The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-26
From The Nso York Courier and Enquirer.

by the exercise of Il suitable degree Of moderation
and prudence. We do not blame the Southern
Wings for holding to the fnality of the Compro
mise measures but we do deny the propriety and
the expediency of their pressing the question with
such vehemence upon the caucus at Washington.
That meeting assembled for the sole specific
purpose of appointing time and place for the
National Convention. Its agency limited to
this for it had no other power. Every thing affect
ing the composition and the character of the con-
vention rests with the primary assemblies OF the
Wing party which select the delegates, and with
the delegates themselves when convened and or
ganized. Congressman have no more official or per-
sonal concern in this business than any other Wing
voters in the country. They certainly have not
been invested with it by any formal act and con-
sequenty cannot exercise it without an assump
ton. A sheriff empowered to ley the venue might
justly take upon himself the exercise of Judicial
functions, Wing members of Congress may as
sumo to determine what the National Convention
shall consist Of and how it shall act. And yet this
was virtually done by those who endeavored to
force the acceptance and adoption of this fnaty
principle upon the late caucus.
But let US be understood The tinality Of the
Compromise is our principle. We have always
maintained it, and shall continue to maintain it..
OF no fact are we more profoundly convinced than
that the Adjustment of 1850 cannot be violated in
popular action, changed in any important par
ticular by Congressional enactment, without re-
wing the fercest sectional strife, and endanger
ing the very existence of the Union. Yet, firm as
we are in our deter mination to stand by the Com
promise, we are sorrowfully obliged to admit that
considerable section of the Wing party occupies
equivocal position in regard to it. That they
dislike it, is notorious that they intend to attack
it, is uncertain. Upon this point they neither
affirm nor deny. The only positive declaration
they make is, that they in favor Of the exccu-
ton OF the laws 30 long as they laws, which ia
simply saying that they disapprove of civil rebel
lion. Their candidate for the Presidency, it is
said, was originally in favor Of adopting the Com
promise, but even this has been disputed; whe
Their he stll supports it, and, if elected will far
as in him lies, maintain il in its integrity, no
one has said, and no one undertakes to say. The
great practical question is whether, under Wing
auspices, an attempt is or is not to be made to re-
peal or modify the Fugitive Slave law. We do not
wonder at the anxiety of Southern Wings 10 get an
explicit answer to this question. We can easily
understand why they regard it as paramount to
every other political question, and feel constrained
to keep every other in allegiance until il is deter
mined Wing measures, in general, affect merely
the prosperity, and do not involve the preservation,
Of the country; but this touches its very vital ele
ments, and the most fatal consequences may result
from a wrong decision. 1t is certain that the De-
mocratc nominee will not only be a friend of the
Compromise, but will pledge his influence in its
favor, and his authority to its maintenance. About
his present and future relations to the late Adjust
ment there will be concealment. chance for
doubt. Have not the Wings, all over the country,
the same right to the same clear understanding in
regard to the opinions and the intended action of
their own leaders,
n he m m al he
at Washington, not because il was in itself unjus-
tifabe, but because ii misplaced and mis-
timed. 1t should be made next June, in Baltimore,
and then and there only. The National Convention
will have full authority to speak and act in the
name Of the Wing party Of the whole country; and
the question of tho Compromise will legitimately
come before it, just 10 il is to do before the
Democratic Convention, and for tho same decision.
1t cannot consistently be avoided, for it will most
materially affect, if it does not absolutely deter
mine, the fortunes Of the candidate selected. 1t is
certain that nominee opposed to the Compromise
could not obtain single Southern State. If this is
true, southern delegates most assuredly will have
right to know in behalf their constituents, what
the opinions upon this question, of the conven-
ton which ia to select the canddate and il that opn
ion should be adverse TO their they would have
right TO refuse TO go into ballotng that should
bind them To maintain the contrary is TO main
tain a slavish submission to party, which even
royalty itself could not successfully exact. The
southern delegates, honestly estimating the fnality
OF the Compromise to be above all merely party
questions, will be justified in regulating their
movements by it, In what direction, and how far
they shall allow it TO take them it is not for but
for them, to determine. According to their best
discretion, when the question legitinately presents
itself they must exercise their will and liberty;
or trust il shall never be said that TO become
Wing one must cease to be a freeman,
We wonder not that the South are so much more
strenuous upon the Compromise than the North. In
lite destruction, the South would lose ALL the North
nothing. California, Texas, and New Mexico
would remain as they are, but the Fugitive Slave
law would disappear forever, and never be sue
ceeded by an adequate substitute The maintenance
of the Compromise lie now peculiarly southern
question, becausc 1t peculiarly affects southern in
tercsts; and southern men ought not 10 incur de-
nunciation If they govern themselves accordingly;
least of all when is considered that their dema
are sanctioned by the express requirements Of the
Constitution, and by the good faith implied in a
formal agreement by Representatives in Congress
invested with full powers from every district in the
country.
We would not impeacb the motives, nor ques.
ton the rights of tho Southern Whigs still we be.
lieve they have mistake their proper course OF
action. The original error, however, was anterior
TO their dongs in the Wing caucus the other even.
ing. In several Of the Southern States tho old
Wing party had virtually determined to send no
delegates to the National Convention. They had,
during the agitation Of the Compromise, very COM
mendably resolved themselves into larger Union
party; but, when the patriotic purposes Of that
movement accomplished, there could be
nothing to forbid their rojonng their Wing broth.
rem throughout the Union in the nomination OF a
suitable candidate for the Presidency. On the
trary, their own interests most urgently demand il.
BY sbsonting themselves from the convcntioni they
make the nomins ton of Winfield Scott, to whom
thcY arc enthusiastically opposed matter of abso.
lutte certainty. BY taking part in the conven-
ton, and forming union with the unshrnking
Compromise delegates from the North they can,
beyond contingency, secure tho nomination Of
either Mr.. Webster or Mr.. Fillmore in both Of
whom they have entire confidence. IL is indeed
nm extraordinary procedure for Southern Wings to
oblige Northern Wings to contend unsupported for
candidates who opposed for little other reason
their stcadfsetnesa in rpai nj thcrn