The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-11-11

portion, considering General Taylor, on ac-
count of his non-committalism, preferable to
General Cas-, certainly committed against
them. and believing in the representations
everywhere made at the North of his Anti
Slavery sympathies, by Wing journals and
speakers chung to their party-while large
number of the Democrats seeded and another
portion, disafected by the position of their
candidate declined any part in the election
To this cause, aided by other influences, the
Wings owed their triumph. What followed
on the accession of Mr.. Fillmore, we all know.
The Wings falsifed their Anti-Slayery profess
sions Their leading men were foremost in
urging the Compromise measures and Fug-
tive Slave Law, and their Administration main-
tanned them specially Us its measures This
reyolted the Ant.Slavery members of the
party on whom in the North it had SO long
relied, and the Wings straightway lost the
control of every State of the Union, except
Vermont.
The Presidential election approached and it
became necessary to reOrganize for National
contest Three lines of policy presented them
selves the nomination of Mr. Fillmore or Mr..
Webster, and the complete adoption of the
Compromise platform; the rejection Of these
men and of the Compromise platform, and of
every candidate committed to it: the accept
ance of the platform, and the nomination of a
man who had not been associated with the
passage Of the measures composing it. 1t was
clear, that if success were the object of the
Party, either the first or second line of policy
should have been adopted. 1t was necessary
to secure the full support, either Of the Pro-Sa-
very or of the Anti-Slavery sentiment. Fill
more and the Compromise would have COM
manded the support of the former Scott, with
out compromise or cOmmlttal, the full support
of the latter A halfway course-the adop-
ton of the third line of policy-woud prove
fatal blunder. The efficient support Of both
promise platform, could not carry 80 many
States as Fillmore he would ALLEVIATE the
North without securing the South
The whole subject was discussed in the Era
repeatedly, and few extracts from our edtO-
rails, written several months before the Con-
vention, will show the light in which we then
considered it,
Gould he General Scott De nominated by
general agreement among the Wings with
out the Intervention of a National Convention
it's formalitios and commitments, he would be
a formidable candidate, and might give the
Democrats more trouble than they now appre-
bend But the Wing Party is not distinguished
for its sagacity, and it will hardly agree on
such policy lts Northern members are mar
row, blind, and obstinate and its Southern,
generally intolerant They will insist as
condition to supporting General Scott, that he
make some declaration of his views respecting
the Compromise and the agitation OF the Sla
very Question, and i this be giuc,, 1t mi prob
abiy prone fatal Should it come short of the
Democratic standard on this point the whole
South would be alienatcd should it come up
TO it, he couM not command The fuH r0te Of has
Partv at The North jan %.
If success be the only aim of the Wing Con-
yention, it must nominate Scott, without reso-
luton, declaration, or committal OF amy kind,
on their part or his or nominate Fillmore with
an emphatic affirmation Of the fnalty of the
Compromise and Fugitive Law. Any other
course wiH kare Il rithOW eren plank 10 stand
upon.'-Hay 10.
Indeed, he must know that on FIlmores
platform, he could not carry as mGny States as
M Fillmore himself His prospects ut the
best are only little better than those of any
candidate whom the Democrats are likely to
nominate so that declaration by him. or the
Convention that may put him in nomination, if
it squint toward the Compromise, inevitably
alternating thousands of voters, lc'H proCabiy re-
silt IN has defcdt His counscllorS may rs well
be admonshed that it is not in the power even
of New York politician to manufacture a re-
solve in relation to these measures SO Jesuitcal,
on, n declaration in writing so abstract and
misty, as not to repel II 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 de-
clared their purpose to sustain no party, and
no Presidential candidate not known to he
by the Federal Government with Slavery and
the Extradition OF slaves. With reluctance
and misgiving, we have no doubt they have
forced themselves to acquicsce in the support
of Gen Scott provided the Convention that
may nominate him will present him to the pco-
pie unencumbered by any resolve, or declara-
ton of opinion bit, let The managers presume
one step further upon their pliab'hty and the
game IS up. These voters would by one bound
recover the upright position, from which they
have been temporarily bent. "-May eth.
How will the two wings of the party stand
in the National Convention The Nothern d..
uided, the Southern united. the latter concen-
trdted on one man and one course Of pOlIcy,' tie
former, agreeing neither on men nor measures.
4 minority united can control a majority DIS
tracted, by dGhating wih The factisn most DIS
posed TO consult ats Wishes. The Southern mi
noyjty w'H either force The nomination Of Mr.
Fillmore or, If al accept General Scott, compel
the adoption of The Compromise. lis unity mil
enable II to dictate"-Mareh NH. .
The Wing Party cannot complain that tie
case was not fully presented to it, If it deter
mined to take the Compromise platform, its
true policy then was to run Mr.. Fillmore If
it determined TO select Scott, it should have re-
jccted the platform. Wepredicted that through
the unity of its Southern wing, and the disrac-
ton of it, Northern, it would do neither but
agree upon the third line of policy and nc de
featcd-take Scott with the platform, and then
fall between two stools
The facts are now before us. In the new
State elections under Mr.. Fillmore's Admins
trahon, they lost the control of all the States
but one in the Presidential election, just
closed, they are in the minority in every State.
The Compromise has now finished its work.
1t may be said the Democratic Party occu.
pied the same patiorm-why should it have
suffered less than the Wings 1t may be