The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-14

last Congress, created two parties in the North
and two in the South And although the par
ties in each section warmly opposed each other
in the elections and in speeches, they were
more neatly alike in platform or in creed thar
any two parties ever were before. But it seemed
that the very close resemblance of their pro-
fessons only produced stronger antagonism
in sentiment and policy; as sects of the same
religious faith, despute with more strimony than
those which are fundamentally adverse. In the
South, one party proposed resistance to the
Compromise, by the States win
their sovereign power The other barely acqul-
esced in the Compromise, without! approving 1t :;
on the contrary, declaring that one more aggres
sion, even of nature trivial in itself, would jus-
fly, and even require rebellion. This was sub
stantally the position of the Georgia convention,
and it has been adopted and applauded by the
whole of the party in the South, opposed to the
one which advocated resistance.
1t will be seen that these parties differed only
in two things, and in those two but slightly.
One of them thought that the aggression was
already sufficient to require resistance-the other
thought that it was not quite enough, but that
one other drop of aggression would overflow
the cup of patriotic endurance. One party
thought that resistance ought to be made legally
through the sovereign power and functions of
the several States, the other, that it ought TO be
made by open rebellion.
In the North, one party approved or acqui'
esced in all the measures of the Compromise,
except the fugitive slave law which was the least
important of ALL in itself, and immeasurably less
still, in the chances of its execution. The other
acquiesced in,'or approved alI-that law included
proposing to submit to it, not because it was
right, but because it was law.
The elections that succeeded the Compromise
resulted, in the North, in the triumph of the op-
ponents of tho Compromise Those in the
South in the success of those willing to submit
to it rather than to rebel, but declaring they
would submit to nothing more. Thus it will
be seen that, although the two parties in each
section differed so little in words, the two Sec
tons differed most widely ip words and in feel
ing. The North decided that she would not ac-
quiesce in the Compromise, but would repeal its
only clause that was disngreeable to her, and has
already, in fact, nulliied it in practice whilst the
South decided that the Compromise was the ut
most she wonld submit to, and that the fugitive
slave law would not be surrendered. If the Com.
promise then, as it passed on paper, was barely
endurable by the South, it is clear that az it now
works in practice, it is no longer so. The COM
pact is broken already ard as usual, at the ex-
pense of the South.
But Presidential election approaches, and
the position of the two parties on this ques-
ton requires another compromise, and one even
more difficult to contrive than the last
In the North, the great body of the Wings
opposed the Compromise--bu of the Demo-
Gratis, considerable body supported it. In the
South, the great body of the Wings adopted the
Union or Geory ia platform, and probably ma
Jorty of the Democrats we're opposed to it..
And now it is thought expedient to reunite
these two parties in the two sections, on new
platform, or on some platforms. Aud what is
proposed! Why, as usual another surrender
of the South to the North The Northern
Wings propose to the Southern to renounce
any pledge even on paper, to support the Com
promise-even as it stands--practcally violated.
The Northern Wings propose to the Southern
to support General Scorr, resident of the
North, though native of Virginia-a man OPP
posed to slavery, and too fastidious to endorse
even what is left Of the Compromise We be.
lieve, however, the offer is made to soothe the
feelings of Southern Wings, that certificate
shall be given that General SCOTT ,oas once in
favor of the Compromise. And the Northern
Wings retain, as their principal organ, the Ma
tional Htelligencer, which opposed tho Com
promise to the last, and supported General TAy-
LoR's policy, which was still more favorable to
the North. The Intelligencer has on hand a
fine fat job of printing from Congress-the old
debates. But in order to compromise with the
Southern Wings as to that, the Northern Wings,
or some of them, may go for giving the Repub.
Tic, Mr.. FhLMoREs organ, portion of the CEN
sus job in partnership with the Union
So on the other hand, the Northern Demo-
Gratis propose that the Southern shall surrender.
The platform is to be the Baltimore resolutions
of '48 ana perhaps of 44-resoutions which
have been practically construed by the several
parties, to mean either the Wilmot Proviso, the
Compromise, or the equality of the States, just
as the three divisions of the Democratic party
aonstrue them. If any thing more than this
Is demanded, the iinality of the Compromise is
tendered-that Compromise which was opposed
by an overwhelming majority of Southern DEM
ocrals whenit was proposed, but which they are
now offered as party favor to them, after its
only condition in their favor is practically
broken. And then the North claims the cand;.
date, or if he should be of Southern birth no Is
to be little more Northern than the Northern
men. And then the North claims the organ
that is the Union"-which supported not onv
the Compromise as it actually passed, but the