Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-11
AUTHORIZED Agents for the Journal.
pennsylvania Politics.

have published with its endorsement the article from
the Philadelphia North american, headed 81 False
and True Issues We are surprised at it because
the statements in that article, to which most impor
lance seems to be given by the Observer, not
ly false, but so palpably false as hardly to require
contradiction he Observer, speaking Of Pennsyl-
vania. says:
There see the author of the Wmot Provso, the
fanatica Abotonst in the State member of the Demo
cratic Convention voting for the successful candidate fo
the nomination. appauded by the Convention which passed
such patriotic resolutions to which Southern
take exception and finally rewarded with the nomination
for a Judgeship."
Now, it so happens that. MIR. WILMoT was net q
member of the Reading Convention at all, and had
nothing whatever to do with it, that all the fine
words of the Observer are thrown away. Moreover
he not applauded by the Convention, neither
was he finally rewarded with the nomination for
Judgcship. The truth of the matter is that there
were two Democratic nominating Conventions in
Pennsylvania one which assembled in Reading for
the purpose of nominating candidates for Governor
Canal Commissioner and other political ofhces--and
another which afterwards met at Harrisburg for the
purpose of selecting candidates for the Supreme
Court bench, the constitution of Pennsylvania hav-
ing been amended to provide for the election of
Judges by the people Of the first Convention, which
alone possessed any political character passed any
political resolutions Mr.. WILMoT not mem
ber and with it he bad nothing to do. He was a
member of the Judicial Convention, but received no
nomination at any rate his name does not appear
upon the ticket. We believe that some months ago
lie received some local nomination from of the
Northern counties of the State. We think it would
be we'll for the Observer before endorsing the state
20 tI,r 70 into fbor
accuracy From this specimen we may judge of the
whole
As to the passage of the obnoxious act of the Penn
sylvania Legislature of March 3d. 1847 forbdding
the use of the as of tie State for the detention of
fugitive slaves the bill for the repeal of which Gov.
JOHNSON has refused to sign. we far from defend
ing the conduct of Mr.. BGLER if he did vote for it.,
nor that of Gov. SKUNK in signing it. These acts
were wrong. But between the conduct of the DEM
ocrats who assented to the passage of that obsruc-
ton act and the Wings who now sustain it. there
is an essential difference arising from the very DIFF
ferent position of circumstances in 1S47 and 1851
Then it simply isolated act, passed without a
proper appreciation of the results it was likely to
produce. and it is due to the Democrats in the Penn
svlvania Legislature to say that, those
suits began to develope themselves they abored for
its repeal and have since continued their labors,
until at the last session, they were crowned with
partial success-but that success was rendered nu-
gatory by the pocketing process Of Gov. JOHNSON.
Whereas in 1917 this an isolated act in 1851 it
stands in direct contravention Of the spirit of the
compromise acts of the last Congress- and its exis-
tence is violation of faith to the South. which re-
ceived equivalent for all her losses in the u-
gitive slave bill The fact that MIR. ScoTTs amend
ment to the Pennsylvania Wing resolutions endors-
ing the fugitive slave law rejected by vote OF
two to one combined with Gov. 'JoHNsoN's speech
shows the meaning to be put upon the professions Of
adherence to the compromise put forth by the Whig
party at the North. They will obey the compromise
until they get rid of all those parts from which
it derives any claim to the of compro
mise The Democrats wish to maintain the compro
mise as uhole. We suboin the concluding para
graphs of the Pennsy vanans reply to the article
the NORTH american:
Mr.. Wilmot was not in the Reading Convention
and had more to do with its proceedings than tn
man in the moon. He raS in the Harrisburg Con
vention, where political resolutions passed
and none offered. beyond unanimous endorsement
of the nominations and proceedings of the Readn!
Conventions. Equally absurd and laughable is it
attempt to make Democrats of such men Sumner
Chase, and Rantoul, when it is notorious that the
have been openly repudiated by the National Demo
Gratis of the States in which they live, and by tn
National Democrats of every other State in the Tn
ion. Logic like this will do for children, but not 70
reading thinking, and responsible men. How utter
ly such an attempt to deude sinks before the goo
and insurmountabIe fact that the chosen Wing lea
ders the successful Wing rulers-of every Stat
in the North--are abotonists, and instead of bein
repudiatcd, as all such pretcndcrs by the Demo
cracv, are retained at the head of the Wing army
with complete and absolute powers. Will the Mort
american dare to say that Sumner Rantoul an
Chase. are not repudiated by the National Demo
cracyl Wilt dare to deny that Johnston Steven
and Sullivan of Pennsylvania. Wade, and Ewing.
Ohio Seward. Fish Weed. and Greedy of New Yorl
Winthrop and Briggs of Massachusetts, Slade
of Vermont and Baldwin of Connecticut are nj
now the leaders of the Wings of the North, in flu
command, and the controllers of all the authenti
movements of that party! We pause for replies.
SO far Colonel Bigler is concerned let the Mort
dmer'ean rest entirely easy. He is the political ar
tpodes of Governor Johnston, and to win all the o
fees in the civil list would not occupy the postio
of the Wing candidate. He is with his party on til
great question of the day he is with it thorough
and ardently holding no one sentiment in qua
ter to be repudated in another. He has met the i
sues presented without quivering. without hesit'
ting. without paltering in double sense; and it
in vain for the North american to go back to sho
that his present position is insincere inconsisten
Col. Rgler has always been national and right
his views of the Constitution. We have alread
abundantly explained his course in regard to tt
Obstruction Law. All classes repose confidence
his integrity his ability, and his devotion to IL
National Constitution They know the man. The
believe in him. They see in his whole charact
the elements that deserve their respect and that