The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-27
WASHINGTON. d. c.
THURSDAY, MAY %, 1852.
THE POSITION OF THE WINGS.

their preference for Mr.. Fillmore as a cand
date for the Presidency, but there is an eyider
abatement in their zeal They are less imper,
tive and less confident, more inclined to COZ
template the contingency OF another nOmini
ton, and to find pretexts for supporting
The Scott men are confident urgent, imports
nate; but they must expect hard struggl
The adoption Of two-thirds rule would pr
vent their triumph
The Democratic managers fear the nOminI
ton of Scott, because, if he remain in his pre-
ent condition, they suppose he will receive tn
full Wing vote of the North, besides disarminI
the opposition, if not conciliating the supper
of good many anti-slayery Democrats; whil
at the same time his military prestige woulC
prove potential with the masses generally.
Win he continue in his present position
viii the Wing Convention, following the pre-
cedent of lS4S, make no declaration of princi-
pies VIII General Scott if nominated fol-
lowing in the footsteps Of General Taylor. re-
main silent, with the determination that, if
by pledges of any kindi The Washington
Union is anxious that he should speak
out, explicitly and without delay and of
course, would be shocked if he did not take
the ground which it expects the Democratic
candidate to occupy 1t cannot bear that so
illustrious man, though political opponent,
should be dishOnored by receiving the Anti
Slavery vote of the North. Some Southern
Wings manifest similar anxiety-they wish
to extinguish him before the meeting of the
Convention so that Fillmore may have no COM
petitOr. Other Southern Wings, anxious for
his nomination, because they see in it the sole
chance of success for the Wing Party, bear tes-
timony to his sOundness on the Compromise,
and predict that he will let his opinions be
known in due season. Their object, of course
is to reconcile their constituents to a disagree
able thing and to protect themselves against
the fire in their rear"
General Scott desires to be President he
is good -natured and accessible avoids, we pre-
sumo, all points of antagonism and contro-
versy in his political intercourse; does not hold
himself responsible for peoples impressions or
reports. Perhaps he may write letter-if he
grow indifferent 10 success. But it is quite
possible that he has wisely concluded that, by
by abstaining from any declaration of opinion
at any time in relation to the Compromise and
Fugitive Law, he will lose no Southern State
that he would otherwise secure, and will retain
many Northern States that he would otherwise
lose Indeed, he must know that on Fillmore's
platform he could not carry as many States as
Mr. Fillmore himself His prospects at the
best are only little better than those of any
candidate whom the Democrats are likely to
nominate 80 that declaration by him. OF
the Convention that may put him in nomina.
ton, if it squirt toward the Compromise, nevi-
tably alternating thousands of voters will
probably result in his defeat His counsellors
NAV as well be admonished that it is not in
the power even of New York politician to
manufacture resolve in relation to these
measures 50 Jesuitical or a declaration in
writing 80 abstract and misty, as not to repel
@ large number Of voters-men unwilling to
take the General on trust These voters feel
that after all, the true course of action is TO
carry their principles to the ballot box-to vote
only for the candidate who shall openly and
sincerely stand committed to their support
They cannot but respect those of their fellow
citizens who have positively declared their pur-
pose to sustain no Party and no Presidential
candidate, not known to be committed to the
doctrine of Intervention by the Federal
Government with Slavery and the Extraditon
of Slaves With reluctance and misgiving, we
have no doubt, they have forced themselves TO
acquiesce in the support of Gen. Scott provided
the Convention that may nominate him will
present him to the People unencumbered by
any resolve or declaration of opinion but let
the managers presume one step further upon
their pliability, and the game is up. These
voters would by one bound recover the upright
position from which they have been Temporal
rily bent
In our comments upon the old parties we are
quite disinterested for we certainly shall sup
port neither Of them, till it assume what we hold
to be the right position on the Slavery Cues
ton and this neither will do in the approach
ing canvass But We do not, therefore, cease
to take deep interest in their movements
One or the other will control the Government
and the ground it shall assume as a national
organization will exert a strong influence OF
public opinion and political movements in til,
States, respectively. If they will not, therefore
do the best thing, we should like to prevent
them from doing the worst. True, the more
fragrant their violation of sound principle, the
more decided would be the independent demon
stration proposed by Free-Soilers; but the hope
of increasing the force of such demonstration
cannot justify us in neglecting any legitimate
means to counterfeit so far as possible, the pro.
slavery tendencies of the party organizations