The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-20
CITY OF WASHINGTON.


vzna under the lead OF Governor Johnston In opposing
the legislation necessary TO give complete effect to the
-slavs awto the conduct OF the authorities Of
Boston in refusing to Mr. Webster the Of Fansu Hall
when urging the people OF Massachusetts to put down
the abolition the letter Of Mr. Seward encouraging
opposition the recent Compromise the
other circumstances which exist, showing the wish Of
large portions of the northern section Of the wing party
to persevers in that cannot fail to weaken
the bonds of the Union--the occasion seems fit
TO cast glance At the causes OF such deplorable
state Of facts Whence comes it to pass that large
bodies Of the American people, having no interest
directly in the subject Of slavery. less mindful of the
constitutional rights of their southern brethren than they
are Of those Of foreign nations with which we have trea
ties containing the very principle involved in the fugitive
slave law. In our treaties with England, France, and
Germany we have contracted engagements TO deliver
fugiyes from Justice, and we have never heard OF de-
mand arising under these treaties being unexecuted No
clamors for the habsas corpus and the trial by jury
have rendered the execution OF these treaty obi
cations impossible The Englishman, the German,
or the Frenchman, if charged with crime in the
couatry from which be has fed TO shores, can be
dragged from this asylum OF liberty and not can
be heard from sympathzng patriots in the northern
States but if the negro amongst them, consltu
ton and laws must give way, in order that he may
cape the responsibility he the State from which he
has illegally fed. There must be some deeper solution
Of this remarkable perseverance, in wrong than the mere
suggestions OF philanthropy or msdreced zeal for the
cause OF freedom
In our Judgment the true of this evil lies deeper
and is to be found in The mistaken views Of the wing
party for long series OF years and it be
entirely eradcated until this party reraces its steps, and
falls back principles which natural our federal
sysem far at least they should be NATIONAL and not
local sectional Such principles this party had
under the lead Of Hamilton and the elder Adams bu, it
has never had them under the name OF whigery, which
was term borrowed from the British monarchy, and will
not be perpetuated in this country, in Judgment
without assimating the institutions OF this republic to
those Of England Il cannot be denied that at the time
the opposition to General Jackson received from Mr.
Clay in the Senate OF the United States the baptisma
name Of Wig. ii was composed chiefly Of old
fsderaiss and those dissatisfied men whom the fair
course Of elections had thrown out Of power and place.
and that from that day te this the action OF this party
has become less and less national in its organization
and more and productive OF sectional strife in its
influences As long as Mr.. Clay himself was made the
DeNteI Oh Pdltys
and forms of action were distinctly and openly declared
but is certain that, whilst they were thus declared they
Invariably rejected by the great body Of the Ameri
can people
In 1910, 1884, and ls4s, this party merely nominated
candidates. evading the responsibility Of declaration
Of the principles it sought establish and aiming the
presidency by combinations formed without, reference TO
4 national platform. General Harrison was run as
hank man in some places. and anti. bank man in
other places General Taylor was run as the friend OF
The Wmoi Provso in one section, and as its opponent
in another.
party thus characterized has not attained its objects
without impressing lis features upon the country and
what these features are is becoming too well known and
too much felt in the present crisis to be mistaken Anti
rentsm. abolitonism Sewardsm, and free -soilism-a
proceeding from the source like the circle OF the
wave which is enlarged by the force OF its agita-
ionhave each in their turn exerted their power against
the democratic cause until at last their increased force
has become strong TO endanger the ship OF
State. When it was supposed that all these bad
elements could be quoted by The Wilmot Provi.o,
there was hardly prominent whig in the northern
section OF the Union who did not hail il harmless
coud-a cloud which had thunder in ii, to be sure.
bal thunder which would not injure, while il would
purify the political atmosphere Even prominent indi
viduals began claim such thunder their own. not
thinking that it had lightning in il which they could no,
CONTROL and which might seattle all that stood in IFS way
Ia is4s Gen Taylor and Mr.. Fillmore were elected !;
and what the results The various elements COM
bined in the election and, coherng from opposite
uves, became bitter and unmanageable. Where the
oaa was no, national, the supersuc,ure could but be
sectional The ree-soiers in the northern States in
sucted their representatives in Congress to maintain the
Wlmo Proy.o II fashionable to call the ins,iln-
lion Of slavery national evil and every engine was
employed TO give effect 10 the passions Of local prejudice
and mortified personal ambition,
Looking back these events and recalling the posi-.
ton and conduct Of parties in respect the Proviso Of
Mr. Wlmot, we believe do not when we say that
NOT wing OF any eminence in the northern section OF
our Union rebuked free sosm before the
meeting OF the last Congress Nor do recollec tina,
Jingle wing member OF the northern State legislatures
refused TO vote the instructions which were to make Con-
CESS adopt this unfortunate movement against the south
sn S,aies-a movement which was to be regretted as
much for the excitement il was calculated to pro.
F ducs az for the real injary which would follow
me assertion OF the right Of excluding slavery from the
territory acquired from Mexico. II we arc mistaken in
hese assertions. invite the National Infeil,gsaeer
md the Republic to correct We call upon them TO
MENTION the name Of any prominent wing Of the northern
Mates who opposed free soism before the last Congress
net, or even any nrom me nj one in hg egslature nj