The republic., 1851-07-16
An Essay on Non-intervention.u

We were so much gratifed by the manner
in which the Union, few days since, excu-
pated the Administration from those obligations
'to interfere WITH the elections in Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio, which it had for some time SO
earnestly asserted, that we meditated making
an appropriate return.
We were the more pleased with the justii-
cation, because the declaration that non inter
vention with the affairs of the States had ever
been the policy of the Democratic party, not
having apparent connexion with any particular
subject, it was found like alluvial gold, where
we should have least expected it,
We had, indeed, two theories to account for
the justification of the Union. The one, that
conscious of having, like "ALExANDER the
Coppersmith," done us ''much evil" it
wished to- do right without the humiliation of
an acknowledgment. So the sanction of De
mocratic example was left "promiscuously,"
when we must see and avail ourselves of it
just as the treasury sometimes advertises the
receipt Of money from some anonymous person
who, having wronged the revenue, quiets his
conscience without confessing his shame or in
juring his reputation.
The other and less charitable theory was,
that the Union had become convinced of the
remarkable popularity ofNhe Administration be-
cause of the system Of g n-intervention" with
the affairs of the States.
The Union saw that the Administration
treated all aspirants for Federal or State honors
with Difference and respect that, content with
the performance of its own duties, the people
were left by the Administration to the free and
unbiased choice of their own representatives,
and the designation Of their own policy, without
Federal '' intervention" intrigue, or dictation.
Having by the most violent taunts endeavored
to force the Administration TO abandon the re-
publican position which it occupied, the Union
came around upon the same tack, and declared
that it had been always leading feature in
Democratic faith that the States should be per-
mitted TO attend to and regulate their own affairs!
Yet for the last week it has been in a lather
because the Administration would not condemn
the action of the two great State Conventions
of Pennsylvania and Ohio 1t has, moreover,
charged the Southern Wings with having en-
couraged the Abolition fanatics in their denun-
citation of the Compromise Nothing could COM
pei the Administration to depart from the dig
nifed and impartial course prescribed to itself.
The Union, by implication, charged this jour
nal with a hostility to the Compromise. The
defence was left to the unreasonable character
of the charges, and the indiscriminate opposi-
tion to which the Union has long since been
pledged. In regard to the charge against our
selves, we observed that it was very near the
close of very long and rather incoherent IT,
rade. We took it for granted that in the pres
ent state Of the thermometer few would bo so
unwary as TO read far enough into the article
to see the charge. We did rely, moreover,
somewhat upon the fidelity with which the Ad-
ministration and the humble conductors of this
journal have aided the friends of the COmpro-
mise and Of the Union. We trusted much to
popular intelligence and justice, SO we lost no
thing of our equanimity, nor was "the natural
ruby Of our--we had nearly written nose
cheeks" blanched by the terrors Of that fierce
attack.
But when our neighbor made the amende of
admitting that the doctrine of "non-interven-
tionv in the affairs Of State was Democratic,