The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-03
SOUTHERN PRESS
WASHINGTON CITY.
SATURDAY, JULY. 8. 1861.


to-day, and the extract from the Public Ledger
referred to, render it necessary now to explain
the position of the ''Southern Press"
1t is almost precisely month since the Dem
ocratic nominations were made and the platform
adopted. The moment he saw the platform, the
senior editor of this paper determined defini-
lively that he wonld not cooperate with the
Democratic party. But learning that the South
en rights members Of Congress had all decided
otherwise, he Immediately rendered the estab-
lishment TO them at r fair price, that they might
take measures to have il conducted according
TO their own views and those of the Southern
Rights delegates in the Baltimore Convention,
who had all acquiesced in the platform. And
he understood steps would be promptly taken
to effect the change. The Southern Press,
therefore, abstained from taking any position as
TO the nominations, until after the new arrange.
ments could be made But nothing has as yet
been done. .,,.,, s,s o...,,,..,.l l,ai., ia
The senior editor, therefore, is not RESPONSE
BILE for any proceedings in the Democratic eau
Gus respecting the paper. He neither asks nor
expects the patronage of that party or Of any
other
The senior editor of the Southern Press viii
not becomes member of any party that endorses
the Compromise in any way. And he considers
that in the pledge TO abide by and adhere
to the faithful execution of the Compromige
measures, they are endorsed. For, if not, they
ought not to have been selected from the statute
book as laws whose execution peculiarly de
served such pledge. 1t has been said that
nothing remains OF the Compromise measures
to be executed but the Fugitive Slave Law !;
and hence the pledge of the Democratic Con
vention really has no force or meaning but the
There is the law prohibiting tbs slave trade in
this District, and as this law is the verdict of
the Federal Government against slavery and
in favor of emancipation, it does not become
Southern-rights men to pledge themselves spe-
cally in favor of its execution. AS for the
other parts of the Compromise the law to dis. |
member Texas and pay her in money for 1t, is |
not executed, and that is not a law that deserves
any manifestation of favor from Southern mon
But the truth is, this pledge was demanded from
the Convention, by the Compromise portion of
the party, and was and is considered by them
an endorsement Of their course, and for this we
would not make it. We consider the re solu-
tons on the subject, as manifestation by the
Convention of peculiar esteem and appreciation
for the Compromise, and, therefore, wo will not
concur in it but do now here, aud will, on ali
proper occasions in future, protest against It.
Before the Convention met we acquiesced reluc
party, simply because that policy had been adopt
ed by the great body of Southern Rights men, and
bee use We believed, il N IRE orthodox than the |
Wing party. We repeatedly advised our friends
to adhere to separate organization, for in that |
way we thought they could most effectually
maintain the rights and interests of the South
And we knew that In cooperating with Che OF
the Federal parties we would be bound to waive
during the canvass the discussion of any of the
questions on which its members differed. For
if we were to become member of that or any
other party, we would feel bound in good faith
to promote its harmony But we considered
that the difference of sentiment on the Southern
question between our friends and the other
portions of the Democratic party, was wider
and deeper than between Wings and Democrats
on their creeds respectively. And seeing the
Southern Rights party would be 10 q minor
ty, we expected they would be prescribed
md on avnrae,ad nrraalyaa -opnofo1l,, 80 a., !
paper. But when the Compromise platform
was adopted, we had no room left to doubt, and
hence, as matter of policy, as well as Of prin-
,iple, we would not acquiesce in that platform.
not essential that they are disregarded--and
we observe that in several cases the avowal has
been made of a determination to support the
candidates and repudiate the platform. But
this is bad faith. The platform is the covenant
of the party, and we can tell those who take |
this course, that when they come to have their
claims to party patronage and honors canvassed,
they will find that the Compromise faction, for
whom and by whom this platform wAs made,
will not disregard it, but will plead it as a per-
petual bar to the promotion of all who disa.
vowed it, Already what do we see? Why, |
General CAss, che lender Of the Compromise
Democrats, pronouncing Mr.. FORSYTH, an able |
and powerful Southern Rights man, to be utter
ly unworthy Of party favor AS for what Cen
eral CAss says Of the past course of the South !
ern Press, We caro- very little. We ask him no
fsvors And we scarcely know a man whose