The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-19


stitutonal Union party. Place him in contact
with another Democrat who has joined the
Southern Rights party. In returning to their
old platform each is apt to upbrad the other
with having deserted the original principles OF
his party. One will say that the right of a
State to separate from the Union is the necessa.
ry result of sovereignty, and was so regarded
in the great struggle of 1900. Another will
say that this right cannot be exercised without
breaking up the government, and mourning all
the consequences of revolution. Similar disa-
greements take place at the North between the
Free -soiler and those who accuse him of hav-
ing departed from the principles OF the party to
which he originally belonged.
Now, il is in this state of things that the Dem
ocratic party is called upon to bury its differ
ences, to heal its wounds, and forget its resent.
ments. Can this be done without weakening its
influence, without doing injustice to its d0et-
rines, and without dishonoring any of the promi-
.nent Statesmen who have taken part in the dis
cussions which have grown out of the compro-
mise? This is the questionable paramount
question of the day-upon which depends the
success of the attempt to bring into the national
councils those principles and measures which
have heretofore shed so much lustre upon this
party. We must say we have never, until re-
Gently, had serious reason to doubt that this
question would be answered affirmatively and
promptly. We must say, notwithstanding the
bitterness with which the Washington Union is
and correctly, has contributed, and ia contrib
uting to this happy result; and it is for the
purpose of showing this that we have introduced
these observations, and have given them such a
form as will prepare the reader for the apprecia-
tion IF what shall now ba added
II is alleged by the Southern Rights party
that our support Of those who maintained the
necessity Of acquiescing in the compromise was
departure from the neutrality which was due
to Democrats who had right to differ on this
question, and is therefore an objection to our
claim to the support Of the party. What is the
answer? Why, that this acquiescence il now
the acknowledged basis Of all party organization
in the South---that il is in accordance with the
public viii. as it undoubtedly ia with the pres.
ervation Of the Constitution and the Union and
certainly no intelligent mind will say that the
Washington Union has erred in shaping its
course in such manner as to be in entire ac-
cordance with the determination of its party on
great,publc question which has been thor
oughly discussed. To say that such an'objecton
can be maintained would be to set at naurht all
the considerations which fix the responsibility
of the journalist and the politician.
But there is still another allegation which is,
that the Washington Union, in opposing the re.
commentators of the Southern convention,
made war upon the constitutional or reserved
right of State TO secede from the Union. To
this the answer is equally direct and clear. On
the right of secession, as an abstract and specu-
laiive question, the Washington Union took then,
and still maintain, the ground assumed by Jeffer-
son, Madison, and Jackson. We spoke in their
words. We identified our position with theirs,
and carefully forbore to proceed beyond the
clear and solemn declarations of these great
chiefs and guides of the Democratic party, un.
der whose administration of the federal govern.
ment the rights of the States were fully recog-
nized 81 faithfully maintaigtl. More even
than this; in opposing the recon mendations of
the S6xhern convention, the Washington Union
nevef,ihade the doctrine Of secession, or even
of notification, an issue before the people.
We held from the first real issue between
the adverse Southern organizations to be on
the question of resistance to or acquiesence
in the adjustment measures of the last Con.
gress. With this practical issue, which the
people were called on to decide, and have
decided, the right of secession-a mere alb
! stract question-had, in our Judgment, no ne.
| cessary nor natural connection. Il was, in our
opinion, not inconsis tent or unpatrotc for those
who held differing views as TO the right of a
State TO secede, yet fully TO concur and co.ope.
rate in the opinion that the time for the exercise OF
such right, If existing as claimed, has not arri.
ved and that the legislation of Congress- if faith
fully adhered to, had superseded the necessity
for any measures Of redress unknown to the
Constitution. This has been, and Ia, our posi-.
ton; and it Is the position now assumed in every
form Of declaration by both the adverse organi-
cations Of the South, who vie with each other
in the expressions Of their willingness TO sub.
NIT on this point to the verdict pronounced by
the people Of the South. The Washington
Union, on all these questions of public policy,
anticipated, and anticipated exactly, the judg-
ment which the people of the South have pro-
nounced, authoritatively and conclusively, at the
ballot boxes, and in which both organizations at
the South, together with the Democrats Of the
North, now profess to acquiesce. The popular
verdict is clear and unmistakeable, that there is
no other basis Of united action on which the De-
mocratic party of the country--at the North
and at the South-cdn act together in the main
tenance Of their ancient principles and policy.
With what show Of reason or consistency, then,
Is the Washington Union assailed and prescribed
by either Of these organizations Is Il denied
that resistance TO the compromises was the issue
raised at the South between the parties which
grew out Of the recommendations of the Nash.
vile Southern conventionl Let the recent
elections and proceedings in all the Southern
States answer this question. Let the withdrawal
Of General Quitman from the canvass, after the
people Of Mississippi had given a verdict against
that organization, answer. Let the proceedings
in South Carolina, the earnest manner in which
she was urged TO declare her formal separation
from the Union by the numerous public prints
in Georgia which advocated the election Of Gov
Mcdonald, be consulted, and they will make the
same answer
But il is not our purpose to probe the dan.
gerous wounds given TO the Democratic party
by the controversy which has grown out Of the
slavery question, either at the North or the
South. Our wish Ia 10 bring to the view Of
this party the necessity Of looking with for.
besraDce on the past, and Of discarding all other
thought but that OF cooperation 10 the practical
established, and distinctive doctrines and princi.
pies Of the party, against which there is power
ful opposition, whose motto is TO divide or con.
-. -. n II