The southern press., 1852-01-22
The Washington Union.


If slanderous insinuations and personal invec
tive could be admitted as good substitutes for
argument and facts, and scurriity pass current
for wounded dignity, then the Unions diatribes
of Sunday last levelled at the Southern Press
might awaken some other sentiment, than that
of contemptuous pity.
r Into such a controversy as the Union seems
DESTROYS of provoking-one of mere personals
ties apart from principle-we scorn to enter.
We leave to it the consolation to be derived
from the mere argument Of epithet, and The re-
sort to personal defamation, in default Of more
satisfactory response. Our Inconsistencies and
political necessities have not yet driven us to
resort to such miserable shifts and low appeals
to popular prejudices, such as this exploded or
gan clings to in its desperation, as the drowning
mariner clutches at every floating straw. The
Union well knows that its motives are manifest;
while at the same time il knows equally well
that to the Editors of this paper cannot Justly
attach the suspicion Of being prompted by the
hope of spoils and the prospect Of plunder,
Since its establishment, the Southern Press
has been proud to occupy position in the van
OF the Southern cause, and TO r, present the
views and wishes of fixed minority in the ma
tiona Legislature. Both of its Editors, in enlist
ing in the fight, made heavy sacrifices of person.
al comfort and interest. They have contended for
principle, the Union for plumber and the cry Of
the daughters of the horse leech" has not been
more clamorous, than its ncessant appeals for pay
IN printing jobs since the opening of the session.
Its most cherished principles have been g the
seven," so graphically described by JOHN RAN
DoLrH, the five loaves and two fishes" For
time, while hope was high, it played its part
with great caution, and endeavored to please
everybody-but banked and baffled in its siren.
uous efforts thus far to obtain the spoils in the
shape of the census job, and tortured by a. the
hope deferred that maketh the heart siekn-it
now wants itsimpotent malice on those who ex-
posed the real motive principle of its policy and
thus confirms the truth of these charges
The Unions great aim still is to secure its
jobs; but it now sees that to do so it must de.
sert even the appearance ofimpartiality, and sur
render to the spoilsmen, not alone the principles
OF the party it Processes to represent, but by
forming coalition with the Constitutions
Union men, whom it first supported, then aban.
doned, and now again embraces. In its AFRO.
gait self conceit, it deems itself now potent
nongh to drown, by the cry OF party, the indip.
nhnl voice Of the Southern Rights Democracy
who will not pander to its purposes.
lis articles Of Sunday bid strongly for IN,
influences we have named. Its assault upor
the Southern Press, as well as its Reputation O
the States Rights Democrats of the South, botf
point in the same direction. On Saturday Il
attempted to curry favor with the Southern
Rights men by re-publishing Mr.. SoULE'.
speech, and complimenting that noble and dis
tinguished champion of the South. On Sunday
listening to other interests, and q crooking the
pregnant hinges Of the knee that thrift might
follow fawning," with a shameless inconsistency
OF which II alone could be guilty, the Union
assails the same Senator, and takes a differen,
tack altogether, steering due North from due
South with rapidity which even that tickle ele.
ment, The rind, never exhibited.
The reason is obvious. The Union has had
q new light since Saturday. Its Northern sup
porters in the printing job have expostulated
with its principal editor" and the Southern
element in the concern has been Sanduoicheo
between the recipients Of former federal patron.
age, and his honest utterances been set aside
for more polite pronunciamentos. The last
vestiges Of States Rights doctrine, bequeathed
by Father RIrcmE," are 10 be expunped BY
the Jacksonian Democrats who have succeeded
him, and the Proclamation and Force Bill are
to be substituted for the Virginia and Kentucky
Resolution Of '98, by those who occupy but
cannot fill his seat
We do not make random charges or idle &C.
cusations, as does the Union. We can produce
evidence 10 sustain our assertions The first
effort which the onion has made under It's new
heads, has been 10 secure is PAY IN ADVANCE
from the party, by pressing through the Senate
when scarce quorum could be collected during
the Christmas holidays, the fat job Of the census
printing. With the true instinct Of politica
vreeker, il demanded its salrage even before the
ship Of party was safe from the political breakers
Never in the annals Of Washington intrigue
proaigste and shameless as they have beeD-was
there case presented as gross, plain and pal.
psble as that Of the Union. And now, when II
finds that the scruples Of Southern States,
Rights men are not so easily to be overcome AZ
it has imagined, it attempts to propitiate that
forlorn faction at the South, known as the Con.
stitutonaf Union Party in the hope OF thereb,
commanding sufiiciency Of "sweet voices il
Congress, to clutch "the plumber" that 1t covets
But the game is too open-the scheme is toe
transparent. A sense Of shame, if not linger
ing regard for decency and Justice, must thwari
this shallow policy. Even those among the
Southern men who have surrendered, cannot
lend themselves to SO utterly unprincipled Q
A..