The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER ?, 1851.
THE POSITION OF PARTIES THE PRES
DENTAL QUESTION.

II was preulcCeu ny sOllle lhat VhOiO "'NiA ~
no more National Conventions The agitation
of the Slavery Question threatened to etiace old
marty distinctions, and the election OF General
TAYLOR candidate without ascertained pohti'
cal principles, looked to the same result Had
his life been spared, and had his policy prevail
ed. it is not improbable that new political COM
binations might have superseded the old organ
izations and the names Wing and Democratic,
have gone into disuse.
Mr.. Fillmore, unlike his predecessor, was a
party man, and, while protesting great indie
pendence of party considerations, took care at
the outset that his Administration should be
thoroughly Wing. True, some Websterian
rhetoric was expended about the Gnion ;in,i
the necessity Of maintaining it by great Union
party. but all that was Intended for the benefT
rather of distinguished member of the Ad-
ministration, than of the Administration itself
Mr. Fillmore adopted what are called the Com
promise measures, gave them the whole weight
of his influence, and called upon the Wing
party to yield support, or at least assent, to
his policy. Positive appreciation of course he
could not require but acqiescence, it was
claimed he had right to demand, especially
as his Administration was decidedly Wing.
As agitation subsidized old party lines began
to reappear Wing politicians were not blind
to the advantage of sustaining a Wing Admin
istraton, determined to secure the triumph of
Wing principles, and they sought everywhere to
win for its measures on the Slavery Question:
acquiescence where open approval was impOs-
sible
This general effort to reOrganize the Wing
party strongly favored the labors of the Demo-
cratic leaders for tn Reorganization of their
forces When the Rgs North and South
were preparing sps6g unler their ancient
banner, why should've Democracy remain di-
vided and scattered? The old watchwOrds of
party were revived The exiting issues grow
ing out of the acquisition of territory from
Mexico, were disposed of it was said-why
persist longer in an agitation that could have
no other result than thsAeRhppance IN power
of Wing Adminis But, he Demo
Gratis OF the Nouth M me leau geheraily
d67f higs. Hence L beoame necessary to con-
ciliate them by larger concessions than were de-
manded of Northern Wings for the sake of
Union-espeeially as Southern Wings had an
Administration already in their interest North
ern Wings were required to acguiesee in the
| Compromise and Fugitive Law - Northern
Democrats, to approve of them This was the
demand strenuously unfortunately made by
the Washington Union, the national organ of
the Democratic party From the time when
the Compromise measures were passed, up to
this date, it has constantly insisted upon this
policy as the indispensable condition to the re-
union of the Democratic party. The Demo-
Gratis of Virginia, having agreed to the Com
promise, were bound, it held, to declare to the
North their unalterable determination to coun.
tenance no man or set of men who would not
thoroughly sustain it,
The condition of the country, the safety of
the Union, demand that the Southern Democ-
racy should be fully understood on this point.
Willing to yield much for the sake of the Union
and to acquescc in the past, the Democracy of
Virginia will insist upon strict justice for the fu-
ture, and will affiliate with no party or faction
at the North which does not come ont SquarefU
an tdUOr Of maintaining the compact IN IT'S FIJI
force, and Of emphGticaiiy and explicitly repro
batting FURTHER agitation Of the slavery question"
This has always been its language; and we
know what has come pass, The Democracy of
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Indiana, and New
York has acceded to this demand in its length
and breadth The Democratic State Conyen-
ton of Ohio made no other response TO it, than
| by reafirmng it's old resolutions on the subject
of slavery, but this prudent reserve was design
ed to secure the control of the State in the en-
suing election: of the disposition of the Ohio
Democracy to sustain the old Baltimore plat
form and whatsoever candidate may be regu-
larry nominated at Baltimore, its support of
General Cass in 1913 is a sufficient guaranty.
On every side the indications are manifest,
that the Wings are rapidly reorganzing their
forces on the basis Of acquiescence in the Com
promise, and the Democrats, theirs, on the basis
either of acquiescence or avowed and jealous
support. Party lines are beginning to be as
strongly marked as ever. We are to have Ma
tional Conventions of the old parties in which
the South will be represented just as usual, and,
just as of old, exercise its controlling voice in
the nominations. The Slavery Question will
hardly disturb their deliberations so much as
it did in lSiS.-so adroit has been the prelimi-
nary discipline to which the parties in their
State politics have been subjected The action
of the Democratic State Convention of New
York is pledge of support to Houston, Poin-
sett Douglas, or anybody else whom the Ma
tional Convention may nominate that of the
Wing Convention guarantees the support of
New York Wings even to Mr. Fillmore, should
the National Convention make him the nomi-
nee
so much for the position of the Wing and
Democratic parties, As 10 Presidential cand-
dates, il is impossible 10 speak with much con-
tdence. AT one time the prospects of General
Scott seemed to eclipse those of any other Wing
candidate. His non-cOmmittal position on the
questions which had for years agitated the
country was thought 10 be in his favor, and
doubtless would have been could National
Convention have been prevented But in such
Convention, this position must be abandoned,
or his nomination will be impossible No in
teiligent man surely can expect the Wings of
the South again to Taylorize themselves, Gen
eral Scott must make up his mind to endorse
the Compromise and Fugitive Slave Law, or he