some such man, and will recommend ODE
dience to the Fugitive Slave Law, acle it as law
but will agitate. and keep agitatng for its immed
ate repeal On the old issues they will go for the
old humbug of protection to particular branches of
Northern industry, and also for internal improve
ments by the General Government, with as many
other 'antiquaed ideas they scrape together.
The Northern Democrats, or at least the great bo-
dy of the party at the North are willing to accept
the Fugitive Slave bill as part of final settlement
and as such, to execute its provisions, and frown
down any agitation for its repeal as violation of
plighted faith. At least such has been the uniform
tenor of the resolutions of their various State and
county conventions, and such are known to be the
views of all the distinguished Democrats at the North
whose are at all mentioned in connection with
the Presidency-as: BUCHANAN, who is known to be
the choice of Pennsy WOODBURY. who has
been nominated by New mpshire-DALLAs, who
strength in the North West is unbounded ); besides
DICKINSON, or New Ork, ana DOUGLASS of Illinois
not to speak of whole host of others The express
ed opinion of all these is, that the compromise is
definite settlement, and must be respected and left
undsturbed in all its parts and herein consists the
difference betwx even the Union Wings of the North
and the Democrats. The latter regarding, or seem.
ing to regard, the late compromise as the ultima
al. IL L 1 L -
pass while the Wings seem to regard it only as a
stepping stone to further aggression and renewed
agitation. Upon the old issues the Democra, - have
little to contend about-their policy is already in
operation, and the country is prosperous beyond a
parallel, despite the extravaganza and Galphinisn
of late administration, and the forebodngs of the
present one.
The slavery question at the North is either mat
ter of fanatical excitement or demagogueical agta
ton The interest of the people there in the matter
purely speculative, while at the South the
is the case Here at the South the institution is in
terwoven with the property, prosperity and social
habits of the people 1t is, therefore perfectly natu
raj that the Southern people should be much more
excited upon the subject, and that it should occupy
more prominent place in the public mind. The
ties at the South do not arise in any great degree
from the relative value which they place upon the
institution of slavery 1t is probable that the actual
interest of party in this species of property is
about great as the other. The different degrees
of power which they willing to concede to the
General Government, or to claim portions of the
reserved rights of the States has throughout formed
the real point of divergence. However warped by
sectional feelings excitements, the Democratic
party has uniformly regarded the doctrine Of rigid
construction of the constitution fundamental
pillar of the Democratic creed and accordingly du
ring the last Congress, found Gen. CAss, North
ern Democrat, with interest in slavery, charac
terising the Wilmot proviso unconstitutional a
the time that Mr.. BADGER, Southern Whis
Senator, merely regarded it as wrong and unjust
but not unconstitutional. Such is the difference be
tween the States rights principles of Democracy
the consolidationist doctrines of Whiggery.
Let US look at the present aspect of affairs at tn
South From the inherent difference in their politi
cal creeds already mentioned, the Wing and Demo
cratic parties are opposed to each other upon tn
g Southern Rights" question. The Wings, or mos
of them true to their consolidatonist principles,
sert that, under all circumstances State is muc
bound to the confederacy and as much an inheren
part of it, county is of State. Such is certain
ly the language of their organs. The Democrats in
sis that the States have certain reserved rights,
violation of which throws them back upon their or
ginal sovereignty. and they claim for each State,
the last resort the right of judging for herself whetl
er or not she will withdraw from the Union. Fro1
this difference of opinion has arisen in several State
a organization of parties, under the name
Union,' and Southern Rights The greater Prc
portion of the former being composed of Wings
the latter of Democrats although there man
Democrats mixed up with the Union organization
and many Wings with their opponents. These o.
carnations we look upon transient in their eh:
racter, although it must be confessed that the Whe
have been too cunning for the more Straightforward
; Democrats, by getting up split among the DEM
Gratis in States where the Wings had no sort
chance, having fattered FooTE and COBB into heat
; ing their bastard organizations in Mississippi an
Georgia respectively; and, moreover, by misrepr
sentng the advocates of the right of secession as in
: mediate disunionists, they have succeeded in aw
king the fears and exciting the opposition of mar
who are opposed to any violent at the pre-
ent time, although perhaps, admitting the obstro
right of State to seeede.
1t is more than probable that some Northern Der
0 ocrat, such as BUCHANAN, DALLAS, WoonRURv, Cas-
DICKINSON, will be the candidate of the Democrat
party The platform of the party regards the sav
ry question, will no doubt be-on the part of the Mort
y tho recognition of the compromise a final a
ustment, and consequently, the cessation of all flu
: ther agitation upon the subject. Upon the part
kbo ell