The southern press., 1851-08-06
,ry respectfully, your obedient servant,

| Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ia. WOODWARD.
! To Messrs. Thos. McKinstry, ]. Bookman, w
II. TrapP, w. F. Watt, g. 0. Trapp, J. B
| Jenkins.
From the Ns,o York Herald
Bargain between the Seward Wings and Oh,
Silver Grcys- Surrender OF the Latter.
Our news from Alabny is ofa highly interest
ing character. Our renders are aware that fo
two or three days past an effort was being
made by the Silver greys and Seward or abol
ton, Wings, of this State, to unite on q plat
form that would be acceptable to each. and Il
join in calling a Wing State convention for the
nomination Of candidates to be supported at thu
fall election. We didnot see any likelihood o.
success from the movement, for we gave thu
Silver greys more credit for consistency ant
honor than they deserved. The Silver greys are
small in number, compared to the abolition
Wings and If union were formed, we knew
it would be at a sacrifice Of the principles enter
tanned by the former. The overtures made by
this branch of the party were fair and equitable
and would have been accepted by the abolition
Wings If they had not determined to reopen
the agitation of the slavery question on the
earliest opportunity, for purposes Of their owH
They would have been willingly accepted if the
abolition Wings, under the leadership and al
the dictation Of Seward, Weed & Co., were moi
bent upon following the course marked out for
them by those demagogues. Indeed, it would
have been inconsistent in the abolition Wings
Of New York to entertain such oyertnres for o
moment when we look at the course which the
majority of the legislature adopted on the CON-
promise measures.
During the regular session and the extra ses.
sion, Mr.. Anthon, of Richmond county, and Mr..
Thompson, of New York. proposed, at different
times, resolutions for the consideration and
adoption Of the majority, on the subject of the
compromise measures but they were stified in
committee, or laid on the table, never to be
called up. The same course was pursued in the
legislative caucus, after the adjournment How,
then, could it have been expected at this late
day, they would listen to overtures based on
the Silver grey platform, which they had re-
peatedly rejected The policy of the abolition
Wings was this: They wanted union--they
wished the disjointed factions of the Wing party
reunited, as much, and more, than the Silver
greys did; for, although they may attempt to
despise the Silver grey force in the Legislature,
where they did not particularly need it, they
would be glad to have it on the day of election,
democracy. But in order to effect such union,
they wanted the Silver greys to abandon their
platform-to consent to union, without any re-
ference to the compromise measures of last Con.
gress which constitute the great question of the
day, SO that they might be able, when the proper
time arrived, TO renew the slavery agitation, and
recommence the war against the South, by pro-
pbsing repeal of the Fugitive slave law, or
such modification Of its provisions as would
render il nugatory to all intents and purposes.
This was the kind of union which the aboli-
ton Seward Wings wished to form with the
Silver Greys, and one which the latter could
never enter into without sacrifice of honor and
principle The compromise measures were in
tended by their authors as a final settlement of
the slavery question, on the basis of the Consti-
tuition. They were accepted ms such by the pa
triotic Of all parties, throughout the land and
any attempt to repeal any one Of them, especi-
ally the Fugitive slave law, would rekindle the
fame Of excitement which burned so fiercely a
year ago, and threatened 10 consume the govern-
ment and the republic. Such, however, is the
union, or bargain, which the Silver Greys have
entered Into with the Seward abolition Wings.
more dishonorable and disgraceful surrender
Of principle We never heard Of The Silver
Greys abandoned the manly platform which they
laid out for themselves, threw aside their princi.
pies, and caved in, body and soul, 10 the enemies
of the Constitution--for enemies to that sscred
instrument the Seward Wings are, notwiih-
standing all the twaddle 10 the contrary. Our
readers will mark that portion of the joint call
for convention which is intended 10 refer 10
the Fugitive slave law. II saysa that the rights
Of citizens as voters are equally undeniable TO
discuss, with the full and mutual regard for tho
rights and interests Of all parts Of the confed.
eracy, (Which is as necessary now to maintain,
as il wa indispensable TO achieve the blessed
union Of these States,) the expedency Of such
laws, and the propriety Of any Of their proyis-
ions, and 10 seek by constitutional means their
repeal or modification" Could anything be
more plain than this Is not this declaration
Ia point blank assertion--that the abolition
Wings Of New York intend TO reopen the
slavery agitation, and move for a repeal Of the
Fugitive slave Law If Il is not, then we do not
understand the English language. And yet the
Silver Greys submitted 10 it-disgracefu'ly sur
rendered themselves.
An attempt Is also being made by the Hun
kers and Barnburners Of this State TO form a
union; but there is not so much likelihood OF
success in this as there Is in the other case. On
the 4th Of Julya fetc was got up at Tammany
Hall, Tor the express purpose OF encouraging
such union; and the subject has been more or
less discussed, from that time TO the present.
Both factions express their desire for union
both are loud in protesting the necessity Of a
union, in order to save, not only the State Of
New York, but the whole republic; but neither
will give in TO The other The Hunkers plant
themselves on the platform Of 1914 and ls48,
on the subject Of slavery, and make corner
stone Of the compromise measures. This the
Bsruburners will not submit 10. Their organ
in this city looks upon such an offer Of union as
an insult, and significantly asks If they are to
join the proposed union with a lie sticking in
their ihroats, by saying they will uphold the Fu-
gtive slave law, when they detest IL 2 u is easy
TO see, therefore, that, ct present, there Is no
prospect of a union between the two factions Of
the Democratic party.
Such is the present position Of the two po-
ltical parties in this State, and Of tie fractional
parties which were thrown off by centrifugal
force from the main bodies, in the excitement
growing out Of the slavery agitation. As for
the Barnburners, II is very likely they will hold