The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-13
SOUTHERN PRESS
WASHINGTON CITY.
TUESDAY, APRIL ID, 1852.
One Idea.

far, for not falling into the Democratic party a
a"Hessian sdjunct"-thinks there is"a fair an'
dignified look about" our course, but classes u
with Birneyism, and declares that "one-ideaisn
is in every form of manifestation mischievou
abstraction" And san individual or party 81
distracted in the pursuit of one object, or thu
propagation of one dogma, as to withdraw from
and neglect all other matters of general interest
loses all Legitimate influence for the advance
ment of the very cause thus suffered to absort
all thought and all energy. No commisserator
is excited in honest minds for the fate of the
Birneyite Abolitionists, who in this manner
were left to destroy themselves only good
they ever ccomplished-because their whole
energies were employed and expended in the
fanatcal pursuit of unconstitutional objects
But the protection of paramount interests, like
those of slavery in near half the States, guaran-
teed by the Constitution, is a legitimate subject
OF political regard, and however we'll settled the
convictions of any portion of the people may
have become, that slavery is a detriment, and
that its removal would be an advantage, no one
can object to any proper action or any consoli
dation of influence to maintain it as the Consti-
tuition left it. The one-dea fallacy, however,
will probably lead to as mischievous extremes
in this direction as the other, and we shall wit
ness the waste of much of the best talent and
capacity in the country, in the vain pursuit of
permanent controlling power for single inter
est and a geographical section Who cannot
see the vastly increased influence for every good
purpose-for the object above all others, which
occupies all their anxieties-t that the Southern
rights people might WELD, if they acted bar.
moniously with the ruling parties, according to
their general political affinties ?"
The New York Times is new penny paper
which wages vigorous competition with the
Herald, Tribune and Sun of that city. These
papers aim at large local daily circulation or
sale, and hence are adapted to the tastes, wants,
capacity and appettes of the masses Of a large
city, including the chambermaids, hackmen,
carmen, and the oyster shops. Hence their
columns abound with excitement articles, on
all the occurring humbugs of the day, and with
all the accidents, fires, murders, riots robberes,
frauds, elopements, and Grim cons that such
vast laboratory of vice and crime affords. The
Times is probably as good specimen of the
taste and talent of the New York penny press
as any of the papers of that class But il is
KossUTH and Semi.A boltionist paper and is
deeply infected with number Of the other shall
low isms of the day Now, when such paper af-
fects to lecture the Southern Rights party about
the narrow and abortive tendencies of one idea
ism, it is decidedly transcending its jurisdiction
The Southern Press is directed 10 different
class of readers-to the farmers, planters, mer.
chants, doctors and lawyers of many States. 1t
probably has more statesmen on its subscription
lists than any other paper in the Union But the
Times thinks the Press is devoted to one idea
the defence of slavery. We thought, however,
that we discussed a considerable variety OF
topics We thought the moral, social, domes.
tic, political and philosophical questions co
neeted with the system of fifteen States and
some ten millions of inhabitants, the most pros.
porous and free Of the civilized world, afforded
sufficient scope Of thought and range of fact to
satisfy the most ambitious versatility of mind.
But we don't want to repudiate one-ideaism.
We have classic regard for all the unities.
II appears that whole race of people, the
offspring of Abraham, were eonsecrated to the
preservation of one great idea--the unity of
God. One idea presides over all the great epics
of Homer, Virgil, and Milton, and was yet not
exactly incompatible with the greatest variety
of genius and knowledge. The Reformation
was founded on one idea, the liberty Of private
judgment The American revolution was the
result of one idea, the union of representation
and taxation.
1t is quite mistake to imagine that general
truth, and comprehensive knowledge and wis
dom are the offspring Of large communities and
mulliforp interests. The reverse is true. The
world has received IFS great lessons in religion,
philosophy, and literature from the petty States.
Plato and Aristotle were the citizens Of n little
republic, but rave given those laws to the
human mind all over the world of priori and
ap0'leri0ri re''1ing which we still obey.
History, eloq1snce, poetry and science have
all sprung chiefly from such communities as,
according to modern theory, could only be ex
pected TO yield the fewest number Of ideas.
The editor Of the TYnks sneers at Abolition.
ism, or rather, more cunningly, at Birneyism,
which was Abolitionism separated from the two
national parties. The sneer comes with bad
grace from him. Abolition one ideaism has
done wonders. II has acquired the control Of
both parties at the North, and through them has
effected the degradation and spoliation Of the
South; and twill probably elect Gen. ScoTr next
President. The Difference for il or affinity mani.
Tested by the editor Of. the Times when he was
assistant editor Of the Courier and ENQUIRER
was so offensive as to cause his retirement from
that concern. Abolition one .ideaism was there.
fore the cause of the Times, which now affect,
TO derde its CREATOR and is in fact still its crea
ture. Abolitonism-the one-idea Of universe
emancipation, regardless of those moral quaf
cations which the Supreme Being has prescribe
for all the great trusts Of life, liberty, property
knowledge, character, strength, even healt
itself; Abolitionism-wbch is a revolt apains