The primitive Republican., 1851-05-22

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Those persons who suppose that the path
9f moderation, IL politics, 81 any thing else,
observes the mercenary interests Of sordid
calculation, either IS regards profit of honor,
aave studied human nature to little e no
purpose They must be sadly wanting 9th.
e n the possession, Of exercise, Of any pow
sr of observation, who have not learned that
9igotry Is the soul Of partizanship, and that
n times Of excitement particularly, heis the
most promising candidate for the ephcmoral
smoluments Of power and patronage whose
incense at their aItaris least tinctured with
the genuine devotion Of truth and reason.
It Is true that the only accredited ''zeap' re-
eognised BY divine revelation is that which
is regulated according to knowledge il
IS also true that the same catholic doctrine
both as regards its wisdom and safety, is re-
affirmed by even the pagan maxim Of n me-
do tutissimus i6is. The primitire teachings
howeyerof both scriptural and classical au-
thority have always been, and will always
continue to be, set at naught, whenever the
interests of ascot or party, instead Of the in
terests Of truth, are to be subscyed, and this
for the simple reason that according to the
wisdom Of the world one, 'Hpays," while
the uncuTent reward of the other is limited
to nothing but "good conscience" always
deprecated as the latter has been blythe high
er artificial value of 'mammonp When to
this soducing influence is added the quick
and impulsiye force of passion, as compared
with the slow and restraining conclusions of
reason, the centrifugal tendency Of mankind
to the abuses and extremes of every cause
finds an easy solution. In this age of free
inquiry and greedy utilitarianism these orig
inal tendencies of human nature have deriv-
ed renewed yigor, nor need we ever look for
any cfectual reformation of their dominecr-
ing supremacy, until the miraculous and mil
lenial triumph of some system, which will
elevate the thoughts and affections of man
to a more real though more invisible good.
Owing to this operation of passion and
pride, of avarice and ambition mutually act
ing and re-acting as they do, upon one anoth-
er, parties of every nature viii be found on
extremes, and he will always be the most
promising candidate of party favor and party
reward who responds loudest to the SHIBBo-
LETH of the creed, particularly if he aspi-
rates the (h) very distinctly Whether the
watchword be 'ft6crty and cquality' on the
one hand, or the ''diyine right on the other,
whether the ensign be that of the cross or
crescent" amo,lerate enquirer who can see
fallible men on both sides, forfcits the sym
pathy of all, and his just discovery of a lit
tie truth with much error, in ea"h, is suffi-
cient to fix upon him their combined indiher-
onco if not hostility
This unbridlcd ultraism and intolerance,
is a universal characteristic of political con
fict, and is no less observable in the more
limited and local struggles of party, than in
those more eventful and extended controver-
sizes which convened empires and produced
inquisitions 1t has prevailed throughout
the political history Of this Country, and is
now more conspicuous than ever, in the re-
cent issues which have been engendered by
the acts of Congress relating to our lately
acquired territory But what is most inter
csting to observe in the bitter strife Of words,
is, the little regard that is paid to the real and
practical questions which make up the issue.
Once divided, every abstraction which serves
to widen the breach is magnifed into points
of cardinal orthodoxy, and instead of seek
| ing satisfactory decision of the original is
sue, the cohesive power of public plunder'
under the specious guiso of thousand use
less distinctions becomes the only ''bond Of
union
The above truths are fully sustained by
the history of all parties and are amply il
lustrated by the present posture of political
affairs. To recur to the acts of the first ses
sion, of the thirty-fifst Congress, commonly
known as the Compromise, what confusion
for sinister purposes has been thrown around
the decision of a simple issue? The intrin
sic merits of those "acts" was one question
What policy we should pursue in regard tt
them, was another and very distinct one
The latterinquiry involved the simple alter
native Of acquiescence or resistance.
Now what is the result as contrasted will
this plain, single, and ineligible issue?-
Why the advocates of acquiesccnce on ont
hand have combined for a monopoly of tn,
spoils under the title of the Constitutions
Union party, and disooursed against the righ
of secession, treason, &C., as if a theory 0
government was to be settled, instead of
simple question Of policy. The State Right
party on the other hand are united upon th,
simple and common indulgence Of infamma
tory language towards the North general,
and the Compromise particularly, including
all who are wiling to acquiescein it. Upol
the real pointat issue they areas widely va
rant as the twosparties are; some of then
being in favor Of dissolution, while others ar
for ''tanatioa;" some advocating indcpend