The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-11

sissipp, contains the following distinct announce
ment of the present feeling Of the Democracy
of that State. The STANDARD is not what is
usually termed "utra.e in its tone, and its har-
monies, therefore, must carry weight with them.
The Soulhside (Va) Democrat contained a
strong article Of the same tenor but few days
since The article We subjoin merits the serious
consideration Of those specially Interested, for
II represents state of feeling very general, if
not universal, among the Southern Rights wing
of the Democracy.
/ GEN. CAss.-The gentleman whose name
heads this article was, as all our readers well
know, the candidate of the Democracy for the
Presidency in l848. The same gentleman is
favorably mentioned by nearly all our Southern
exchange papers in connexion with the same
position, and il is not improbable that he may
obtain the nomination of the Democratic ma
tional convention. In view of this fact, we
would like to obtain the distinct avowal whether
certain presses in this State, in the event of his
nomination by the Democracy of the nation, will
sustain him. All are aware that struggle is
now going ON in this State between the Foote
Democracy and Davis Democracy, as TO which
are the better Democrats This contest is
amusing and would be ridiculous, were it not
that it has developed the approachable side of
many important men in our State, proving that
most men have their price, and that in order 10
obtain that price, they are neither choice nor par
ticular in the use Of means to secure il. It is
hardly necessary for us to say, that as between
the Democracy of Foote and Davis, there is but
one oSiRiap in the State. Foote is followed
and bolsiered up by few old federal fogies,
who have been favored by accidents, aud the
success which cunning, and frequently, duplicty
brings They have reaped rich harvests by
claiming to be Democrats, but really entertained
but few general principles in common with
the founder of that party. In regard to the
rights OF the States, they were wholly federal,
and when that issue was presented they natur-
ally took shelter under the doctrine of the two
Adams, and Alexander Hamilton.
On the other hand, the men who sustain
Davis are the true strict constructionists, and
belong to the party founded by Jefferson.
They are as widely separated from the old tory
principles of Daniel Webster as they are from
those Foote and his Democrats defend In
regard to the rights of the State, Foote copies,
almost without alteration, the doctrines of Web.
ster, and the State Rights men as wholly disa-
vow them This is the line of distinction.
Well, in regard to the pending contest, as to
who shall be endorsed by the Northern Nation
al Democracy, there are two points over which
we have had, and expect to continue to have,
some sport. They are, in plain terms, these:
lst, Will the Davis. Democracy, or the Foote
Democracy obtained seats in the Baltimore
convention? And 2ud, Will the Davis Democ-
racy sustain Gen. Cass, If he is the nominee
Cass belongs to the Foote Democracy, is in
fact federal Democrat but he is not singular
in that for there is no doubt but that four fths
of the Northern politicians are federalsts If
the first point is left to the honesty Of The con-
vention it will BIZ decided without debate; but
as honesty of purpose has little control over
such assemblages it is probable that the Davis
Democracy will obtain seats. We say this be-
cause II is known that Foote is really without
party in the State because he cannot lead
the Federal Wing party into a national Demo
cratic convention, and without them, he has but
a few hundred miserable deuded followers
Davis numbers his by thous ;nds, and the North
ern Democracy are less in the pursuit Of princi.
Piles than the spoils. OF course then, the Foote
Democracy will be kicked out of the convention.
In reference to the second point we halt
Two or more years since, we placed upon record
our purposes in regard to Gen. Cass. II will
stand as the record of our purpose, without the
least regard as to what the Baltimore conven.
ton may do. If Cass succeeds, the principles
of Foote succeed. IL Cass is the nominee. the
Baltimore convention will be merely the orgln
of Freesoil doctrine, such as all parties de-
nounced in unmeasured terms in Mississippi in
1913. And in anticipation of the happening of
such All event, we would like the press TO speak
out
Would Davis, Barton, Whitfield, Melville,
Brown, Featherston, Ghoson or McRea, sup.
port Cass, were he the nonireel Woeld the
MississippiaH, the Sentinel, Free Trader, or the
Palladium sustain him? In our opinion the
South has made but one step towards that aw.
ful dilemma events are hurrying her and we
say 1t more in sorrow than in anger that our
strongest men are doing much to urge her for.
ward