Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1851-12-25

L u
fers the following admOnitOry, temperate
and sensible remarks upon the approach
ing Presidential contest /:
A National COnsention has. for some
years past, designated the candidate OF
each party-and that candidate has re-
ceived his full party support. Tie con-
! test was thus between the parties,-and
the result tested their relative strength.
II seems doubtful at present, whether
this mode Of procedure viii be followed
in 1852. The organization OF both par
ties has been disturbed. Other elements
have been introduced into party creeds
than those by which they eaye hitherto
been marked. New tests are applied
and political parties ars taking their shape
upon other principles. and with reference
TO other questions than those with which
they have hitherto been concerned.
The Wing party, for example. will
probably endeavor to hold a Convention
on its old platform--of protection to
American Industry, Internal Im-
provements, restric' ion Of Executive Pow.
er, DC, DO. They will probably seek to
stand before the country just as they
stood in 1870, with Gen. Harrison. in
1914 with Henry Clay, and in Is4s With
Gen. Taylor. as their candidates. But
this is not likely to be allowed. Wings
from the South declare that they cannot
go into Convention on such ground. A
new TEST must be introduced-a new is
sue raised new measure inlerpolated
into the Wing creed, to enlist their CO.
operation. The Wings of the whole
country in convention must proclaim ad-
herence to the Compromise Bill. and to
the Fugitive Slave Law without amend.
ment. as their creed. or else the Southern
delegates will withdraw! Senator Tombs
Of Georgia. having carried the State up.
on the Compromise platform, declares
that the Wings there will act with the
Wings Of the Union only upon that plat.
form. Portions Of the party, IN various
sections of the Union, thus dictate terms
to the National Convention. And wheth
er those terms are accepted or not, tbs
organization Of the party is broken-its
unity greatly impaired. and its power, Of
course. diminished.
1t is very clear that it the Wing party
OF the Union as such. is to support any
candida,e-Ee must be tclected BY Ma.
tional Convention. That mode Of selec
ton doubtless has its evils but expert.
ence proves that IL is the only practical
method Of uniting upon nominee. II
no sucn convention can be haG--if the
Wing party cannot SO far agree upon
principles as to act together for that pur,
pose-thsn eacl, section must act for it,
self-support its own candidate and abide
by the result. It may be necessary, bu
it is very clear that it will not lead u
victory. 19 ~
| In our opinion, il is not at all likely
that the Wing party Of Ohio. New York
or New England. can be held together
upon such platform as the Southern
Wings insist upon as essential Th'
form Of the party organization may pos
slbly rcmain-but its strength will van
Iish .t
The only escape from the dilemms
|
horns. Both sections mustagree to DROP
the subject upon which they differ. and
refuse TO insert new tests or new princi.
Piles into the party creed. A sectional
question should not be made ma coma
issue. The whole party must allow diff
ferent sections to hold different opinion:
upon sectional subiec:s-and to unite up
on those points which they hold in con,
mon. If this degree Of federation canno,
be granted, as it has been hitherto. the
party must be destroyed-in the nature
Of the case such result is inevitable.
i The New York Tribune thus lays dowr
its ground
Tho Wing party, as such. is not {
pro slavery nor an anti-slavery party
though there are pro-slavery and anti
slavery Wings. We are willing TO e.
i into a Convention of the entire Viii.
party ,uowipate candidates no are know
as reliable Wings. put them before tn
country on old fashioned Wing principle
and give them united and hearty sup
port. But If a majority 10 any naliona
Convention which may be held shall Sc,
fit to interpolate into the party creed al
entire new and strange article respectin!
Slavery. and make 'acquiescence' in it
test Of Wing orthodoxy. nominating n,
man who does not promptly utter Oh
new Shibboleth to their satisfaction-wh,
: then, we say, the minority will he com
pletely absolved from all obligation t
support nomination which practically
), prescribes and ostracises themselves
There are more of those who general
accord with Us who cannot come down I
1 it than are ready to go beyond It,"
e ~ While the people of England ar
g expressing their admiration of Kossutl
' and their detestation Of Austria and Rus
b ria. the Queen. as If to heal the Wounds