The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-24

SATLHUAl,rM A A-@As iooi+
sumner on Nationality and, Sectisnaiism''
The proyerbial dsxterity of the Philadelphia
lawyers" at justification, must yield to that OF
their Boston brethren-commencing with the
Great Expounder," and tapering down e. the
small one, CHARLES SumrER.. Nobody, of late
days, can find out asohere they are 10 go" so
often do they take steps forwards and "stepa
backwards NOV pirouetHug at the sides, now
majestically marching down the middle,
"WhiIe the peaing organs blow"
TO follow all the windlngs of Dir. WEnsrEg
from the day when Mr.. CALHOUN warned him
that he would share tte fate of Action, and
finally be hunted down by the hounds he was
unkennelng in the principles he thea enumerated,
down to this period when TINT prophecy has
been so signally fulfilled would be. q task
equal to that Of the daring explorer ofthe Cretan
labyrinth. To compare small things with great,
CHARLES SUMSER--whose aspirations, il not
his abilities, seem equal to those of his prede-
cessor in the senatorial seat--appears. RESOLVED
to follow in his footsteps, and pursue an equally
devious course. We republshed but the. other
day, his letter of acceptance, in which he faced
both ways a. dextrously as Van BURES form
etly, or the Compromises recently, ever did
throwing, in fact, a sop to the Compromisers--
and now the Boston papers bring another letter,
keeping up the touch with the Free-soiIers.. On
the first letter, the Boston journal commented
as follows, evidently ind grant that he, the free
soil senator, should steal the administration
thunder:'. W ~. f.',' se't'H ' ter
The letter Of acceptance Of Mr.. Sumner con,
veys different meanings to, different persons.
This is just what the author defended The
Free-soiIers find in it pledge that Mr.. Sumner
will continue the sectional a. itation Of the
slavery question, whii t, on tho other hand.
some who do moi sympathize with the Free-sof
party, seem disposed to be satisfied with his
pledge to oppose all ysectiona)ism.' - This
pledge, with the succeeding remarks, the Com
nonweaAh defines, and doubtless correctly, a.
follows: Mr.. Sumper does come cut boldly
against sseetionalstn,' especially the sectional
ism of slavery and he does not rettnct ANYTHING"
1T does not speak well for the frankness OF hon.
esty OF politician, when 'is makes his letters
SO obscure that they are subject to. various aud
entirely opposite interpretations. s t.5.s x.s,
On the other hand, several of the leading
compromise journals considered it as a repudia-
ton of his old associates, and a pledge of adhe-
sion to the Administrations fact, It aid sound
like it. But this Ingenious gentleman has tucked
again in his second letter, which may be re-
garded, in its final passages, as explanatory of
the irst. Here It is, from the Boston Courier:
CHARLES SuMsER AND THE ELEc1roS IN rHE
CONTESTED DrsralcTs.-lnrepiy To an invitation
to ,speak during the present canvass, MI. Sum
ner writes as follows
~ er~ ,BosToN, May goth, lS5l.,a
MY Dear ,Sr--l am sorry to be Obliged to
dec'ae your invitation. 1t is not IN my power
to mingle actively in the canvass, which now
interests so warmly ail The friends Of freedom
but though my voice may not be heard, my
heart will be with you. I. ~. ,....,
trust no pains will be spared 10 secure. the
election OF, Mr. Palfrey, the very able, honest
and infisxible candidate of our party. His char
actsr commands the admiration of all il sIloult
command their votes also. No person familia
with the public sentiment among us-out o
certain streets In Boston-can doubt that. what
ever may be the professions of politicians, h
well known opinions on the vital questions o
the day, lind response in the bosoms of ar
overwhelming majority of the good people o
this commonwealth His triumph, with that O
Mr. Ranteul in the adjoining district, will 90 IA
to consolidate the oppositlonin Massachusetts
against the existing Wing National Administra
ton.
Such men, while serving the. Union loyal,
and in the spirit of the fathers, will never forge
the true principles of the Constitution, accord
ing to which, freedom and not slavery is ma
tiosini, while slavery, and not freedom, is ser
ftondi ~ Ever faithfully Your, -'.f Is
r-'' se2 CHARLES SUMNER. Z
DIR. Estes HOWE, chairman Of the Free-so
committee, Cambridge,
b.. the first letter was equivocal--this is plai
enough. We commend these definitions q
"national" and "sectional" (favorite terms wit
the compromisers) to the attention Of all tn
Southern supporters Of The spoatcn bills am
their advocates. vi b.. s...sl..- b.. 4.l ......
NATIONAL means +" NORTHERN" Sc,
riosAL," means q SouTHERs" How pithy, We
how pointed! How lucid an exposition Of tn
reciprocal rights and duties Of the citizens q
the two sections, of the right of aggression o
the one hand, and the duty of acquiescence
on the other.
The spoliation bills, and the acts and arg,
meuts by which their advocates seek to sustai
them, furnish the best commentary on the col
rectness ofthese definitions.
The a Unionism" Of the new senator mus
now stand above suspicion. 1t is the aloyalty
Of the true Northern stamp-anj he has tri
umphantly established his title to high plac
among the Compromises Of the Constitution
fFTbs editor of the Montgomery Gala.
Adccfnsey, thus expresses sentiments which ar
shared ia by multitudes of the citizens of :" &C
quescng" Southern States.
The first federal gun that is fired, the iirs
solder that is enlisted for the coercion of SOY
eign State, will cause these gallant spirit TO rail-
to rhe rescac. If the South, in her sore strai
will find C,roRcrys among her snns she wi