The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-29

members. absented themselves in consequence
of the pre-announced decision of the Chair"
The subject of this caucus was brought up
the next day in the House, in a speech by Mr.
Howard of Texas, which led to a colloquy in
relation to its proceedings. Mr. Brooks OF New
York said. the reason why the Compromise
resolution was adopted in the Wing caucus last
December, and repudated in this, was, that it
had become the interest of a great body OF
Northern Wings, and portion of Southern
to repudiate that system Of measures He
charged the faItering of the National Wings of
the North upon the wavering of the Southern
Wings
3" Mr. Stanly remarked that he would say
distinctly that there was no rejection in the Wing
caucus of Compromise resolutions and never
had been. He knew of but one Southern Wing
who ever voted against the Compromise reso-
lutions, and that was one of his colleagues. MIR
Clingman,) who left the caucus last night. Ii
there was another Southern Wing against the
Compromise resolutions he was not aware of it,
The gentleman from New York Mr.. Brooks
had said that the Southern Wings had falter-
ed If that gentleman attempted to take the
whole Southern Wing party under his direc-
ton, and also the slavery institution of the
South, were they to be accused of faltering be-
cause they did not follow his lead = The gen.
tleman seemed to think that he was to be sac
rifced because they did not follow his dicta-
ton. There was no rejection of the COmpro-
mise resolution; he believed if it had been
entertained. they would have adopted the reso-
Iutio,, of tba tlap,an from, TanpassaaO
In reply to questions put to him by Mr..
Howard, Mr. Stanly asserted, again and again,
that Gen. Scott was a true and an unyielding
friend of the Compromise measures, and would
support them, 1T the Fugitive Slave Law in
cluded' aud in reference to declaration by
Mr. Outlaw that he would vote for no candi-
date not publicly committed over his own
name, to those measures as finality, he said,
He had no more doubt that General Scott
would give full answers on this subject than
that he was living. His position would be
made so clear, that nobody could misunder-
stand it,
The indications of public sentiment for the
last five months have been gradually working
a change in the policy of the Wing politicians
in Washington When Congress assembled in
December MIR FilImore's star was in the as
cendant and the Wing caucus then adopted,
as the basis of party union, the Compromise
measures of his Administration. The appear
ance of things soon changed. Everywhere
the Wing party, fighting under his banner, has
been defeated and it has been demonstrated
beyond all doubt that irretrievable disorgani-
cation in the North must follow from such
leadership. 10 almost every free State the de-
cided preference of the party for Scott has
been declared, accompanied with resolutions
in favor of federation of opinion on the Slavery
Question, and deprecating the introduction Of
any test connected with it. These indications
have not been lost upon the politicians. The
great body of Wing members from the North
and portion of those from the South, have
come to the conclusion that it is simply ridicu-
lOus to expect success in the next Presidential
campaign under the leadership of Mr.. Fill
more or on the issue of the Compromise, and
that the only chance of securing Wing Ad-
ministration for the next four years is to try
once more the virtue of epaulettcs, without
committals, pledges, declarations of sentiment,
or anything else.
This explains the action of the late caucus,
and the defeat Of the Compromise test through
a device of parliamentary law.
Does the action of the caucus forcshadow
that of the Convention A doubtful point
Mr.. Stanly, though he resisted the il-timcd
movement of Mr.. Marshall in the caucus is
in favor of the passage of Compromise resolu-
tons by the Convention. The few Southern
members who remained after the defeat of
Mr.. Gentry's resolution declared that the
recognition of the fnality of the Compromise
by the Convention would be necessary to Sc
cure the support of the South. This is the
position taken by every leading Wing press in
he South, and is undoubtedly approved by
Mr. Clay; and we have good authority for the
statement, that at present there are not more
han four Wing members in Congress from the
south who are willing to acquiesce in the non
,ommittal policy No point of order can be
'aised in Convention against Compromise
nor can it be said that such a
body may not legtimatcly determine what
shall be the platform of the party, or the issue
IN which it shall go into the caucus
The attempt will then certainly be made TO
introduce the Compromise fnality test South
srn men generally will insist upon it, with
their accustomed imperousness and National
Wings from the North will sustain them with |
the desperation of men whose political exist
encc is at stake The struggle will be carried
to such length that Scott men will be obliged
to submit, or hazard n disruption. If they
submit they will put the knife to their Threats.
The test will utterly dsorganize the party at
the North. If they resist if they vote down
all tests if they exclude all expression of
opinion, and if Scott remain as he is, authori-
zing no declaration or intimation in regard to
his views on the Compromise measures, they
must make up their minds to elect him with
ont Southern votes. The Southern wing of
their party will detach itself, become disorgan-
lied, or run an independent candidate.
Such will be the alternative presented to
the Wing Convention. And recollect, it will
be held in slaveholding State, in city devo-
ted to the Compromise, and within reach Of
the most potent appliances that can be brought
to bear in favor of the recognition of the final
ity of that series of measures.
VIII the Northern members stand fast
VIII they be able coolly to contemplate the
consequences that must result from persistence
in the policy inaugurated in the Wing caucus
WIN they not be alarmed by grim spectres of
sectionalism and disunon Can they bear the
idea of being separated from their Southern