The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-21

W The New York Erening Post, the organ
of the Freesoi Democracy, thus refers to th.
speech of its representative, which we published
yesterday:
PRESTON KING ON PARTY TEsTs.-it will be
seen, on referring to the report Of yesterdays MO
ceedlngs OF Congress-, that Mr.. Preston Knr{ Of
this State. has spoken few plain words in lie
house OF Representatives on the subject of the
BaItmore convention. The report of what he
said is manifestly meagre one, but the sub
stantla purport of his speech is not lost. He
gave those with whom it rests to direct the
dolngs OF that convention to understand, that if
they put the issue Of the fugitive slave law to
the Democrats of the North, it will be fairly
met. Ii the convention make their nomination
OF candidate for the Presidency under such cir
cumstances as to refer the question of the law
10 the people, the electors of New York will
give such vote as will express decided con.
domination OF the law. They have spoken once
on the question OF slavery, and if they are inter-
rogated in the same manner now, thew will az
suredly repeat what they have sad They will
not 20 to the polls with lie in their right hand.
We thank Mr.. King for having said this so
plainly, at the same time that he has said it in a
manner marked with his usual discretion, avoid.
ing all unnecessary cause of offence to those
with whom he differs. II is due to the time ard
me occasion that there should not be the slight
est reserve on point Of this importance. and
that when the political navigators of the day
put to sea with their nomination. thew shouId
take with them chart on which this rock. the
main danger of the voyage, should be plainly
LAID down. With the advantage of such know.
ledge as they now have, nobody but madmen
would give the vessel such direction as to
strike against it.
We have lately observed, with some surprse
that the friends of Mr.. Fillmore have greatly
fallen of in their zeal to make it appear that he
was principally responsible for the COMPROMISE
as'h stands on the statute book. II ia now
gently intimated, that the people of the North
who dlsaPprove of the fugitive slave law ought
not 10 mold him to strict account for all its
provisions; that he did not frame the law. but
only made choice, as was his duty, betw.en
giving 1t his signature and rejecting it alto.
gether, and that he must not be held answera.
Bile Tor all the provisions of statute in which
ne was not allowed to suggest any alteration.
we say we are surprised at this, because we
supposed that it was the policy of the friends of
Fillmore to play bold game,-and certainly
they began it boldly-to claim the compromise
as inc crowning glory of his administration,
ana found upon it his chief claim to the graft
.uue OF inc country. The Wings might do this !;
aoy might stake the success of their candidate
upon .;,h .ne general approval of the compromise
WIN WIN, INFINITELY more safety than the Democrats
coulo 40. The Wings of the South are mani.
nous ~ FAVOR of that measure the Democrots
OF 'ne SCUM are divided respecting Il IF tho
wing nominating committee shall present ,L,I
issue to the South, their party at the South u;li
ratify 1t with one voice. If the Democrats CON.
vention make il the basis of their nom;n .,;on
half the South will reject it. If the Wings nal
the compromise their party test thew run the
risk of loss at the North only; if the Democrats
do the same thing, they are sure to lose support
both at the North and South. They detatcb
and disband, from each wing Of their army, q
powerful body Of auxiliarics, with the aid o.
which they cannot dispense, and the loss o
which they cannot supply from any other quar-
ter.
We have little doubt that il was a perception
of these considerations which made the princi
pal branch of the Wing party 30 clamorous If
yindicsting to itself and to the administration
the credit of having given to the nation the
great blessing of the compromise. If they no.
begin TO sing this tune in a vote, which seems
dying into q whimper, 1t 10 because they per.
oeive that the Denocntic party is likely to
make itself irresistible by taking ts stand on a
basis broad enough to comprehend every indi.
r,dual who bears lis name.