The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-20
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1851


The LINENS PrssIamAtion Of Federal FIN
eipIos.
The political history of this country IL seems
Il 10 he written. and the true doctrines OF pro-
gressye Democracy expounded, mol aiohe ny
MIR. BENTON, but also by "the private secretary
of Gen. JACKSON, who now edits the Union.
very curious, if not instructive chapter of that
forthcoming history appeared in the issue of
Thursday. We append it for the benefit of the
States Rights Democrats of the South, few of
whom might see it otherwise, owing to the lin
tied Southern circulation of that organ. A more
remarkable article, in many respects, never be-
fore appeared in print calling itself Democratic,
nor proceeded from the pen of any political wri-
ter repudiating the name of Federalist The ed
itor of the Inielligencer might have written such
an article, so far as the sentiments and the doc
trines are concerned, only he would have done
dered and boggled less in wading through the
slough of consolidation. Mr.. WEBSTER, athe
great expounder" of Federalism, might endorse
that editorial though the confusion of ideas, and
mistiness of meaning, which characterize it,
might render even his own pet doctrines dis
tasteful to him. The political heresies of the
Proclamation of Gen. JACKSON. Indignantly dis
owned by many of his strongest partzans on
the appearance of that document-denounced
by the Richmond Enquirer, then the strongest
Democratic organ at the Southland which
finally that man of iron will was compelled to
have explained away by his organ, the Globe
these are revived and advocated by his private
secretary-and adherence to them made the test
of genuine Democracy. What Gen. JACKSON
with all his popularity in the palmy day of his
power, while seated in the Presidential chair
could not do, his ex.secretary, perched on the
uneasy seat of the editorial tripod, hopes to ac
complish
If any additional testimony were needed to
satisfy Southern men as to the rapid strides that
Capitalization and consolidation are making at
this seat of government this editorial of the
Union would alone suffice TO convince the most
sceptical. None but the most bigotted and
blind partzan can shut his eyes to such proofs
as are presented mere.
That we may fix this thing conclusivcly on
the Union, and leave no loophole for equivoca-
ton or evasion, or pretext of our having mis-
represented its meaning, we give the editorial
entire-a compliment which its intrinsic merits
would by no means justify--were it not for the
testimony it gives of the federal proclivities
and consolidation doctrines of that print.
In this article, twill be seen, that Mr.. RHETr',
speech has been made the pretext and apolog,
tor the political exposition which is hung upol
it. The real object of the writer is apparent
and to that main point we shall direct the at
tention of our readers. 1t is not our purpose t.
take up the cudgels for Mr. RmETT.-Tha
gentleman has already spoken for himself o
the floor of the Senate, with marked ability an
fearless frankness That speech, when revised
shall appear in our columns.
Its puerities about the relative positions O
DIR. RHETT and this paper we will also pass BY
as unworthy of more than casual notice Tn
Union takes its nvec,ives and its inuendoes, a
it does its arguments, all at second hand An,
parrot can repeat by role the lessons learn
from passers-by-any organ can grind out thu
same screeching sounds, while its machiner,
lasts-but public patience will at last weary
the dull repetition
We had hoped, however, that the cant of tn,
compromise campaign would have been dropped
after new one had been entered into by thes,
patriots, who never weary in saving the coun
try" the chief plans of which were connected
with the Presidency and the public printing
the triumph of the party and the spoils thereof
In this we have been disappoin,ed-bu in re
Spouse would only again reiterate what we hav,
so often repeated-and what every one knows
that the Southern Press is what its name indi
cates-the special organ of no particular man
or etiquette creature of no little caba O
intriguing politicians aiming at federal office
place, or pay--but devoted to the great cause o
Southern rights, and the maintenance of al
constitutional guarantee, on which the peac
and prosperity of the South depends.
Those men and those measures that com
up to our standard, we will sustain-but we M
pledged to support the peculiar policy OF no II
dvidual-to obey the words of no master, b,
to adopt that course which, in our judgmen
seems best adapted to promote the great END
we have at heart, in common with every ctize
who knows his rights, and has the spirit to pre-
claim and maintain them. The attempt TO max
the Southern Press responsible for the speec
Of Mr. RHETT, (Which we have not had tn
pleasure of reading, and heard but in part,)
dsingenuous in the extreme. II is paltry a
tempt TO excite prejudice against the Pres
which it supposes to exist in reference to III
opinions of that gentleman. The trick is to
shallow, it only shows the desperate straits |
which the organ is reduced.
Before putting an extnguisher on the do
'rine embodied in the article, which we sha
very briefly do, by the production of an authori
little higher than the dicta of 9" the private 8