The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-23
From the 81. Louis Intelligsncer.

The present is crisis in the history of the Wing
party. There are two alternatives before it. One
is, to ally itself with the northern factonists and
by skilful maneuvring so arrange as to avail it.
self of the Free soil influence, and thereby seek TO
force the Wings of the South and West into the
support of a candidate whose sympathies tend that
way. The other is, to stand upon our old, time.
honored, national platform, eschewing coalitions
with factions, North South-rebukng the dan
gerous fanaticism of the one, and denouncing the
dsunion practices of the other Which of these al
ternaives will the Wings choose? If they prefer the
former. the party will be dishonored, and rent into
fragments. No system Of party tactics, no dra-
gooning by party leaders, can force the Wings
of the South and West to consent to any coalition,
secret or open, express or implied, with northern
abolitionists southern nullfers. That certain
scheming politicians at the North are seeking to
drive the party into this fatal position think ad-
mts of no doubt. But we warn these gentlemen that
they are trying dangerous and fruitless expert
ment. No national convention, however organ
lied, can entrap seduce the Wings of the South
and West into the support of any candidate who is
not fully and thoroughly committed to the support
and defence of the Compromise measures, not only
because they clothed with the authority of law
but because they are in themselves just, and nc
more than just, to the South. If the northern
Wings attempt 10 force upon US a candidate with
Free-soil tendencies, the inevitable result will be
that the Wings of the South and West will nomi
nate candidate of their own, who is known to be
sound on the subject and will adhere to him
through evil and through good report, preferring
an honorable defeat TO an ingorious victory.
We express our opinion this subject freely
frankly and plainly, because it is high time thai
there should be full understanding between
Wings of the different sections of the Union on this
subject 1t is not TO be denied that there is pow
erful party at the North of those who have hereto
fore acted with the Wing party, who appear re.
solved to renew and continue this slavery agita.
ton. We of the West and South, on the contrary,
equally resolved that it shall cease Regard
ing the Compromise measures as q fair settlement
of the whole matter at issue, believe it to be our
highest duty, as patriots, to adhere to and sus-
tain those measures earnestly, efficiently, and
faithfully. We the more resolved upon
this course because we believe that the safety
of the Union is involved in the result. No man
at all conversant with public sentiment at the
South can doubt that the repeal of the Fugitive
Slave bill would be the death knell Of the Union
Believing this; would be recreant to the highes
obligations of patriotism, if, for the sake of mere
party triumph, we would endanger all that hai
rendered US glorious nation, or happy ano
prosperous individual citizens. If the Wings
are to triumph, believe they can let it be a.
great national party, uphoding the Union anc
the national honor, eschewing all factions, spurn
ing all the arts of the demagogue, and rallying un-
der the banner of some noble leader who has evnc-
ed patriotism wide as our national domain, and
as impartial as the sun that lights it.