The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-29


1t did not attempt TO prescribe a platform for
the national convention, or 10 dictate to the
delegates from the primary assemblies Of the
people. IL avowed the determination of its
friends TO remain uncommitted, and TO abstain
| altogether from taking steps ntialory TO a ma
tional Wing convention, unless the condition
was satisfactorily met IL was not inconsistent
with Stanly 5 resolution, but cumulative thereto
by the imposition OF condition affecting only
the actors in this Congressional meeting, and
implicitly, relieving them from committa
| to sustain the nominees of u convention which
might fail to require the same condition of
its candidates. 1t did not dictate, or seek to
dictate, the programme of the national conven-
ton, but merely asserted an affirmative endorse
merit Of the Iinality of the compromise" as a
basis of union among the present Wing mem
bers of Congress. Was that improper? Can
the Wing members of this Congress, who ca u
to be national in their feelings, unite upon
candidate ON any other basis? OUGHT national
Wings anywhere, North or South, to agree, for
a momer'. TO forego point so vital to the
preservation OF the peace of society!
We did ardently desire the Wings in Con-
gress 10 adopt the proposition as a conclusion
of their own, and to publish it to the country as
one of the bonds Of their political association
II required no sacrifice of principle--no recanta
ton Of opinion--no remuneration of error; only
a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. with the .noblest
! impulses of patriotsm--to abide for the future
| by settlement designed to restore peace to
distracted country, and to carry into execution
honestly the compacts Of the Constitution.
We frankly state that it was eur deliberate pur-
pose to announce at the Threshold an unalterabe
determination to aid in no scheme for an elec-
ton associated with or allied to men whose
policy it was to ignore the final settlement of
those dangerous and exciting questions which
are embraced by what is termed "the adjust
ment" With the candor of freemen we pre-
scented in the proposition submitted to the meet
| ING the position to which we shall adhere.
We rest its vndcation upon the fact that it was
assumed from solemn sense of duty to our
selves and to our country; and we rely for
| justification of our course in these proceedings
upon the honest impulses of the people, and the
patriotism of all who love the Union and wish
to perpetuate its blessings.
| To assert the converse of our proposition
"to agree to disagree" on questions connected
with the institution of slavery as it is recog-
missed by the Constitution, on the fugitive slave
law and the finality of the compromises TO
open willingly the sources of the most noxious
! agitation, and to reveal the means of assailing
anew the harmony, and, mayhap, the existence
of the Union Have the dissensions of the past
inculcated no moral Shall the progress and
peace of the future be marred by the renewed
efforts of fanaticsm which halts at no barrier
| erected by mortal power and exutiDgly pro-
claims its obedience only to a power higher
| than human law Shall the ties that link the
various parts of noble country together yield
to the force Of demagogusm which wears the
mask of liberty only TO perpetrate crime or
that il may, with comparative impunity, excite
passion, to reward ultimately desire for self
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Will the Wing party, under
existing circumstances, shroud honest convic-
tons Of public duty in silence that our eand-
date for the proudest honor of earth may have
his opinions interpreted variously to suit the
changing prejudices or prepossessions of partic-
ular ATTITUDES Fellow Wings such policy
will not-shoud not succeed. Ii is unworthy
of great party whose sentiments are conserv-
alive, aud whose aim is the prosperity and hap
pness of the people. It's tendency is to reduce
the Wing party to a mere heterogeneous com
pound of discordant sectional factions the bal
ot-box TO a receptacle for votes obtained by
| fraud upon one or other of the sections of the
! United States and the Presidential election to a
| trial Of chcanery and assimilation among poit-
| ical mounted banks. We did not seek to make
an injurious aserjpton OF motive TO any man or
association of men but we repudiate and re-
fuse, for our part, now and hereafter TO lend
our support to any candidate whose principles
are not plainly defined, or TO join in any crusade
against popular rights, the honesty of politics,
or the palpable interest Of the country, for the
purpose Of achieving temporary political tri-
umph.
But to return. What was the Ingredient in
Gentry's amendment that induced the chairman
20 rule IL out of order! The only aim of the
! op,op1,nont upas IN avpluds n conclu.inn II uas
framed distinctly with a view TO absolve the
] Wing members present from an implied pledge
to support the nominees Of the national conven-
| ton, unless those nominees shall be publicly
and unequivocally pledged TO regard the series
Of measures known "a the compromise measures
as final settlement Of the dangerous ques-
tons they embraced, and to maintain them
inyiolate" What inference can be drawn from
the refusal 20 grant this exemption, bat that the
determination existed 10 commit all who pariici-
paicd in the meeting TO the support Of the nomi
necs Of the national convention, whether he shall
! be pledged 10 support the compromise or not ;
Some of the undersigned are bound by our SOL
emn public declaration, made in 1850, that we
will support no man for Office unless he is
known, unequivocally and beyond controversy,
10 be determined TO maintain, support and exc
cute the laws known as the compromise mea-
religiously redeem our word We felt, after the
defeat Of Gentry's amendment, that silence or
acquiescence, under the circumstances, would
commit us to an Inconsistency, and Justly awaken
suspicion Of our sincerity. Regarding the vote
on Gentrys amerd ment as the emphatic DECLARE
lion by the meeting, either that the persons
present remained uncommtted as 10 their own
support Of the adjustment measures, Or that they
refused 10 establish any such test Of the quail
ication of the nominee Of the national conven-
1 ton, no course remained, consistent with our
conviction Of duty and sense of self respect, but
TO withdraw formally from the meeting, and 10
retain the position we designed TO retain.
II has been charged that it is our deliberate
purpose to distract the counsels Of the Wings,
and 10 create an unnecessary schism in the body
Of the Wing party. II has been charged that
our object is to open afresh the agitation upon
the slavery questions, and to create sectional
a. ~