The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-01


thought tiiat his position as Union man did
not cut him off entirely from an association with
his national friends.
This speech brought out Mr.. Jenkins, whose
position was we'll known to be- hostile to the
proposition to send Union delegates to the Dem
ocratic convention. Mr.. Jenkins speech was
listened to with marked attention. 1t was in
truth an able effort. He contended that the
constitutional Union party, when formed in De-
cember, 1850, opened its arms to every man
North, South. East and West, who would stand
upon their platform. He commended that, if the
Union party or any portion of it went into the
Democratic convention, as many members on
the floor desired, they would cut themselves of
from those National Wings, who had in good
faith stood by the Georgia platform and the
compromise. How, said he will yon ever get
with Willard Fillmore and Daniel Webster if
you unite with the Democratic convention
These distinguished Wings were referred to in
a most glowing strain of eloquent eulogy.
Here Mr.. Jenkins showed the cloven foot of
Whiggery. He declared that the Wings who
stood by the Union and the Constitution were
as justly deserving the regard of Constitutional
Union men as were Democrats. He, however,
did not demand of the Union party that they
should be represented in the Wing convention
he was for standing alo0f, and waiting the
action Of both conventions before he would
commit himself to either. That course, he said
however inexpedent, was the only way in
which to preserve the principles of his party.
Just here, great excitement prevailed in the
meeting, and men looked at each other in as
constituent at the prevailing discord, and Won
dered how the matter could be amicably settled
Judge Cone followed Mr.. Jenkins, endorsing
his views and sustaining the substitute offered
by Col. Thomas.
Mr. Kenan replied to Mr. Jenkins--he repre-
scented those who were in favor of Il represent
tation ut Baltimore. His effort was ingenious
and elective---it told powerfully upon the con
vention lie declared that the Union party was
not formed to put down the unsoundness OF
Southern Rights men on the slavery question,
(Mr., jenkins had urged that if the Union men
went to Baltimore they would have to unite
with "Southern secessionists" and Northern
Free-solers) Mr.. Kenan thought that Southern
Rights men could be trusted on the slavery
question, and that on that question they could
not be placed on a footing with Free-soilers.
He was against sectionaIism, and maintained
that it was never the intention of the Union
party to place that party in sectional position
which would be the case if it opposed acting
with one of the national parties. He declared
his preference for the Baltimore Democratic
convention. Speeches were made by the Presi-
dent and others which we cannot notice particu-
larly. Though a large majority of the conven-
ton were in favor of the substitute OF Col.
Thomas, for the sake of harmony, the majority
accepted the original resolution, as they under
stood that the conve ntiOn considered it tanta-
mount TO the substitute.
After passing the resolutions, elsewhere
copied in our paper, the convention adjourned
sine die.
From the Southern, Columbus, Ga.) Sentinel.
Georgia Politics.
The most remarkable feature in Georgia poll
tics has been and is still the facility with which
parties swap places and principles with each
other. In the notification controversy, the
Wing party was the depostary of State Rights
while the Democratic party was the defender Of
the odious doctrines of the proclamation and
the force bill. In few years afterwards, the
Wing party rallied to the support of the Amer
lean system, and thefederal heresies of Henry
Clay while the Democratic party received into
its bosom the incompatible Calhoun, and incor-
poratcd into its faith the teachings of his almost
inspired genius. In the late controversy be-
tween the North and South, the Democratic party
of Georgia pushed State Rights to the verge
of disunion in its gallant defence of the rights
of the South, while the Wing party, in it's zeal
for nationality, denied the cardinal doctrine of
the right of State to secede from the Union,
and kissed the rod which tyrannical majority
raised over the South. Now, the Democratic
party, so fierce in its hostities to Northern ag-
gression, makes haste to extend a fraternal hand
to disorganizshg traitors, whose mouths are yet
filled with denunciations of Southern institutions
he f. -
society and battle our land with the blood of
our people-wthout one solitary stipulation in
favor of our security and peace, or even an
effort to erect the poor barrier of resolution
between us and our enemies. And what apollo
gy do these men give for their shameless deser-
ton, we will not say of their plighted faith, but
of home and hearthstone None that we have
ever heard but the cowardy excuse that they
were beaten upon the issues of resistance and
submission before the people they attempted to
save. This is a lamentable fact, and we mourn
over it in sackcloth and ashes every day of our
lives. Would to God that the scales would fall
from the eyes of the South and that she could see
the frghtful doom which yawns at her feet But
is It generous, is it noble, is it brave, to desert
the standard ofyour country when it trails in the
dust? No, gentlemen, no. The true soldier
in such an hour but stands the more steadfast to
his post, and strikes quicker and heavier blows
upon the ranks of the foe Desertion in such
an hour, and for such cause, will destroy
forever the faith of the people of Georgia. in the
integrity and patriotism the Democratic party.
The Union party perceves these truths, and is
framing it's tactics for the coming elections in
reference to them. 1t already has the prestige of
the Union and victory on its side, and if it can
add to them the semblance of devotion to the
rights of the South, its triumph will be over
whelming. This it is rapidly acquiring. 1t has
had the wisdom to hold aloof from national
party associations and thus keeps in line its
homogeneous battalions of State Rights men and
Federalists-of Democrats and Wings BY so
doing it will be able to transfer them to which
ever party bids highest for its support, and thus
ensure certain end splendid triumph to its
cause in the coming elections.
We have no confidence in the professions of
devotion to the South on the part of the Consti-
tutoual Union party. 1t forfeited its claim to
sincerity when, in the face of the stupcndous
fraud by which the South was cheated out Of
rights which her sons had won by blood and
vaor, it ingloriously submitted to the outrage,
and then stalk cd tho eyiatcnca of tho (IniOn uDnp