The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-10-29
The Union OF the Democracy.

The Union OF the Democracy
II is gratifying notice that many OF the journals
of the South receive in terms of kindness and approba
ton the general views which have felt it our duty
10 Sc, forth in relation 10 the future operation Of the
democratic party platform truly national IN its prn.
cpes and objects Previous the recent elections there
was tendency both in the North and South TO overlook
what was due to those features which constitute
onal democracy. In the North, for example, where
public sentiment naturally inclined to the fear that the
legislation of the past Congress in respect TO slavery il
made party test treDched upon the great rights Of free
discussion and debate apprehended that too much
encouragement would be given 10 influences not suth-
GENTLY compr and just Ii said that the
Compromise was not strictly party measure and that to
make il lea ling test OF political orthodoxy would give
to such men as Mr. Fillmore and his cabinet officers
pre,ensio 10 democratic support On the other hand in
The South, where public sentiment, accustomed 10 vigil
lance in behalf of the reserved rights of the States,
easily alarmed at the progress OF ideas which subjected
the Institution Of slavery TO supervision not sanctioned
by the constitution, the transition to state OF sectional
defiance and even resistance. natural. The
tone in respect to the Compromise in this section
of the Union, that it yielded nothing TO the South
which the constitution had not already guaranteed, and
that The political object of the northern traists had
been accomplished by the circumstances which delayed
the extension of timely territorial bills to the country
CURED from Mexico Hence the ground was taken that
the Compromise not only violation OF democratic
principle. but disregard Of the constitutional compact,
and that to acquesce in 1t was 10 abandon the great plat
form which Jefferson and Jackson had inculcated The
equality OF all The States and warned the country against
the exercise Of powers not clearly within the spirit OF
the constitution This party overlooked the fact that the
Compromise was in reality the fruit OF the very consd
eraons which the statesmen they quoted had acted upon
in similar crises, and that II ce-ofeting
say iranquze the land, and enable the people apply
sovereign corrective TO the evils which had been engen
deed by sectional excitement and dangerous personal
bon Under such feelings honest men in both sections OF
the Union have been led astay and have sought organ
ze sectional prejudice the basis OF remedial agency in
correcting apprehended national evils They have been
blind the fac, tina, such basis of party action ncon
sstent with the preservation OF the Union, and that
ton, above all others, against which Washington and all
true American patriots had recorded their most solemn
warnings. II by these that the Compro
mise the very thing which they needed, il they
wished the constitution preserved and that it the
very opposite OF what they represented it, when they
spoke of it dshonorable surrender OF democratic
doctrine in respect State rights the institutions of
the South.
The people, fortunately, in all sections OF Union,
discovered the character of the issue presented
by this sectional strife and have wisely Disseminated
between what was due TO INSTRUCTED zeal and the
permanent, public Interests The people have that
the Compr omse, though not strictly party measure,
contained nothing which assaed the previous relations
Of parties They have said that this presents
in no aspect the Interpretation OF constitutional
II @ IT
mode OF maintaining the night OF property in slaves,
and, in this respect, makes demand on the North
which good faith can Withhold; tina, j, in,rule-
into the future no disturbance OF any sectional in
eress whatever may be their nature; that it leaves
State rights where the constitution leaves them, and
all the issues growing out of the opposing views OF
parties respect TO the legitimate sphere OF the general
government, on the subjec, OF banks, tariffs internal i'm.
provemcns, and such topics, just they stood before
Such take be the significance Of tina, public opinion
which has nobly rallied, FIRST to cay TO Itraisis. TO
whatever school they may have proessed belong tina,
they could not and should break up the Union and
secondly to declare that the energies of the constitution
were sufficient TO arrest all existing evils whether in the
form Of unconstitutional aggression or unconstitutional
resistance.
Under these circumstances it obvious that politicians
who have allowed their zeal to mistake the judgment Of
The people in the crisis which is passed bow to that
judgment. in good faith, and that great public measures
must again return to the tests which have the sanctions
OF experience and Of popular familiarity. Is higher
tariff duty for example, needed This is a question
which will call up the Arguments of Alexander Hamilton
and Messrs Clay and Webster, on the one side. and
those OF Jefferson, Jackson, Polk, and Walker on The
other side and so will be with all the other in
lerests OF grea, importance to the country which
to be permanently influenced by those charged with the
administration OF the government However denomna,ed
the positions Of public in reference such paramount
public determine their party names as ineva