The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-07
From me National Era.

.
late election there, is, "Whose victory is itY'
The washin gton Union seems to claim it for the
Democrats, regarding MIR. Cobb as in full MEM
bcrship with the National Democratic party. Re-
spectacle Democratic and Wing journals in Geor-
gia pronounce it, if not Wing, at least an Ad-
ministration victory, inasmuch Wings and De-
Inocrats co-operated cordially in sustaining the
great policy of the Administration, the Compromise
and the Fugitive lalO. This was the real issue of
the struggle, and the ground assumed by Mr.. Cobb
and his friends certainly Administration
ground. A similar remark might be made of the
present contest in Mississippi, in which Mr.. Foote
clearly takes the side of the Administration.
What may be the action of these gentlemen when
the emergency shall have passed, is not of course
known, though the Washington Union predicts
that they will be found operating in the ranks of
the National Democracy. On the contrary, the
Savannah Georgian prophecies that "they will not
go into the Baltimore Convention, and will not
support its nominees and the Federal (Ga)
Union Gays: "The Union may well give up the
game. Fillmore is the first choice of the Union
party of Georgia for the next President"
Why should he not be- Have they not every
reason to confide in him? Is he not identified with
the policy on the strength Of which they have Just
succeeded in both Georgia and Mississippi What
Democratic candidate for the Presidency has done
80 much in support of 1T Buchanan was against
the Compromise and for the line of SO degrees 80
minutes - an impracticable measure. General
Cas- advocated strenuously, for long time, the
right OF people to form territorial government
for themselves, and regulate their own domestic
institutions, and denied all power in Congress to
egislate over them OF course his doctrine in
voived the assumption of right in the people of a
Territory to exclude slavery, and was therefore
pudiated by Mr.. Calhoun and the supporters of
pnnfh horn rSnrbfa "A II hRd
it not been for MIR. Fimore's accession to the Pre-
sidency, and the efforts of his Administration, the
Compromise and Fugitive law would have never
passed; in fact, the passage OF these measures and
their enforcement have been the signal achieve
ments of this Administration With what unrc-
lenting zeal it has labored to make the Fugitive
law living spirit let orders to the army and navy
Presidential proclamations, Instructions to district
attorneys, prosecutions for treason, testify. And
can any southern man, who has observed the APP
pointment of shareholders as governors and judges
of the Territories of Utah and New Mexico, doubt
of its deter mination to afford to the South every IA
cilty for extending its peculiar institution?
1t would be impossible for the Union party Of the
South to find a safer man than MIR. Fillmore
Deeds, not words alone, are his vouchers, though
his special organ abounds in words too Addition
al pledges from him will not be needed Look at
the action of the National Wings at the North
their reputation of oil anti slavery sentiment and
of oil fellowship with anti-slavcry men, their fixed
determination to suppress agitation, and TO concii
ate by all possible concessions the alaveholding in
terest-surey the South ia indebted to the Admin
stration for all this. Not eifectual was the add
ministration of James X Polk in REFRESHING the
anti slavery sentiment in the Democratic party.
Why, then, we ask, should not the Union party
of the South, embracing both Wings and Demo
Gratis, support MIR. Fillmore for another Preslden-
tial term? We are not sure but that the Georgia
papers will turn out 10 be true prophets Messrs.
Cobb and Foote will find it difficult to show cause
for not sustaining MIR. Fillmore, should he appear
n5 a candidate for another term.
The Union has hard work before How 1t
make head against an Administration whose
leading it Zealousy advocates, as OF par
amount interest to the South? Ii Ia working from
day to day with view to unite the Democracy OF
all the States the platform of appreciation OF the
Compromise and Fugitive law. Its whole action
tends, with other causes, to force these measures
into thes next Presidential contest, and TO make
it hinge upon adhesion to them And yet 1t
would array the Democracy against an Admins
tration which secured the passage OF these mea
sures, which has steadfastly maintained them, and
which, we all know, will continue to maintain
them by the whole weight OF its patronage and
power!
Conscious of the weak ness of it's position, il is be-
ginning to question Mr. Fillmore's orthodoxy on
tue slavery question; but this is labor thrown away
IL is nonsense to republish old letters, betraying
anti-slavery atfinites There ia scarcely distin-
guished politician in Virginia who could not be ar
Aligned as u hereto similar evidence. The
late Governor Nc Dowell in 1881, in the Virginia
Convention, uttered sentiments as strongly anti
slavery those expressed by Mr.. Fillmore few
years later; and did Mr.. Richie, then editor Of
the Richmond (Va) EaquireTs but one was trusted
and honored by the southern Democracy up TO the
hour OF his death, and the other is still recognised
a chosen leader.
Times change and men change with them. Pres
rnt Deeds not past professions, determine present
character and purposes. Tried by this standard
Mr.. Fillmore is safe President, far sa-
very is concerned as any man the South could pre-
sent.
Nor will it do to refer to the questionable action
non action of Wings in certain localities at the
North, who still regarded and treated as sup
porters of the Administration. Such an argument
il two-edged sword. Democrats at the North,
recognised as in good standing by the Washington
Union, equ lily culpable The Democracy of
Ohio and Massachusetts is Of very doubtful reputa
ton; its coalitions no more sweet smelling in
the nostrs of the South than those of certain north
ern Wings. Ii northern Wings have sent Mr.. Sc
ward to the Senate, Messrs Chase and Sumner
would not have been enrolled among its members
but for the votes OF Democrats, in opposition to
Wing votes.
few days since carefully prepared editorial
nearly eight columns long, designed to show how
much more trustworthy are the Democrats than
the Wings Of the North on the slavery question,
appeared in the columns of the Washington Union.
The columns of the Republic had often groaned un
der the weight OF arguments proving just as con-
clusively that on this question the Wings of the
North are much safer than their Democratic breth-
rem. A candid reader of both papers is forced to
acknowledge that, whatever else may have been
proved, fact at least had been incontroveribly
trusted on the great question of human rights.
To expose the deceptive representations of the
Washington Union in the article referred to-
shall examine some of it's statements.
1t contrasts with pride the position Of the Democ-
racy with that of the Wings of New York. What
Ia the difference between them? The Wings pledge
implicit obedience to all laws Of Congress, including
the Fugitive law, and complete acquiescencc in
all the Adjustment measures-merely affirming
the right, which no one denies, of discussing and
seeking the repeal modification of any law.
They go further, and approve, without qualifca-
tion the course of the Administration, which stands
committed to those measures without repeal or
lnodincation; and then nominate ticket OF anti
slavery and pro slavery men i'll equal proportions.
The Democrats also pledge acquiescencc and ODE
dence and then reafirm the Baltimore resolutions;
but the leading journals of the larger section of the
party declare that the Baltimore resolution con-
cernlng interference with questions of slavery
was intended to refer, and does refer only TO sin.
very existing under State authority. Corrob-
Grating this construction by act, the Democratic
| convention nonlinates a ticket, composed with
single exception, of that class OF Democrats who
are committed against the extension of slavery.
We need not say, that these facts are left out of
uic,o By the Union.
Again, this paper is entirely satisfied with the