The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-08
Return Of the Prodigals-Hnrmonyo Of the
DGnhOcraCy.

| Democracy.
The true party affinities of the Southern dis
organizers manifesting themselves plainly
enough in this their hour of need Every
where baffled in their endeavors to carry into
operation disunion doctrines, they have at length
made the discovery that they are ahead of the
age in the matter, and that they are most likely
to advance their ultimate aims by reassuming
their old places in the Democratic ranks They
have found that the game of secessonism is
desperate, both in reference to means and pro
babIe results; and, having well considered the
history of the Democratic party, and the mar
velous elasticity Of its principles, they have
very sensibly concluded that the wisest plan,
under the circumstances, is TO associate them
selves with those whose policy comes near
est to their own. That the Compromise
is grossly unjust to the South they still main
tain; that the true sovereign remedy is to
secede from the Union, is point on which
they arc equally confident but failing in their
efforts TO annu the one, OF to effect the other,
they returning in shoals to their old allegi-
ance, with the intention of waging what they
call Southern Rights" warfare, under orthodox
Democratic banners. They are the political
prodigals Of the day, who, having grown lean
and hungry upon the husks of secessionsm,
eagerly embrace the most distant chance of bet
ter fare. OF course their forgIving friends
promise a atted calf-when they can catch it,
In this work of reorganization" as it is
called, the secessiOnist journals are taking the
/ lnaI nf hair 10,
/ the ghost with chivalrous fortitude; others are
hanging midway between life and DEATH but
the remainder are nesting as well as they can
under the capaclous wings of the parent bird
! The Montgomery (Ala.) AduertiSer and Ga
cette has been one of the first to crave forgive
ness. But the other day it extolIed the heroic
/ patriotism of RHETT, MCDoNALp, QUITMAN,
and DAVIS, and condemned the conduct of their
antagonists. Now, however, it discards these
gentlemen, and adopts Messrs COBB and
FooTE in their stead, youching for their good
ness as Democrats, and endorsing the Union's
declaration that they stand 'where JEFFER-
SON, MADISON, and JACKSON did," The I'D
rertiser is therefore now in The position Of one
who claims merit for the success of men against
whom as candidates, it had labored long and
arduously.
According TO present appearances, this course
will be acquiesced in by not few of the re-
manning organs Of secession. The Marion
Commonwealth and the Chambers Tribune
both Wing prior to the passage Of the Compro
mise measures, but subsequently secessonists-
have taken their stand upon the Democratic
platform, with all the honors that ordinarily
pertain to recent conversions. They know the
Wing party too well to dream of ENGRAVING
upon it their rabid notions. The .Mississip-
pian-up 10 this moment fiery advocate of
JEFFERSON DAVIS. and an unrelenting assail-
ant Of FooTE--is also beginning to chime in
with the cry for Democratic harmony. There
must be perfect reunion of the old Demo
cratic party" is its expression in the last
1 number that has come TO hand; yet the .Missis
/ sippidl is all the while ayowedy secessionst
and in that capacity declares that the election
Of Mr.. FooTE will be regarded as Wing vic
tory.
Again: }. w. FoRNEY, writing in propria
persona in the PennsyIUanidn, discards the
idea of claiming as Democratic iriumphs the
elections in Georgia and Mississippi. "Mr
COBB and Mr. FoorE," he says, "while as
serting their own title to full communion with
the Democratic party, do not themselves, 80
far as know, claim their victories as Demo-
cratic victories"
The anticipated harmony is likely, then, to
be Of very equivoca character. The Penn
| 'ylUaHiaIl, the Milledgevile Federal Union,
the .MiSsissippian, and many that we need
not care TO name, arc at direct issue with
the Union, the Montgomery advertiser, and
those who, with them, are trying 10 secure TO
the Democracy the credit accruing from tho
results in Georgia and Mississippi. Not few
assert the soundness of the Southern Derhocra-