The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-09

from Massachusetts, than Charles Sumner, and
the Washington Union would infinitely prefer
Webster Wing to Van Buren, Democrat And
in the South we find Governor Floyd advising
National Convention of the People OF all the
States without distinction of party, for the pur-
pose of securing satisfactory assurance from the
North that the Compromise, sO-called, shall be
carried out in good faith-that assurance doubt
less being, the nomination for the Presidency OF
a Union Hunker ticket, TO be sustained by
Union Hunker party. Next comes State Con-
vention in Georgia under the auspices OF Messrs'
Toombs and Stephens, who talk with contempt of
old party distinctions praise without stint Messrs
Bright, WhitcOmb, Cas-, Dickinson, Webster,
and declare themselves ia favor of selecting
Northern man of sound opinions for the next
Presidency The meeting adopts the platform OF
the late Convention of Georgia. and recommends
a National Convention, on the basis of this plat
form, to be held at Washington city, on the 22d
February!
Such is the aspect of the great Union Party, as
it styles ITSELF
What it means in the South, is easily under
stood 1t is necessary there to put down the
South Carolina movement for Disunion, and to
maintain the political standing of the supporters
of the Compromise against the assaults of the
Extremists. Beyond these temporary objects, it
aims to establish, either through the medium of
new organization or by action upon the old par
ties, dominant national inf uence in favor of sa-
very If it can succeed in effacing party distiuc-
ton at the North, and rallying majority Of
Northern People on the Georgia Platform, and
in support of q Union ticket, pledged to the main
tenance Of the fugitive Act and the suppression
of slavery agitation, what more can it desire
Understanding the movement as prosecuted in
the South, we can be at no loss to comprehend its
meaning in the North. Independently Of the
support of Messrs Webster Glass; and Dickinson
and their coadjutors, these Union meetings are
designed to subject Northern politicians to the
rule of the Sls'e Power-either by the organiza-
ton Of National Party on the Georgia platform,
or by forcing both the old parties to adopt this
platform The union aimed at is UNION FOR TIE
SAKE OF SLAvERY-for there is no political or
ganization at the North hostile to the Union
Where oil the voters are on one side, what is the
use of Partyl Joshua r. Giddings is as sim
cere friend of the Union as Daniel Webster.
Against whom or what is a Union Party at the
North to be arrayedl
We are not to be deceived by names. The new
party, we doubt not, is quite sincere in its at
tachment to the Union, but seeks to maintain the
Union by nationaiizug Slarey; and its motto
ought to be, Slavery and The UntOa one and nsep-
arabic, nom and forevsr"
Read the resolutions Of the Georgia Conven-
ton
Whereas the present exigency of public affairs
demands of patriots of all parties to unite for the
preservation of our rights and the union of these
States; and whereas the questions which have
heretofore divided the Wing and Democratic
parties Of Georgia were questions OF policy, affect
ing the administration of the Government, rather
than its existence, and by the course of events,
have greatly diminished in practical Importance,
and ought to be held subordinate to the funda-
mental questions now dividing the country
"Be Il therefore resOlued, That the friends of the
Union, in this State, organize themselves into
party, upon the principles of the report of the
Committee Of Thirty-Three, this day adopted by
the Convention now assembled and use all proper
means for the maintenance and success of these
principles throughout the State and the Union.
"Be IL furthsr resolued, That said party be known
as the Constitutional Union Party; and that we
IRE ready to extend the right hand Of fellowship
to the patriots sf all parts of the Mon, and Of all
political parties who agree with upon these
fundamental principles and that we will unite
in council with them on all proper occasions for
consultation, and to devise means for their
premacy throughout the whole extent of the Re-
public"
The principles of the report of the Committee
of Thirty-Three are the following:
Reputation of the Ordinance of 1887:
The Fugitive Act Of the last session, unaltered
in any essential point, and faithfully executed;
The perpetuation of slavery in the District of
Columbia:
The admission of States into the Union, with
out restriction as to slavery
Abstinence from the agitation in the North of
the Question of Slavery
And the full recognition and establishment
of these principles are made indispensable con-
ditons to the preservation of the Union.
This is the platform of the Union Party, at the
North as well as at the South and upon it we
find arrayed, the President of the United States,
Messrs. Webster Cass, Dickinson, Buchanan,
Dallas, Clay, Foote Cobb, Toombs, Stephens,
Hinked and supported by Messrs. Ketchum,
Duer, Brady, Mike Walsh, Captain Rynders, and
divers olergymeu who have lately been respond
ing to the appeals of the last-named gentry, by
preaching solemn sermons on the divinity and in
falibility Of the Powers That BE.
We, too, in common with the Free Soil men,
technically so called and with the real anti-sla-
very members of the Wing and Democratic par
ties, claim to be members of the Union Party,
but whose motto is" Union and Liberty one
and inseparable, Now and Forever"
As we shall not question the sincerity Of the
Union and Slavery Party, we hope they will not
question that of the Union and Liberty Party
Both aim to sustain the Union, but differ as to
the means One would accomplish its purpose by
Matchmaking Slavery the other, by Matchmaking
Liberty and localizng Slavery. If the former
triumph there must be irritation, discomfort, agi-
tatiou, alienation; for the millions of voters in
in this country who are opposed to slavery on
conscientious grounds can never rest while they
are forced to become politically responsible for it.
IT. on the other hand, the Union and Liberty Party
should triumph, Peace would be reostablished,
harmony be restored among the States, the Fed
eral Government be made the Protector of Inter-
ests common to them ALL not the slave and tool Of
an exacting Monopoly, while each State would
be left free to determine all questions pertaining
to its own institutions, according to its judgment
of what was right and proper.
1t remains to be seen whether the scheme of
this new Union Party can be contaminated
Whether it be or not the inevitable tendency Of
the action of its projectors is to force all the ques