Daily American telegraph., 1851-12-29

Compromise. This made it necessary to create
belief that we had no alternatives between the
Compromise and disunion. To do this, Messrs.
Cobb and Foote and theirassociates denounced Mr..
Rhett and South Carolina, hoping that, by iden-
tifing Mr.. Rhett with the State, they could or
ganize Union party in the South, to consist OF
the whole body of the friends of the Administra-
ton, and such of the Democratic party as they
could carry with them, which could control the
elections of the South. AS both parties IN the
North Wings and Democrats under the lead of Mr.. :
Clay and Gen. Cass were anxious to prepare for the
approaching Presidential election by an adjust
ment of the California question, and the death
of Gen. Taylor had brought Mr.. Webster into
power, both parties in that section united in de-
mandng an adjustment They were the more
earnest in this demand, because they apprehended
| that further agitation would unite the South in
measures of retaliation, which would greatly pre-
judice the commercial and manufacturing inter
ests; and hence all parties at the North, the en-
| tire Wing party of the South and such of the
Democracy of the South as acted with Messrs.
| Cobb and Foote, united in demanding the Com
promise as the only means of saving the Union.
| 1t was not surprising that, under such circum-
stances, the leaders Of the Union party should la
Dor to create belief that all who didnot approve
of their course were identified with Mr.. Rhett-
that all who were not for the Compromise were
for disunion. 1t was in vain that this charge was
denied. The " Union" newspaper, edited by Mr..
Richie, the venerable organ of the party, had
declared for the Compromise He had declared
that the Union was in danger; and, under the de-
| lusive panic thus created the Wing party in
| Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, making me-
rit of sacrificing their party organization, were
| led up in a body to the support of those Demo
cratic candidates who would declare for the new
| Constitutional Union party" The result has
been that Mr.. Cobb was elected Governor of
Georgia, Mr.. Foote was elected Governor of Mis-
sissippi and Mr.. Toombs Senator from Georgia.
If it had been true, as was alleged that the
issue in these elections was union or disunion,
the results in all the States, connected as they
were with the pretexts and disclaimers every
where made by the State Rights candidates and
the State Rights press, had fully demonstrated
| that the people of the South are SO much devoted
to the Union that no one could doubt their acqui
escence in the Compromise. Why, then, did
General Foote revive the question by his resolu-
ton in the Senate? Let us see
We have seen that Messrs Cobb and Toombs,
of Georgia, and Foote, of Mississippi, were
elected, not as Democrats, but as Constitutional
Union men,-that that party was made up for
the occasion by union of the entire Whig party
and such Democrats as the Constitutional Union
Democratic candidates could carry off from the
Democratic party Now, when we come to ana
lyze the Constitutional Union party, we find there
is so great preponderance of Whig material
that it is essentially Wing party, and that, con-
sequently, in the coming Presidential contest, it
must act with the Wing party, unless it be dis
solved and fall back into the old organization. |
General Foote saw that, in this case he would be
compelled to retire from public life; for he well
knew that he could not, in Mississippi, sustain
himself as Wing, and that he had given such
offence to the Republican State Rights party that
he had nothing to hope from them 1t, therefore,
is not surprising that he should labor to preserve
the organization Of the Constitutional Union party
and hence we find him at Montgomery, Alabama,
denouncing the State Rights party, declaring them
him renewing the agitation in Congress by COM
promise resolutions. Is it not papable that his |
motive is sef?--that he has raised a false clamor
about danger to the Union, to promote his sell
fish ends ?-and that he has used Mr.. Rhett as q
raw-head and bloody bones to frighten the people
of the South into belief that he is disinterested
patriot? Who does not see that he furnished Mr..
hott 4ha Gov .ba rorl
the Senate that he was disunionist, "a fact
which Mr.. Foote has well known for many, many
years, and that he rejoices in that declaration,
because his purpose is to use Mr.. Rhett, as he
has heretofore used him, as the sheet anchor of
his own political aspirations? Who does not
know that Mr.. Foote would have been driven into |
disgrace by the indignant voice Of his betrayed
constituents, had not Mr.. Rhett dsunion speeches
furnished him an apology for his political delin-
quency? SO much for the past, We come now
to the present and the future.
What should the State Rights party of the
South do? They cannot dissolve the Union if
they would, and they would not if they could
They are in the Union; they have rights under
the constitution which it is their duty to protect.
How is this to be done? Is it expedient for them
to strengthen the Wing party by agitatng the
Compromise measures2 Or is it not their true
policy to avail themselves of the example of the
Constitutional Union party to reorganize, in ref
erence to the next Presidential election, on such
basis as will secure the election of O candidate
who is entitled TO their confidence and support
For our own part we do not hesitate. We were
opposed to the Congressional caucus, because it
was an instrument in the hands Of designing men