The republic., 1851-09-04


Administration cannot stand upon the principles
ofthe message, it does not expect tostand at all -
[DANIEL WEBsrER's Letter TO the Union Meeting
at JFestchester.
The Position OF Parties, the Administra-
ton, and the Compromise.
Our contemporaries of the Union newspaper
have labored to convince themselves and their
readers that the DEMOCRATIC party is the only
safe reliance for carrying out and adherlng to,
in good faith, the late measures touching the
slavery question known as the Adjustment.
We do not desire to disturb the equanimity
and composure they have been indulgng under
this supposition, nor do we wish TO detract from
the merit that has attached TO any Democrat,
who has been faithfully and honestly engaged
in sustaining the Compromise measures, whe-
ther residing at the North or the South. All
who have sustained the Administration in the
policy that not only marked its dawn, but has
been its light and life to the present hour-viz.,
the fervent desire to preserve this Union-are
entitled, in our judgment, to the gratitude of
the American people.
We are not only amused at the cursory man
ner With which our contemporaries dispose Of
questions involving the highest consequences,
but their agility in jumping stubborn facts
equally attracts our attention. If a correspond
ence is placed before the public, indicating
secret coalition between the Democracy and
the Abolitionists, it is pronounced a"Whig
bubble" But if there is any attempt on the
part of the Wings to reconcile their differences,
and thereby forever put quietus to the agita-
ton of this slavery question: then every thing is
changed, and We are told daily that the only
hope Of the country is in the Democratic party.
The late disposition, however, manifested by
the editors of the Union to do good service in
the cause of the Compromise, by supporting
openly the election of Messrs. CoBB and FooTE,
indicates that they are becoming sensible OF
the temporizing course they have heretofore
pursued, and though late, will no doubt receive
the approval of the friends of the Union in
every section. That they may see their way
more clearly, and not be liable hereafter to fall
into the error Of being good Compromise men
North, and seeing no difference between
Union man and Flre-eater South, we propose
to give a true and succinct history of the posi-
ton Of parties relative to this great measure Of
Compromise.
And first, we lay down this proposition, that
the Compromise measures IN their passage
through Congress, or their sustainment since,
did not and have not received the support Of
either the Wing or Democratic party in their
totality. In other words, neither party can
claim that it was party measure in its origi-
nation, nor can either party appropriate to itsel
the exclusive prerogatve of sustaining those
measures as final settlement of the slavery
question While this is true as to both the poiti-
cal parties, it is equally TRUE that the Admins
tration not only had large share in the set
element, but stands pledged before the country
TO sustain the Compromise, and TO consider it
as final settlement Of the controversy, and does
not and will not sympathize with those who
wish to disturb it,
We presume that no one will pretend that
either party has the right to claim all the credit
of passing the measures, nor will any, who
has regard for his reputation, hold that the
measures have met the approval and received
the sanction of either the Wing or Democratic
party. At the North they are divided and
we cannot determine, from what has taken
place, what position either Of the political par
ties will assume in reference to this matter. In
some localities the Wings are open for the
Compromise and the Administration, in others
they are decided in opinion And 50 with the
Democratic party In some places they are
the open advocates of the Adjustment while
l., Of hot l,,
acrimoniously denounce it as Wing mea-
sure. The only Distinguishing difference that
has been made manifest as yet is, that the
Wing party, in its national capacity, has
had no courting or intriguing with Abo-
litionisis to secure their influence in the
next Presidential contest while, on the
other hand, the properly constituted organ OF
the Democratic party, the National Demo
critic Committee, have made overtures Of
the basest kind to the leaders Of Abolition
ism to secure their influence, besides the de-
velopment of plan to carry their point
by buying up States where "money was all
powerful" In the South, the Whig party is
almost unit in favor of the Compromise and
the policy oft the Administration that holds those
measures as final settlement of the whole
slavery question. The exceptions are so few
that the Wing party South could not claim to
have agreed to disagree upon the subject. The
unanimiiy with which they have sustained
il is remarkable, and is only another evidence
of their integrity of purpose and true devotion
to the Union Of these States. On the other
hand, three fourths Of the Democratic party