Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-04-17


of the Baltimore Convention. Douglass makes
his great explanatory speech, but fails to explain
why, being Union man, he does not heartily sup
port Gen. Foote's resolution. Even Gen. Cass
lends him meagre support, Judging by his printed
speeches His course seems to say, 81 will vote
Tor your resolution if il comes to II vote, but
would rather not, and would not have advised its
offer" Now | do not quarrel with either of these
distinguished Senators, mpeach their motive ;
but as Union Democrats. and good Compromise
men, admitting that there no harm likely to
attend its passage, their course looks suspicious in
/ a political view, and tells me that they
less about making the Compromise a test before
the Baltimore Convention.
/ We will now turn to view the other side of the
picture, and see if facts will sustain those Union
4 Wings, who so prematurely denounced and SO un-
justihaby pre-udged their long tried party friends
at the North, at the same that they express such
confidence in their adversaries. In the first place.
/ let me ask who has sent to Congress more aboli-
i ton Senators, the Wings Of the North or the
Democrats of the North? The Wings sent Mr..
Seward in evil hour, but he stands alone as an
auoaced Wing abolitionst But it was the Demo-
cratic party which favored the Senate Chamber
with Hale, and Chase, and Sumner, all avowed
abolItionists. But the night that the
House Democratic met, it is known that
the Wings of the House also held meeting
/ The same resolution which Mr. Polk offered to
iboe DemOcrauc caucus, declaring expressly IN Ia
vor of the Compromise, Mr.. Brooks of New, 7 ork
offered to the Wing caucus. We have seen that
the Democrats repudiated it. 1t is certain that
/ the Wings passed similar resolution promptly
1t is vain to say that the Wing not full
when this done. 1t com prised, at least
!jorty of the Wings members, and thus far placed
the Wing national party more reliable grounds
than did the Democratic caucus which was full,
but which refused to endorse the verdict of the
South on the Compromise bills.
j We have seen that Foote's resolution did not
meet with the hearty approval of the Democratic
Union men of the Senate. At the same time tits
well known that Mr.. Webster endorsed. if he
Idi not advise it, and that Mr.. Fillmore stood
ready and anxious to approve 1t. This is enough
to identify the friends of the Wing admins ration
with the inality resolution of Gen. Foote, and to
show plainly that while the Democratic party has
/ faltered and f1inched, the Whig party has stood
firm in the support of the Compromise policy
As Wbg / am proud that these facts exonerate
the Wings of the North from the unj just and un-
founded charge, that they were less reliable for
the South than the Northern Democrats. They
have, thus far at least decided advantage over
our adversares :; and time will. in my own opinion
fully prove that they are the national and re-
able party suited to all sections, and best fitted to
control the destnies of country which owes its
greatness, and its salvation, at least two mem
orable occasions to the wisdom and cathollcy of
its principles and its men,
There are now six distinguished Americans who
are prominent in the eye of the nation, as candi-
dates for the Presidency. Buchanan, Butler, and
Douglas represent the Democratic party. Mr..
Fillmore, Webster, and Scott representthe Wing
party. At this time, it would seem that nomina-
tion at Baltimore will rest between Butler and
Buchanan. At Philadelphia the contest will likely
be between Fillmore and Scott. Take the relative
position of these men, on the merits of their ind-
.vidual positions, and apart from future Conyen-
ton platforms, and where ought Mississippi Wings
to stand It may be said that abolition Wings
are ardent in support of Gen. Scott | answer
that abolition Democrats more than equally
} dent in support of Gen. Butler Besides the Sc
cession Democrats generally avow their unwilling
ness to support the last. There is not single Sc
cession Wing who has said he will vote for the for
mer Both are uncommitted on the Compromise
: and taking into consideration the fact that Scott
has the very largest claim to be ranked great
soldier, while Butler has the very smallest among
all our mill airy aspirants, and | think Southern
Wings have very little to gain by becoming Baltl-
S more Democrats in this instance. @
As between Mr.. Fillmore and Mr.. Buchanan
cannot believe that the Wings of Mississippi would
/ hesitate as to choice. Mr.. Fillmore, by his off
cial position and patriotic messages, has become
!. the head and front of the compromise champions,
and has declared that the fate of his administration
a shall be mainly staked on the policy of the com
: promise bills. He has filled his Cabinet with {
majority of Southern men nwho are large slavehold
: ers and placed at its head the most able, natona
r and conservative of all Northern statesmen. HI
S has devoted his public life, and in by gone years
t. sacrificed his private interests for the promotion o
/, the Whg party, and owes his elevation mainly t.
e the frmness and loyalty ofSouthern Wings. Oh
IS the contrary, Mr.. Buchanan not an origina
1t compromise man, and now only regards it as Fl
It nality as do the Democratic State Rights part,
\ of Mississippi, because the American people hay
declared and decided that it shall be regarded
e He has no claims, either aman or politician
e on the Wing party. He was the man whose nam
rs Gen jackson gave up as the authority for tha
Y baseless and slanderous charge of bargain and in
ct trigue which forever de troyed the prospects
e Henry Clay for the P e,idency. Such ma
should not be allowed to compete with Mlllar
Sc Fillmore for the first of American Offices and tn
of Whg party OF this nation will never support hin
e. but in the exlremest of cases. That extremity wi
5. not likely arise Webster and Douglass are bot
IF in favor Of the compromise. The first has been i
n unhinching advocate from the beginning Tt
n hast st ems to have taken especial pains not
D. put himself rectas IN curla until after the matte
e nad received and snctioned the bills as final az
id lustment / have serious doubts whether M
to Douglass would have made his late explanatol
Is speech if the nation had rendered contrary vel
ed dict on The compromise bills. At all events,
Of has been Lardy In addition to this. he h
f. never been eminent as statesman, thoug
ho always respectable No political reader can s.
IS that be has ever been enlightened by any effort
i-AH n l.. H.ot, 49, 40