The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-10
SOUTHERN PRESS.
WASHINGTON CITY.
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1862.


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tg- The Savannah Georgian, a well known
Democratic print, thus discusses a question
which our city contemporaries are wasting a null
tiiude OF words upon. We clip the editorial
from its issue of the 2Sth ult., before the meet
ING of the late convention in that State:
WHICH Is THE "CoMPRoMIsE" PARTY e
Some efforts seem to have been recently made,
by Mr.. Cobb and others, to show that the Demo-
cratic party deserves more credit Tor the passage
of the compromise, than il has hitherto received.
Il is even claimed to be Democratic measure
out of which great glory should accrue to the
Democratic party.
Well. we don't suppose we shall be accused
of indifference to the success of Democracy, or
be thought regardless of its just claims upon
the confidence of the people. Yet however
popular the compromise may have become, and
however desirable it may be, with view to
Democratic supremacy, TO show that it was Pc
culiarly the work of the Democratic party, the
history of its passage forbids such statement
One Of its provisions, and one alone, and that
we are sorry 10 say the most unlmportant OF
them all, may, with good show of reason, be
asserted to have been passed by the almost ex-
elusive agency Of Democrats-ony two or
three Northern Wings having voted for it,
That provision is, the fugitive slave bill. In re-
gard to the other measures of the Omnibus"
justice TO our opponents requires us to say, that
Wings did much more, in proportion to their
numbers, for their adoption, than Democrats.
This il certainly true of the California bill and
Of the Texas bill, the only really important
measures of the djustment--besde the fugitive
bill. Our Wing friends will, therefore, be
obliged to us for the publication of our extract
from Mr.. Marshas speech-which does no
more than justice to the Southern Wings in their
relations TO the compromise.
The truth, we think, to be this ;-neither the
Wing party, nor the Democratic party is, or can
be shown to be, par ercelLence, the compromise
party. A number Of distinguished Democrats
supported it with more or less zeal -Cass, Cobb
Foote, &c, but the gentlemen whose names
whether for fame or blame, should be in all
coming time most closely associated with it, are
Mr. Clay, who introduced the measure into the
Senate, and Mr. Fillmore, who, after its passage
through Congress, made it a law by afixing to
il his signature. The greatest hostility which it
encountered, both during and after its passage,
it received from Southern Democrats.
AZ to the course of the two parties recent
and prospective, in relation to these measures,
the following paragraphs from the Grtfen Con
stitutional Union seem to be well founded
PROFESSION AMI AcTioE ARE Two THIEGs.-
After the formation of the Union party of
Georgia, for the purpose and under the circum
stances then surrounding US, we calculated on
supporting the nominee of the National Demo.
cratic party for President at the next election,
and had made up our mind TO do so in good faith
and honesty of purpose. The reason why we
did so was because it was asserted in the round
est terms, by those who ought to know, that the
Northern Democracy were more TO be relied OF
than any other Northern party in true fealty 10
the South, and Southern institutions We
broke loose from old party lines TO throw what
little influence we bad in opposition to the wild
schemes of those whose object seemed to be the
severance Of the Union, and the building up
Southern confederacy. And we then deter
mined TO act politically with those, and with
those only, who would carry out the eompro-
mise in good faith, and put down all sectional
agitation. And believing the assertions so
boldly made and vouched for in behalf Of the
Northern Democracy, we were ready 10 join
them in carrying out the principles upon which
the Union party was formed.
But on the assembling Of Congress on the
first Monday in December last, the first thing
that sauied our ears from Washington, was the
fact, that the Democratic caucus had refused to-
adopt resolution recognizing the COMPROMISED
as a fLsl settlement of the sectional agitation,
and treated motion for that purpose with con.
tempt and that a similar resolution had been
adopted by the Wing caucus with but three dis.
senting voices. This action Of the two parties
in caucus, being 50 different from what we had
expected, and exactly the reverse Of what we had
been promised by those who were so ready to
youch for the Northern Democracy, threw us all
aback, and set us 10 watching with all the per
ception we could command 10 see where our
first determination 10 follow the dictates Of
principle would lead Us. We therefore kept a
sharp look out 10 see how and by whom the
convention Of the national Democratic party
would be cotton up and controlled. The first
move we saw made In the call Of the Baltimore
convention, issued from Benjamin F. Hallet. Of
Massachusetts, a. chairman Of the national
Democrats committee; and upon examination.
we find him 10 be just as ardent Freesoiler As
even Van Buren, or GiddinRs. The next move
was the appointment Of Robert Rantoul, IT,, a.
Que of the deegstss for the State at large 10 the
B4lumore convention.
A. the matter now stands, the Northern Wing
party are In q much more inviting position 10 In.
dace our support than the Northern Democratic
party. They stand pledged 30 far ss the action
Of congressional caucus can bind them, 10 car
~ out The compromise IN rood faith and we
have no assurance that the Northern Democracy
viii do Il ercvt from those who have once de-
cstxed m. hw - fsfluVe ~ fh.fr nied0e.