Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-19
sTKe Free Soil Party must be put dovn, or /
acM put dorm The Union"

'.Ihe Free Soil Party must be put dolon, or ii
ariH put dorm The Union."
Mr.. Richie, in long editorial article, publish
ed in the Union on Saturday last, the same date
with the announcements of his sale to Mr.. Donel-
son, gives some very patriotic counsel to his par
ty and the country. We extracta portion for the
purpose of brief comment:
The whole question as it stands, must be adj
ius,ed substantially on the Georgia platform-acqui-
under the compromise faithful execution
of its provs ions, especially of the fugitive slave law
and total abstinence from this dark question for the
future The South has right to expect this The North
owesit TO itself as we'll to the South to carry
this system. Hence we contend that the North holds
the Union in her handsmore even than the secession
lists Of the Souh-because the North respects the
Just rights OF the South, the enemies OF the Union will
feel much difficulty IN carrying out their designs We
earnestly recommend Then in the first place. that the free
soil party of The North should be reduced to silence 1t
the great element ofdiscord and dsunion in sys
tenn. Ii must be put do,cn, or it toiU, in aHhuman
probability put dorm the Unson. The free sellers must
not be permitted defeat the fugitive bill. They must
not be encouraged in any Goa huon which they may
seek with political parties to share the offices OF the
country. OF all things they should be permitted
to share the ofthe Senate of the United States"
We concur most heartily-in every word Mr..
Richie here says. He takes the only position with
regard 10 the Compromise which those who do not
wish to break up the Union can consistently oc-
cupy. His ground is, as he says, that of the
Georgia Convention, and it is that also of Presi-
dent Fillmore, whose first annual message con-
tanned these memorable words:
"By that adjustment we have been rescued from the
wide and boundless agitation that surrounded u.s. and
have firm, distinct, and legal ground to lest upon
And the occasion, trust will justify in erhorting
my countrqnlen to rally upon and ma'ntatn that
ground as the BEST it not the only means of restoring
peace ard quiet TO the country, and maintaining nvo
late the integrity OF the Union"
But we wish to say word to the mode in
which Mr.. Richie proposes to maintain the adj
justment and save the Union. He tells us 'the
Free Soil party Of the North must be reduced to
silence sit must be put down, OR it will put down
the Union" But how is this great object to be eff
fccted? Mr.. Richie suggests no expedent what
ever but mere abstinence, on the part of either
political party, from coalitions with the obnoxious
faction by which it may be allowed to share the
public Offices, and especially Scholarships.
The grave importance of the subject may well
lead every man, who cherishes the we'll being of
son, whether this policy is adequate the end pro-
posed. We have frequently declared our own
opinion that it would most conduce TO the safety
OF the Union that the old party organizations should
be abandoned, and a combination formed of the
conservative elements of each for the purpose of
putting down the Free Soil faction, which Mr..
Richie confesses must be done, or the Union can
not stand There can be no doubt that if all the
Democrats and Wings, who are for sustaining the
Federal Government, on the cardinal principle of
adherence TO the Constitution and non-interference
with the question of slavery, were to unite their
forces against the Free Sellers, the latter could
make no show of formidable strenth. But so long
as The Wing party and Democratic party preserve
their separate unity the Free Soil factionin many
OF the Northern States, is likely to hold the balance
Of power. The temptation to enter into coalitions
becomes, therefore, often too great to be with
STOOD oy either party Democracy is unquestiona-
bly, no safeguard against them, for we have seen
the Democrats of the Ohio Legislature elect one
Abolionist to the Senate, in consideration of the
Free Sellers enabling them to elect Democratic
State judges, and every Northern mail informs
us of the progress Of a coalition now existing be-
tween most of the Democr ats and all the Free
Sellers of the Massachusetts Legislature for the
election ofanother Abolition Senator. All this.
we have said, is due to the fact that the Free
Sellers hold the balance OF power between the
two old parties and this is the case, not in legis
ialures only, but in the primary constituencies
Wroneheaded as Massachusetts, has proved her
sell TO be, we believe that her Union, fugitive
notwithstanding citizens, Wings and Demo
Gratis would, fnniied, be able, almost throughout
The STATE to defeat the enc mics Of the consitu-
tion.