The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-09
WASHINGTON;
TUESDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 9, 1852.
the Result-Its Causes and Tendencies.

We have chronicled our intention for the
present to abstain from discussion of the causes
and tendencies of General PIERoE's election.
We believe that such discussion, to be useful.
must be based upon more intimate acquaint-
ance with the details of the contest throughout
The country than can yet be obtained; and that
At is more likely to be prosecuted truthfully
and temperately when the excitement and
modification incident to the event shall have
passed away. The defeat of the Wing party
does not involve its annihiation; and there is
room to doubt the soundness of policy which
would at this moment press upon it old grounds
OF quarrel. IL the Wings are ever again to be
successful, they must be at least harmonious;
and we apprehend that harmony requires as an
essential condition more forbearance and good
temper than some of our contemporaries appear
disposed to display.
The controversy, however much, 10 be de-
precated, has been commenced in some quar-
ters, and we propose to present in brief
compass a few Of the leading points, partly as
matters Of information for our readers, partly
as things to be recorded for future use
The New York Times, one of the earliest,
and certainly one of the ablest. of General
ScoTT's advocates, treats the occurrence with
phlosoPhlc composure--'quite content with
the fact, and caring not lu explore the in
huences by which il has been brought about g"
IL proceeds thus, in spirit which cannot be
TOO highly commended:
1--WE have no railing Accusations to bring agsinst
any section If the Wing party, and no weeping
charges oi fraud to make against the Democrats
t1o'e tcho desired the nomination Of MIR. Fillmore
haze id6ored on behalf of General Scott sciM GEM
rous zeal; and the friends of MIR. Webster, who
did not support the Wing nominee, while an Cd
poste course on their part would not have chang
the result. arc entitled to charitable construction
OF their motives, even from those whose unhesi-
tatng adhesion TO party cannot approve their acts
thousands OF mea have supported the Wing party
hitherto IN the confident hope that Mr.. Webster's
turn would come at last; and in the Erin belief that
SO supreme a statesman could not be deliberately
ana hnaiiy excluded by the American people from
mat hlsh piice of responsibility and pow er in which
ne cou'o serve them best. And the crushing of
such hope in such hea. t. rendered all the more
dreadful by the added weight OF his recent death
could scarcely be expected to yield at once to the
soon forgotten in the race for party SUCCESS And
although the country would have feIt--if their
course had decided the event and defeated the
Wing tickct-that they had sacrificed too much of
political principle to personal feeling, as it sands
now We are glad that they could follow the |
proWPtIngs OF their private grief without iuiiict
ing INJURY upon the country. If they had acted |
the result would have been the same |
and they would have made painful sacrifice in |
vain -
The New York Express attributes General |
>corT's defeat, in great measure, to .the
peculiar influences under which he was nomi
nated." The Albany Journal takes exception
o the remark, and .assails Mr.. FILLMoRE's
nends-nnInlng especially this journal-in
manner which we are content just now 70 pass
without observation. The declaration of the
New York Times, that "those who desired the
nomination of Mr.. FILLMORE have labored
on behalf Of General Scorr with generous
ZEAL" is satisfactory set off to the structures
# the Journal The Rochester IN. YDl
imsrtcan, noticing the same point, remarks
"Ihc readers OF the prints whose conductors de.
ired the nomination of Mr. Fillmore will bear
'ant 80 that they have truly 'labJred with gener-
us zeal Tor the election Of General Scott We
mo" not what more they could have done in
hs behalf 1t would be absurd to ascribe the |
nong popular vote against the Wing candidate
the central and western States to the Webster
nen in the cities Of Boston and New York"
1t adds: ......
THOSE who have divided the Wing party in this
tate are those who have etrven to place ii in false
md sectional position, and to from it the gym
'ahy and affection of the w hig party of the Union
They have introduced narrow and proacrintive
ssues into its policy, and proclaimed relentless
hostility to those who have conlended for the in
iividaaiity of toe Wing party in New York, IA
veil "a in louisiana"
The New York Courier, which surrendered
rs preferences for Mr. WEBSTER to give effect
o the Baltimore nomination, presents the fol,
owing as the causes of the disaster:
every member of the 80 called Wing party
-epuoistes the idea of surrenderng his principles
o the behests of partyi and no. only Indignantly
ienes any allegiance to party when such ale
rance conflicts with his principles, but openly
aims, and feariess!y exercises, the right of think
ng and acting for himself upon all national ques-
ions, regardless Of party considerations
"And II is because those who at Baltimore in |
June last were entrusted with Il C selection of a |
Wing candidate for the Presidency, wfuily shut
heir eyes to these simple facts, that we have to |
record the overwhelming defeat which has almost |
nnihilatei the semblance of Wing party in the |
country.
''Tbere is not solitary Wing less in the United
States to-day than there was FIVE months ago; and
there we're enough then to have insured us such
triumph as never yet has been witnessed, if we had
not foolishly and wickedly com promised prin.
cipies upon what claimed to be the altar of err
pedeacy. The Wing party is this day, numerically,
the strongest party in the country; and could to.
morrow, under favorable circumstances, demon.
strate the truth Of lhis declaration
Tho defeat which has befallen US was clearly
predicted by this and hundreds of other Wing
presses, which have in good faith sustained Gene
raj Scott, because they believed him worthy Of the
nfdence of the whole Wing party Of the country;
although by no manner Of means much entitled
TO the nomination as was the great patriot and
statesman whom nation mourns, md whose name
Inscribed upon the Whig banner would have Sc
cured 10 us an easy and triumphant victory. We
foresa~ a twelvcmonth since that General Scott
had committed a grave political error in permit