The republic., 1851-12-20
[Foa THE nEpuBLrc.l
The Democratic Caucus.

caucus, will still hold the mirror up to certain
faces. | charge that, to keep up a party or
ganlzaton and TO effect minor objects, the De-
mocratlc caucus did, in rejecting the resolution
OF MIR. Polk, most shamefuily, and at most
lnlPortant Juncture, tamper with that Compro-
mise, and thus present to the country a combi-
nation which, while il may keep up party or
ganzation, can only result in future evil to the
country. charge that, TO elect Speaker and
other officers, they did, for the time at least,
compromise their ayowed principles, by refrain
ing to do that which prominent men of the
party had said they ought to do, and 1oouLd do,
before the caucus met.
that as far as their want of action goes it is
calculated, justly, by the mode OF reasoning adopt
ed by themselves, to create suspicions that the De-
mocratic leaders, would be leaders, are combin-
ing with revolutionists and factionsts instead OF
coming out boldly and setting them at defiance.
That they did, in the rejection of Mr.. Polk's reso-
| luton succumb to these factionists and withhold
proper and timely expression ofopnion on, and de-
claration of, the support of great national mea
sure, based in its most important feature on the
most important and plairest provision Of the Con-
| stitution.
| This must have been the view taken by the dis
tingushed Democratic gentleman from Virginia,
as his subsequent votes prove He did not vote for
| the nominee of that caucus.
| | charge that the members OF that caucus did in
the action taken, show that they preferred the sup
port of Democratic Freesoilers and Abotionists to
| Compromise southern and northern IPhigs. And |
ask how does this course compare with the patri
otto course of the southern Wing people and lead
ers, who, in corgia and Mississippi. have recent
ly united with the Democratic people, and certain
patriotic leaders, 10 crush the dangerous heresy of
| secession and to sustain the Compromise?
| Am not warranted in this assertion? Had no
| caucus nomination been made, il is obvious that
the Wings, who could not have elected any OF the
officers by separate action, would have voted with
the Compromise Democrats for Compromise De-
mocrat for Speaker; and that man may have been
| the Speaker elect. The remarks of Mr.. Cabell, of
| Florida show this, and / doubt not he spoke the
sentiments of large majority of the Wing mem
bers But what was the result? The Wing Com
promise vote shows what opinion they entertained
OF the ominous combination by which the Speaker
and other officers elected, and they preferred
| to throw away their votes rather than sanction
such course This was the position assumed by
Compromise and conservative JYhigs and Demo
! Gratis.
| What though Mr.. Boyd ID a Compromise man !!
He holds his position by the influence of such men
| as Rantou, Cleveland, and Preston King and his
election presents to the country triumph of that
measure in the Legislative department" of the Gov
| ernment. According to the candid averment Of
the Post, precisely the contrary is true. How could
it be otherwise? The same thing has been done
here in the National Legislature, which has, with
ominous import and decided effect, been done
| elsewhere and in other latitudes. Resolutions in
favor of the Compromise have been again and
| again "lad on the table" ssLaid on the table, in
Ohio; "laid on the table, in New York; laid on
the table by the Democratic caucus here.
But why is this action ominous and significant
of coming evil? certain revolutionary party,
sailing under the flag of humanity and philanthropy,
in the various free States, in small minories Ihope
in all, by uniting with other parties, control
the elections. They form the balance-ofpower
party If their absorption into the Democratic
party would neutraze them, and render them in
nocuous, would view the process with profound
qualification. If their mouths could be stopped by
being filled with their share of the 'foaves and
hshes,' for which they bargain in their coalition,
would not object. If the rank revolution whch
they preach could be rendered harmless, | would
rejoice. Butby these coalitions they come in with
poWer They come in as equals They come in
and weaken the moral force of those they join.
Here union is indeed strengh but it is the strength
which may rend this Union The parties coalescing
| are each rendered more corrupt. The very terms
OF the compacts form bonds of dangerous import.
II 10 not much the union of opinion a union to
effect unholy objects. union to get and pcrpetu-
ate power, where conscience, patriotism, national
good. and quiet are passed by to clutch the spols.
union by which the spoils are divided as the
'fstuf in a sacked city. A union by which thou
sands of honest patriots are mis- represented.
union by which such Sumner, Rantoul,
and others, have place in national councils,
where they can preach revolution and "agitate."
| Let Mr.. Meade say what he may, he cannot de-
stroy "fixed facts.'' He, southern opponent of
| the Compromise, is found "cheek by jowl'' with
Rantoul Cleveland, and other northern oppo-
| nents.
| Il was fine specimen of the ridiculous to hear
him. with the evidences of his coalition around him.
| in the very midst of the drama, call on the Wings
to come over to his party and aver that all the pu
rity, all the patriotism all virtue with him.
| This was appropriate in one who was "part and
parce' of the coalition. For one, will say that
| | feel proud of the position of the Whig party.
Proud that we have such hghminded and honest
man at the head of the Government-a man dis-
tngushed for the highest attributes of man, stern
| independence and official rectitude. Whatever
| opposition he may meet, however he may be over
whelmed by the times, history will do him Justice
| "Recorded honors will gather around him." and
| his SERVICES ana MS worth De yet estimated at
| their sterling value
As far as the Wing party is concerned, endorse
the declaration of Mr. Brooks Let all those who do
not mean to stand by the Constitution, by solemn
constitutional and legal compact, go out from US.
Let all the "Free Democrats" shoulder their bud
| gets and march. We ask not the strength they
give by remaining; proud of the weakness
| they may effect by going. Let the Wing party
maintain the conservative ground it has ever held
| and that ground is the Constitution. There is,
firmly believe, conservatism enough in the ooun-
try to its institutions; and, if there is not the
sooner know it the better. If we fall let Us fall
graspng the pillars of the Constitution five fall
| party, we still may have our influence as men;
and in the hour of need we may be useful.
feel assured, and the history of the times will
prove it, that the Wing party has always boon con-
servative. Recent manifestations have been given
of this fact. In the South they have willingly
united with the honest Union Democrats. They
are willing to unite with the honest Union men of
the North-not to get the spoils; not to effect the
mere ends of party; but to present body of men
th, Ir,,;n