Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-09-29
The Atl,erton Resolutions.

now wish to call the attention Of the public is that
relating to the ''Atherton Resolutions" Among
the evidence adduced by Mr.. WISE TO prove the
soundness of Gen. PIERCE ON the slavery question,
was the fact that he had voted for those resolutions,
when they were adopted by the House of Repre-
sentatives. Mr. WISE remarked that he did not
vote for them himself bcca,sc they did mol 60. fare
rough, bd they acere althG TIE SOUTH al that time
proposed stick pin here Mr.. Boris says, and
Gen. PIERCE by sustaining them manifested will
lingness to grant the largest request Of the South
ern members. As most persons may not remem-
Der the history of the Resolutions, we will give
brief account of their object and the character of
Mr.. WIsE's opposition to them, our memory being
refreshed by reference to communication publish
ed in the Spectator ofJuly 9th, lS4S.
During the administration of MARTIN VAN b.
rem, suspicion began to enter the minds of South
ern people that he was not as much of ''North-
ern man with Southern principles as his friends
represented. To counteract this impression, his
partizans in Congress concluded that something
must lie DONE or their leader could not receive
Southern support at the ensuing Presidential cleo
ton. They therefore agreed upon the plan of
drawing up and adopting series of resolutions on
the subject of slavery, which it was hoped would
satisfy the South of the soundness of the party gen.
orally and, by inference, of their leader also. A
caucus of VAN buren, members of Congress from
all parts of the country was accordingly held, and
the resolutions prepared, which on the ] 18th of
December, 1888, were presented to the House by
Mr. AruERroN, of New Hampshire, and hence
the name by which they are designated.
1t is unnecessary to ropublish the resolutions
here-we are chiefly interested in knowing what
Mr.. WISE thought of them. Mr. ATHERToN, hay
ing presented them to the House and advocated
their adoption in long speech, Immediately NOV
ed the previous question" which prevented fur
Their discussion. The report Of the proceedings
represent Mr.. WISE as saying at this point, 81
ask the gentleman of the North as the North has
been heard, that the South may be heard Also
These are not SOUTHERN RESOLUTIONS, and re-
pudiate them as such" Now look back 10 where
that pin is sticking. MIR. WISE asked leave of
the House ''thet THE SOUTH may be heard on tk's
question:" but being denied, he declared emphati-
cally, IT is PLOT sprung upon the South. p
And after all this, wonderful to relate, this same
Mr.. WISE stood up in the Courthouse of Augusta
County on the 18th day Of September, 1852, and
proclaimed to a large audience that one ofthe chief
plote,s, said by some to be the author Of the reso-
lutions, is, by virtue of his participation in the
transaction, very champion ofSouthern rights
But we are not done with Mr.. WIsE's ''evl-
dence" In 1889 he made speech at Louisa
Courthouse, which was published, and in which
he fully discussed the Resolutions. lie spoke on
that occasion us follows:
cat the last session, however, 'the party North
and South, combined IN secret cabal, and concocted
their scheme of adjusting the vexed question.
few administration members (among whom am
told were Governor JAMES K. Polk, of Tonnes
see, and Mr. RHETT, of South Carolina met
few of the same party from the North and after
various amended propositions among themselves,
,clich clearly sho,g ,chct ou Southern champions
yielded in the sectional bargan for The sake OF par
tJ, brought forth the Anterior Resolutions. Not
a man Of the oppostion except one, bound by con-
sideratons Of confidence among gentlemen, as tar
as know, had notice Of those resolutions, or their
tendency and scope. They were the first OF
strict party proceeding, provided IN secret as Tar
as the opposition were concerned, and agreed upon
by some few or more VAN buren, men OF the
South. with their fellows Of the MOTH, without
consultation with any of their brethren OF the OPP
position. it is believed who were shareholders with
tba
in the plot, had his eye and ear ready for Mr.. A
THEREON {; he (Mr. A. rose as soon as the journal
was read, moved suspension of the rules to intro
duce the subject, and obtained a suspension, for
which voted-made prepared speech on each
ofhs resolutions separately. offered them, and
n,oced The previous question!
'''This course was astounding. The first glance
of the resolutions showed me at once that they
simply declared that Congress had mo power to
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, or to
interfere with slavery in any way as means or
,cih rie,c of aJolishing slarey IN the States"
Mr.. WISE preceded to discuss the resolutions un-
der nine heads, told of his unsuccessful efforts to
obtain hearing from the House, related the re-
mark of his colleague, +. G, RIvEs, that he ',was
satisfied, and the North had gone as could be ex-
pected of them," and then said
"Frona that moment, gentlemen, became con-
rinced that paty spirit ,rould sacrifice the dearest
interests upon earth, and desparedof erer obtain,
ING due protection Of the Institution Of slauery.-
The Atherton Resolutions are the programme
the received text of their Southern prlnciples-and
| take them at their word. They ARE ADOLF
TION ENGINES-THE MOST POTENT AND Eff
FIcIENT.. If they can be called anti-Abolltlon,
then 'the party really entertain Southern prlnc-
ples.' The same party which denounces me as an
agitator, supports them as compromise for the
South The same party who denounce MIR. Clay
as member of the Colonization Society, support
Mr.. Van Buren, who voted for free negro suffrage
in the State of New York. The same party who
denounce Mr.. Clay, Notwithstanding his speech
in the Senate, support Mr.. Van Buren,, notwith- !
standing his letter TO Sherrod Williams" &c., &c.
So much for Mr.. W1sE's ''evidence." The last
paragraph quoted suggests similarity between the
present time and the date of Mr.. WIsE's speech.
The same party which denounced MIR. CLAY and
supported Mr.. VAN buren,, now denounce Gen,
SCOTT and support Gen. PIERCE. The same par
ty who now denounce Gen. SCoTT on account OF
his Atchson letter, support Gen. PIERCE notwltf-
standing his New Bostonspeech And, moreover,
the same Mr. WISE who denounced the Anterior
Resolutions as "a plot sprung upon The SOUTH and
as .sABOLITION ENGINES-the most potent
and Efficient" now supports their alleged author
as vertable "Northern man with Southern prln-
ciples." Whether "that party spirit which
would sacrifice the dearest interests upon earth,
has any influence in the matter the reader must
judge.
SimnIng OF!