The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03

We publish to-day the intrepid speech of Mr..
RAsToUL, of Massachusetts, in defence of the
coalition in that State between the Democratic
and Freeso or Abolition party. 1t is defence,
in fact, of the principle of coalition generally.
We insert it rather for the purpose OF exhibiting
to the South the politics of that State.
AS for Mr.. RANToUL's defence, it will not do.
We admit that parties politically opposed as to
federal politics, may combine as to State politics.
Nay, we are glad to see it. We should regard
with pleasure the arrival of the day when the
politics of the several States shall be emanci-
pated from the shackles of national parties; and
we should be happy to learn that the people of
any State considered her interest, honor, and
rights paramount to federal politics, or Presi-
Dental or federal party success.
But that is not the case of the Massachusetts
coalition. In that State the Democratic party
had professed always higher degree of regard
and respect for the rights of the States and Of
the South, than the Whigs-much higher than
the Abolitionists. Hence it is true, as Mr.. RAN.
ToUL asserts, there had been coalition between
the Wings and Freesoilers. Hence the Demo
Gratis had denounced that coalition. But an OPP
portunity or q temptation occurs for the Demo
Gratis to do the same thing, and forthwith they
embrace it-not for State politics alone, or
chiefly, but for federal. And accordingly the
result of that coalition is, that Mr.. SUMNER, an
ultra Freesoiler, is elected to the Senate not of
Massachusetts, but of the United States-and
Mr. RANToUL is elected, not to the Legislature
of Massachusetts, but to the House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States. Now, Mr..
RANToUL and his party had previously denounced
Messrs. SUMNER a. Co. as men whose doctrines
were more unconstitutional and destructive of
the Union than those Of the Whigs,-and then
turn about and elect them to the Congress of
the United States rather than Whigs,-elect
them to violate the Constitution, to assail the
rights and safety of sister States. Now, it is
true that Mr. RANTouL gives us an account of
the career of his Wing colleague Mr.. DAVIS
from which it appears that he is an Abotionist,
or was until very recently, although now hold.
ing seat as Wing. We know, however, that
all the Wings of Massachusetts were not such
as Mr.. DAVIS and the defence of Mr. RANrouL
is only that he and his party have not done worse
than the Wings have done on this question. If
different coalition had been made, if the De.
mocrats, or that portion Of them which is faith
full to the Constitution, had united with the por-
ton Of the Wings equally, or the most nearly
SO, an adequate defence might have been made /;
for the defence would have been that the cause
of the Constitution was superior to that of any
party.
The truth is, however, that the events to
which Mr.. RANToUL refers in his speech, dem
onstrate the actual dissolution of parties in Mas
sachusetts, whilst the attack and defence which
have been made in reference to the result, only
show with what pertnacity and infatuation men
cling to names and to forms when the substance
ha1r Departed