The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02
WASHINGTON, ID. G..
THURSDAY, OCTOBER ,, 1851.
THE POSITION OF PARTIES THE PRES
DENTAL QUESTION

t it was predicted by some that there would b
a no more National Conventions. The agitation
: of the Slavery Question threatened to efface OLE
, party distinctions and the election OF Genera
, TAYLOR a candidate without ascertained poiiti
cal principles. looked to the same result Ha'
his life been spared, and had his policy prevail
ed. it is not improbable that new political com
binations might have superseded the old organ
izations and the names Wing and Democratic
have gone into dsuSe.
Mr. Fillmore, unlike his predecessor, was a
party man. and, while protesting great indie
pendencc of party considerations took care at
the outset that his Administration should be
thoroughly Wing True some Websterian
! rhetoric was expended about the Union, and
the necessity of maintaining it by great Union
party but ali that VA n.,enrreu. Tor >a-r 5ensss
rather of distinguished member of the Ad-
ministraton, than of the Administration itself
Mr.. Fillmore adopted what are called the Com
promise measures. gave them the whole weight
| of his influence, and called upon the Wing
party to yield support or at least assent, to
his policy Positive appreciation of course he
could not require, but acqIiescence, it was
claimed he had a right to demand, especially
as his Administration was decidedly Wing.
As agitation subsidized, old party lines began
to reappear Wing politicians were not blind
to the advantage of sustaining a Wing Admin
stration determined to secure the triumph of
Wing principles, and they sought everywhere to
win for its measures ON the Slavery Question,
acquiescence, where open approval was impos-
| sibe
This general effort to reOrganize the Wing
party strongly favored the abers of the Demo-
cratic leaders for the Reorganization of their
forces When tho higs North and South
were preparing tcxs unler their ancient
banner, why shouldthe Democracy remain di-
vided and scattered The old watchwords of
party were revived The exiting issues grow
ing out of the acquisition of territory from
Mexico were disposed of it was said-why
persist longer in an agitation that could have
no other result than tAseealauance n power
of a Wing Admin But, the Demo
ernt. Of the South y Lslssa generally
tho ~ Digs. Hence Il became necessary to con-
ciliate them by larger concessions than were de-
manded Of Northern Wings for the sake of
Union--espeeialy as Southern Wings had an
Administration already in tleir interest North
ern Wings were required to de9uiesoe in the
Compromise and Fugitive Law - Northern
Democrats to approve of them This was the
demand strenuOusly unfortunately made by
the Washington Union, the national organ of
the Democratic party from the time when
the Compromise measures We're passed, up to
this date, it has constantly insisted upon this
policy as the indispensable condition to the re-
union of the Democratic party. The Demo
Gratis OF Virginia, having agreed to the Com
promise, were bound, it held to declare to the
North their unalterable determination to coun-
tenance no man or set of men who would not
thoroughly sustain it,
The condition of the country. the safety of
the Union, demand that the Southern Democ-
racy should be fully understood on this point
Willing to yield much for the sake of the Union
and to acquescc in the past, the Democracy of
Virginia will insist upon strict justice for the flu
ture, and will affiliate with no party or faction
at the North which does not come ont Squareiy
| an tdUor Of maintaining the compact an ats full
! force, and Of emphGiicdily and explicitly repro
batting further agitation Of The slavery question"
This has always been its language; and we
know what has come to pass, The Democracy of
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Indiana, and New
| York, has acceded ts this demand in its length
and breadth. The Democratic State Conven-
ton OF Ohio made no other response to it, than
by reaiiirming its old resolutions on the subject
OF slavery, but this prudent reserve was design
ed to secure the control of the State in the en-
suing election: of the disposition of the Ohio
Democracy to sustain the old Baltimore plat
form and whatsoever candidate may be regu-
larry nominated at Baltimore its support of
General Cass in 1913 is n sufficient guaranty.
On every side the indications are manifest
that the Wings are rapidly reorganizing their
forces on the basis Of acquescence in the Com
promise, and the Democrats theirs, on the basis
either of acquiescenee or avowed and jealous
support Party lines arc beginning to be as
strongly marked as ever We are to have Ma
tonal Conventions of the old parties in which
the South will be represented just as usual and,
just as of old exercise its controlling voice in
the nominations The Slavery Question will
hardly disturb their deliberations 80 much as
1t did in lSiS-so adroit has been the premi-
nary discipline to which the parties in their
State politics have been subjected The action
OF the Democratic State Convention of New
York is pledge of support to Houston, Pon-
sett Douglas, or anybody else whom the Ma
tional Convention may nominate; that of the
Wing Convention guarantees the support of
New York Wings even to Mr. Fillmore, should
the National Convention make him the nomi-
nee
30 much for the position of the Wing and
Democratic parties AS to Presidential candi-
dates it is impossible to speak with much con-
hdence. AT one time the prospects of General
Scott seemed to eclipse those of any other Wing
candidate His non-committal position ON the
questions which had for years agitated the
country, was thought TO be in his favor, and
doubtless would have been, could National
convention have been prevented But in such
convention, this position must be abandoned,
or ms nomination will be impossible No in
'eliigent man surely can expect the Wings of
the South again to Taylorize themselves Gen
eral Scott must make up his mind to endorse
the Compromise and Fugitive Slave Law. or he