Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-05-15
NUMBER f6.


R4~ The New York Times, one of the ablest
papers in New York. talks as follows-it is very
plain, and we think very honest Let the reader
note it
THE WHfG CAUcus.-The apprehensions ex-
pressed in the Times of Wednesday morning. ia
regard to the doings of the Wing Congressional
caucus, were fully realized on Wednesday night
A large proportion of the Southern Wings seeded.
because resolutions pledgng the Wing party to
an absolute endorsement of the compromise meas
urcs and the fugitive slave law of 1850 were ruled
out of order by the chair and of those who re-
mained, several declared that they did so only in
the hope that this decision might be reversed.
The Southern Wings thus determined to force
upon the Wing party, and upon the country, a
direct ass@e on tie question Of stqgery. They de-
mand as the price of their adhesion, not a silent
acquiesence, but an explicit, open, unmistakable
aPpr0vat, by Northern Wings, of measures which
they voted against and did all in their power to
defeat at the time of their passage Whether
sach demand is reasonable or proper,-whether
there is anything in the condition of the country to-
xcuse it, and whether it could be conceded bv
Northern men who profess any regard for princi-
ple and consistency, the country at large can
Judge.
The Southern Wings apparently forget that a
very large majority of their Northern brethren in
Congress voted against all the compromise bills
that only three Northern Wing votes were cast III
favor of the fugitive slave law that of those three
members, but one reelected; that the dele
cation from the State of New ork cast tsenty votes
against and but one nits favor that there were
but toentynine votes for it of all parties from all
the Northern States that every Northern State,
with the exception of Iowa. endorsed the provs-
ions ofthe Wimot proviso and that Hsree-fourths
of the people of the Norhern-States affirmed it by
their votes in 1848, while no political party dared
take ground against it. They either forget
those facts, they believe that the North is ready
to abandon all these positions, and trample upon
the principles which they then professed at their
dictation, and to retain their support. No expec-
tation could possibly be more baseless and absurd
IF the Whig caucus had passed the resolutions so
pertinacously pressed upon them, it would nevi-
tably have thrown New York, Ohio and the Whig
States of New England into the opposi1ion ranks
No who understands the public sentiment
and the public character of the North can doubt
this fact.
The result of this movement is not easy to forsee
If it shall be persisted in, the coming contest aeU
be mainly sectional. 1t will be entirely useless,
after an open rupture by the South from such a
cause and for such end, to talk about any other
issues than those which grow out of slavery The
whole country will divide upon those questions
and party discipline or hope of party spoils can
possibly prevent it. Whether such contest will
tend still further to strengthen Southern insti-
tutons to erect new barricades around slavery,
and to protect still further rights and interests of
the South, the men of the South must Judge for
themselves. It rests with them 10 say whether
the contest shall be national or sectional If they
see fit to act with their political brethren of tho
North, upon such grounds as they can hold and
without forcing upon them declarations which
would degrade and break them down, they can
keep the canvass free from slavery or antislavery
issues. But if they demand that the issues shall
be distinctly made that the North shall be COM
PEELED to pronounce upon the question of slavery,
and that this shall be the only issue made-they
may effect that object and renew all the agitatons
which an opposite course would at once allay.-
But the reSaH of such movement upon the in
terests Of the South and the peace of the country
we fear they have not fully weighed.