The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-02

!
journal observes that it has g the best authority
for saying" that all who ''under cover of any
miserable pretext should secretly or publicly
oppose the success of his party ticket or its
principal candidate Governor JoHNsToN)-
u any such there be-,cH be regarded as the
enemies Of The Administration. We appre-
bend that Governor JOHNSTON has not sought
TO coerce Mr. FILLMORE; nor Mr.. FILLMORE
TO coerce the WINGS of Pennsylvania in their
exercise of the elective franchise by unbecom-
ing menaces, or by any interference in their
affairs. 1t is no part of the PRESIDENTS duty
to supervise the action of State conventions, or
to advise with regard to their nominations, OF
to dictate the terms an which men must act, on
the pain of being regarded as his enemies. Ii
is enough to say that the PRESIDENT regards
all who rally upon the principles of his annual
message as friends of the Administration-an
that he knows no enemies but the enemies of
his country.
he resolutions of the Convention, it seems
to US, are open 10 no just exception. They as
sert that the people and government of Penn
sylvania are loyal to the Federal Constitution,
and ready at all hazards to carry its provisions
into effect. They claim from the Wines of
the State a faithful observance of the adjust
ment measures of the last Congress- and
fixed determination to maintain the supremacy
of the laws. They express an unbounded CON
fdence in the Administration of President
FILLMORE, and challenge for it the respect"
of foreign nations and the gratitude" of his
own country. On other topics they embody
the well-known opinions of the WHIGs of
Pennsylvania; we might say, perhaps, the we'll
opinions which have been too often betrayed
and disappointed by their DEMOCRATIC repre-
sentatives.
We do not well see how men could be called
upon to speak more strongly than the WHIGs
of Pennsylvania have spoken in regard to the
Compromise and President FILLMORE. They
have expressed themselves in clear and decided
language, and have come up without reserva-
tion TO the principles of the last annual Execu-
tive message. Nor is their position weakened
by the rejection of the amendment of Mr.. JOHN
Nj. ScoTT, of Philadelphia, making special APP
plication of their expressed principles TO the
constitutional provision in regard to fugitves
from labor. The greater includes the less.
Men who pledge themselves to sustain at all
hazards all the provisions of the Constitution,
| cannot enlarge or strengthen their obligation
by separate promise to observe a particular
clause oft. In some respects it might have been
more satisfactory if the Convention had adopted
ne hS hat
which includes its substance in more general
terms-but that WING must have very sub
tie and elastic conscience who can by any
casuistry withdraw the subject of this 4mend-
ment from the field covered by the resolutions
of the convention. So far as the rejection of
Mr.. SCoTT's amendment may be construed or
misconstrued as an implication against the faith
full observance Of the provision in regard to fu-
gitives, we Of course regret it; but in view of
the positive and satisfactory language of the
original resolutions, we consider such an mpli-
cation too vague and remote to be Of conse-
quence.
Such an implication, besides, is repealed by
the selection of General SCOTT as the most de-
serving candidate whom the WHIGs could pre-
sent for the Presidency of the United States.
Distinguished as is that eminent soldier by his
long and illustrious services-world- wide as 10
his renown for the achievement of those bril-
liant victories which have eclipsed the fame of
CoRTEz on the very theatre Of his marvellous
explots-endeared to his countrymen by his
humanity no less than he is everywhere sig
nalized for his valor and his wisdom; and SIDE
serving' as all these considerations may render
him of the elevation which the Wines of Penn
syvana declare to be his due, it is still first
and foremost among his claims TO the gratitude
and respect Of his country that he labored, for
period, as warmly and earnestly as Mr.. CLAY
himself, to bring about the passage Of this very
series Of measures which have crowned the
great statesman of Kentucky with the brightest
and greenest laurels that circle his venerable
brow. And in justice to General ScoTT we
feel called upon to add that there is no man in
the Republic who has expressed himself in
warmer and more emphatic language in com
mendation Of that policy of President FILL
MORE which has been so cordially and unre-
servedly endorsed with the confidence of the
| WINGS Of Pennsylvania.
|
TruthfuI-InCenuous!