The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-05
From the Southern Press Of July 8.
..Tho southern Prsss.v


The letter of MIR. FoRsYrH, which publish to-
day, and the extract from the Public Ledger
ferred to, render it necessary now to explain the
position of the Southern Press.
II 10 almost precisely month since the Demo
cratic nominations were made and the platform
adopted. The moment he saw the platform, the
senior editor of this paper determined definitvely
that he would not cooperate with the Democratic
party Bot, learning that the Southern Rights
members of Congress had all decided otherwise he
Immediately rendered the establishment to them
| at fair price, that they might take measures to
have it conducted according to their own views
and thosc OF the Southern Rights delegates in the
Baltimore Convention, who had all acquiesced in
| the platform; and he understood steps would be
promptly taken to effect tho change. The South
ern Press, therefore,, abstained from taking any
position to the nominations until after the new
| arrangements could be made. But nothing has as
| yet been done. ....
for any proceedings in the Democratic caucus re-
! specting the paper. He neither asks nor expects
| the patronage ofthat party or OF any other.
| The senior editor of the Southern Press will not
| become member Of any party that endorses the
Compromise in any way. And he considers that
in the pledge to"abide by and adhere to the faithful
| execution" of the Compromise measures, they are
endorsed. For, ifnot, they ought not to have been
seectedfrom the statute. book ia laws whose
| ton peculiarly deserved such pledge Ii has
| been said that nothing remains of the Compromise
measures to be executed but the Fugitive Slave
| law; and hence the pledge of the Democratic Con
vention really has no force or meaning but the
execution Of that law. But this ID a mistake.
| There is the law prohibiting the slave trade in
| this District, and this law ID the verdict of
the Federal Government against slavery and in
favor of emancipation, it does not become Southern
Rights men to pledge themselves specially in favor
Of its execution. As for the other parts of the
Compromise, the law to dismember Texas and pay
her in money for it is not executed, and that
is not law that deserves any Manifestations of
favor from Southern men. But the truth is, this
pledge was demanded from the convention by the
| (yOmDrOmi-e of O. IL
considered by them endorsement of their course,
and for this we would not make it. We consider
the resolutions on the subject as manifestation by
the convention OF peculiar esteem and appreciation
| for the Compromise, and, therefore, we will not
! concur in il but do now here, and will, on all
proper occasions in future, protest against it.
Before the convention met We acquiesced reluct-
antly in the policy of reunion with the Democratic
party, simply because that policy had been adopted
by the great body Of Southern Rights men, and be-
cause we believed it more orthodox than the Wing
party. We repeatedly advised our friends TO ad
here to a separate organization, for in that way we
thought they could most effectuaily maintain the
| rights and interests of the South. And we knew
that in CO. operating with one Of the Federal par
| ties we would be bound to waive, during the can
vnss, the discussion Of any of the questions which
| its members differed For if we were to become
a member of that or any other party, We would feel
| bound in good faith to promote its'harmony But
| we considered that the difference of sentiment on
the southern question between our friends and the
| other portions of the Democratic party was wider
on their creeda respectively. And seeing the
Southern Rights party would be in minority, we
expected they would be prescribed, and 30 ex-
pressed ourselves repeatedly in this paper. But
| when the Compromise platform was adopted, we
had no room left to doubt, and hence, AS matter
Of policy, as well as of principle, we would not &C
quiesce in that platform.
Now, IL is frequently said that platforms are not
| essental-that they disregarded; and we OBJ.
| serve that in several cases the avoWal has been
made of determination to support the candidates
and repudiate the platform. But this 10 bad faith.
The platform s the covenant OF the party, and VIC
tell those who Ia ke this that when they
| come to have their claims to party patronage and
| honors canvassed they will find that the Compro
mise faction, for whom and by whom this platform
was made will not disregard it, but will plead it
| as perpetual bar to the promotion Of all who dis
| avowed it. Already what do we sec? Why, Gen.
Cass, the leader of the Compromise Democrats
| pronouncing Mr.. Forsyth, able and powerful
Southern Rights man, to be utterly unworthy of
| party favor As for what Gen. Cass says OF the
| past of the Southern Press, care very
| little. We ask him favors; and we scarcely
| know man whose opinions regard with less
| respect.
We are glad to learn his real sentiments through
| his appropriate organ, Francis J. Grund General
Cass thinks the Southern Prsss is better than the
| Ndtional Era. We sorry cannot recipro
| cate the compliment. We don't think Gen. Cass
is good as a sincere Abolitionist or Freesoiier
| Either the Southern Press the National Era is
| right. No shutfer like General Cass can be. Ii
| slavery Is wrong, and If the Federal Government
has jurisdiction over it, so far federal action IL
incidentally concerned. then the course Of the
National Era ia more candid and patriotic than
that of General Casa But il slavery ia right If
| the Federal Government cannot constitutionaly
| or equitaby Discriminate between slavery and
anti slavery, then the Southern Press is decidedly
| more sincere and patriotic than General Cass. In
| deed suppose that General Cass prefers the
Era TO the Press for only long ago as lS4S Cen
| eral Cass was, like the Era, supporter the Will
mot provi.o, but we are not aware that any change
ever came his mind, is likely 10 come that
will bring him that TO the Southern Press
Between General Cass and the Southern Press there
is not only political, but constitutional antago-
MEM. He ia insincers and fcklc. The Press is
candid and consistent. But will make allow
ance for the recent disappointment of General
Cass, and let him go.
We have frequently been asked wha, can we do
if we don't go into party canvass! We ask in
return what can we do by going in? The Wing
candidate for the Presidency a native of the
South, and advocate of emancipation. The can
didate for Vice President ia eclectcd from one Of
the Southern States supposed to be the most apa.
thetic as to Southern rights-the most tolerant of
Northern aggression. The Democratic candidate
for the Presidency is man whose merit ia that he
is friend Of the Comp and whose sentiment
is avowed at the Manchester meeting, that Ella
| very is "deplorabe. The candidate for Vice
President claims the merit OF being the frat to ad
wise the South to acquiesce in measures that he
himself considered UNJUST to her. As for the Free
coil party, they nominate Hale and Clay, both
avowed Abolitioniss, thus proposing the prize OF
ing slavery.
Is any thing TO be gained by southern men in
| federal party contest like this? No; the whole
policy OF all federal party politics is to weaken the
cause Of the South, by Offering federal h Jnors to
those who the easi devoted to southern rights,
but who can yet secure southern votes.
But what is gained by abstaiming from federal
politics? We answer by another question: What
have the abolitionists gained? They have gained
power. They have rendered both parties subser
Went to them They have gained California and
part of Texas. They have gained the law
against the slave trade in the District. They have
gained large delegation in Congress. And now,
rather than support even General Scott, southern
| enancipationst, whom Mr. Seward supports, they
adopta separate organization. And if the South Is
not ready to act with similar consistency, indie
pendence. and energy, she cannot expect TO make
effcctual resistance to such foes.
Southern Rights men assured US they could
exert important and salutary influence on the De.
mocratic party by going into the convention. We
thought otherwise. They have tried The expert
ment. They went in, we know, determined to
prevent q ratification Of the Compromise. They
came out abiding by and adhering to it.
We cannot but regret most deeply the difference
of opinion that has arisen between and all our