The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-18

The Wing papers denounce the acting GOV
ernor of Mississippi for appointing Col McRae
to fill the uneXE ired term of Jefferson Davis in
the Senate of the U States. The ground of their
objection is, that McRae belongs, like his distin-
guished predecessor, to the State Rights wing
OF the Democratic party. This, we confess,
would be very formidable objection, if every
body believed that sovereign States were little
more than municipal establishments, and that the
old fashioned notions of Jeff, rson and his fol-
lowers on The relations of the federal and State
governments, are unsouud, irrational and trea.
sonable.
II Jefferson, and his disciples have been wrong,
Governor Whitfield is certainly naughty fel.
low for appointing so rank traitor to that au-
gust assembly of conscript fathers The gov
ernor is, in private life, circumspeot and cautions
man, with a large stake in the peace and pros
perity Of the country. OF all the public men of
our acquaintance, he is the most averse to agita-
ton, having been for many years a member of
the church. and approaching in their full force
the words of our Saviour, blessed are the peace
makers" lie knows, intimately, all the public
men of Mississippi, and the exercise of the
executive patronage has been, and will continue
to be, in his hands, a matter of careful enquiry
and OF conscience. He will be very certain to
appoint sound and reliable Democrats, who
maintain tie doctrines of Jefferson, Macon and
Jackson, and go for preserving the integrity and
union of the Democratic party as the best means
of preserving the Union of the States With
this view of tie case, the reproaehes cast upon
the governor have no sting. lie will stand not
only acquitted, but applauded by the Democracy
of the country
The resignation of Jefferson Davis made a
vacancy not easily supplied His brilliant ac-
tons in battle; his clear and forcible arguments
in the Senate; his courtly address, and his in
tense and lofty loyalty to his native State and to
the Constitution Of the republic, commanded
always for him. and will continue to command
the admiration of his friends and the respect
of his opponents. Recent events have only
made him more conspicuous, and from the secu-
sion OF his farm those qualities that rendered
HIM so much the object of observation here
tofore, will glow with brighter and enduring
lu>lre.
The vacancy he left, required man of talents
a man of nerve man or unsuled personal
honor; man enjoying and deserving the con.
hdence Of the people; man fearless Of respon-
sibllity, ard willing to sacrifice popularity, fame
and station, rather than shrink from Just cause.
public duty or conscientious conviction: a
man who by a long term of services merited
farther promotion; and above all, man who
belonged to The old line enocracu-tba,
Democracy which recognizes as its leaders JEFF
ferson and Jackson-and which, dsrepardino
temporary differences upon isolated questions
always look to the reunion and indivisibitv
of the party in presidential contests, as the sheet
anchor and safety guard of the republic.
The governor found such man in Col Me-
Rae, Though still young, he has filled with
credit Offices of trust under the State and fede.
raj governments. He has been twice speaker of
the house of representatives. He is man of
finished education, and ready, adrot and elo
quent debater. At the recent election he had
been returned TO the senate Of the State by
large majority and he comes from section of
Mississippi which has ever been the bulwark of
the Democratic party, and has never failed To
support it's regular nominations His appoint
ment was due, therefore, not only to his own
merit, but to geographical position: and if left
to the people of eastern Mississippi, where the
great body of the Democratic party resides. il
would be ratified by acclamation
In the late contest in that State Col. McRae
opposed the compromise olicy The anti.eom
promise ticket was defeated This, say the
wing Journals, should have excluded Col. Me
Rae. Not SO, messeurs. The State has not SO
decided at the late election the people of
mississippi did not even approve the comprb-
mise. Not at all. They merely decided not to
appeal nom, and not unit, farther aggression
compelled them, 10 the only remedies suggested
secession or resistance. Even the Union con
yenlion did not endorse the compromise. On
the contrary, 1t expressed its disapprobation of
several oil It's features All that the people and
'he convention have decided, is, that acqui.
escence, under existing circumstances, has be.
come a duty. From The date of that deci
sion, what is there TO divide the Democratic par.
yf The feud should no longer exist Cover
nor Whitfield very wisely recognizes no such
division as Union Democrats, or State Rights
Democrats. The Democracy presents now nm un.
broken font. Those who would perpetuate
distinctions, are traitors to their party, and are
preparing the way for Wing triumphs The
Democrat who would exclude those members
OF The party an account of fomer opposition to