The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-23
TIE UNION COALITION.

Mr. Foote of the Senate has lately written
letter, denying that the Union meeting, proposed
to be held in Washington on the 22d February
was intended to be associated in any way with
the next Presidency. We accept Mr.. Foote'S
disclaimer for himself but we must believe
that he stands alone, or nearly So in this
respect. What Mass Meeting of politicians
in Washington under the lead of Presidential
aspirants few months before the canvass for the
next Presidency is to be opened, for the purpose
of sustaining certain great political movements,
declared by these same politicians to be of para
mount importance-to have no connection with,
no bearing on, the Presidential electio- &c, :.
sopronriatc niissHn Wi r
So, while the Castle Garden meeting was on
foot, it was declared that it was to be kept free
from all political considerations or purposes
and yet, that meeting appointed standing Com
mitee, which commenced political operations
forthwith, by getting up Union State ticket in
New York, and has since been actively employed
in trying to form a Union political organization
in all the States independent of the old parties !
When it is recollected that this Committee is
the prime mover of the Mass Union Convention
proposed to be held in Washington, on the 22d
of February, Mr. Foote'S disclaimer of political
intentions for himself cannot exempt from sus
picion the motives of the intriguing politicians
engaged in the movement.
That the plan of great Union party, for the
purpose of protecting and extending slavery, is
formed in high places we showed two weeks
ago. In addition to what was then said, we
call attention to the following extract Of a recent
letter from General Cass to a committee of politi-
clans in Baltimore:
"The Union is in danger. The evidence Of
this is borne to us by every breeze Measures
are advocated and urged, both in the North and
in the South, with zeal overlapping all discre-
ton, and with determination of purpose which,
if it does not despise danger, disregards it, and
which, if not turned from its object by patriotism
and moderation, will sound the knell of liberty in
this Republic Let every true American come
up to the good work. Let us all, Wings and
Democrats, unite in this holy duty, and rescue
the ark of the Constitution from the perils that
surround it, Let us preserve our respective
principles of policy and administration let the
Wing remain Wing, and the Democrat Dem
ocrat bm IN The great mork of protecting thus last
and hest refuge of human freedom from enernat and
internal foes lei ms join together head and heart, and
Tbs end once Obtained, ne can go on our may rgo'c'ng,
10 continue that contest Of action and Of opinion mhch
scans essential to The free and constitutional action Of
orr GoperHment0
Certainly this points to union Of the old par
ties, for the single purpose of maintaining the
measures Of the last session, Wings and Demo-
Gratis retaining their peculiar creeds, but holding
them in allegiance till the Union be placed out of
danger.
Everybody knows that this Is the burden Of
all ofDaniel Webster's speeches, and Of the news
papers representing him and General Cass
No less significant were the remarks of Mr..
Footo last Friday week, in the Senate. When Mr..
Dawson of Georgia undertook to denounce the
policy of giving away the public lands to the new
States, placing the interests Of the new and old
States in opposition to each other, Mr.. Foote re-
minded him that he was stepping off the Georgia
platform. cold party issues he said, were to
slumber until the great and national question
Of the day was settled The Republic was not
yet out Of danger, agitation was not yet complete
ly silenced. There were in certain quarters at
tempts being made by bargaining aud corruption
to keep alive spirit disastrous to the peace and
harmony Of the Union, Until such corrupt
practices were forever put down, he desired 10
see old panty lines drarn, nor old party issues re-
pipedD
IL this is not a declaration in favor of a coal-
ton of Wings and Democrats, in disregard Of old
party lines and old party issues in support of
the Compromise measures, and against anti-sla-
very men and measures, we cannot understand
the meaning of words
Kindred with these sentiments are the follow
ing from the Baltimore Amsriean, leading Wing
paper commenting upon the invocation Of the
Washington Union to the Democrats Of Massa
chusetts:
Such an invocation as this is like whistliug
against the wind. So long as the Abolitionists
in any State hold the balance Of power between
the two old parties 40 long will they control the
fate of every political contest, and be enabled to
dictate their own terms Of alliance with the one
party or the other. And see in what pitiful at
tituds the old party stands In such an alliance |!