The southern press., 1852-03-06
"The Democratic Party and the southern
Press"

"The Democratic Party and the Southern
Press"
The Washington Union of yesterday, con-
tains another article still more offensive, 10 It's
terms and sentiments, than the one OF the DAY
before. The Union charges us with slender
ously" charging it with an approval OF the Com
promise-and with putting forth policy and pre-
tensions fraudulently." These are terms which
we can tolerate only in pair OF diplomats
whose manners have been vulgarized in the
courts of the King of Prussia, and the Queen
of the Sandwich Islands. Such is the democrat
izing effect of missions among semi barbarous
people, that we think those who return from
them ought to be placed in probationary
coventry before their restoration to American
society particularly that of the elegant and
courteous South.
The Union charges us with desire to incor-
porate the doctrine of the Nashville Convention,
or the right of secession, in the creed Of the
Democratic party. That is precisely what we
do not ask, and do not propose.
We do not propose, and will not consent to
submit the rights of the South or the rights Of
the States to either Of the party conventions,
Wing or Democratic. We will not ask or ac-
cept definition of Southern Rights or State
Rights, from federal convention at Baltimore
or Philadelphia. AT both Of these conventions
the North will have majority vote We are
not quite SO silly or stupid, or debased, as to ask
from Northern majority an authoritative expo
sition of Southern Rights. And we have no
such confidence in either the Democratic or
Wing parties in federal convention assembled
as to expect much less to be bound by, their de-
fnition of State Rights. No. we think one OF
the great blundefs of the South and the States
heretofore, has been the habit of permitting con-
ventions, assembled to decide questions of fed
eral policy, to assume also to define the rights
of States and of sections Hence has arisen
that pusilanimous equivocation and evasion
which has lately been resorted TO by federal
party conventions. And hence the Delphic let
tiers Of candidates, susceptible of diverse con.
structions in different States and sections of the
Union. And hence the pitiable spectacle We
have beheld of party politicians, shutting be-
tween the assertion of the rights of theiS own
States, proclaimed by their own States, and the
ambiguous platforms of federal parties. A con.
vention calling itself national, to assume
the jurisdiction of defining the rights Of the
States I! Why, the very announcement is sole.
cism. Let each State decide for herself-and
in case of aggression, decide according to the
resolutions Of '9s, on the mode and measure o.
redress. And if the States have not the saga
city and spirit to assert and maintain their rights
let them fall unpitied to the servitude which i,
prescribed by the great moral laws Of the world
for the timid and the mean.
The true function Of convention Of the
two parties is TO decide on questions Of
federal policy-and TO nominate candidates
with reference 10 them. And we intend TO sup
port the candidate best qualified and trust-worth,
for federal policy, for such policy as we thinl
most conformable TO the Constitution, and the
welfare Of the whole Union.
As for the notion Of the Union that the Com
promise, or the finality Of the Compromise, il
TO be article Of the creed Of either Of the two
parties, II Is utterly inadmissibe and impracti.
cable. No man can be elected on any such 4
basis-not even by coalition of the com.
promisers Of both parties grand natio nal
Union party. And IL the Union is the organ Of
any such party M the Compromise party, IL /,
not the organ Of the Democrats party, even II the
editor toere invited to his post by a majority Of
the Presidential candidates OF that party. Those
candidates are not the platform makers. The
platform will be made by the delegates 10 IN,
convention, and will be made 10 suit the party
and will not be made by the candidates, 10 sui
themselves.
The Union invokes the attention Of In,
Democratic party and leaders TO our cour.e, arc
modestly proposes our Reputation. How car
the Union be 30 cruel and impoIitici For ou
part, we are anxious 10 secure the services o.
The Union for the approaching campaign. Their,
Is In every national party, large number o
men, whose IDEAS are muddy, whose manner
are rude, and whose principles are loose, but yet
whose votehere important We want 10 keel
the Union Jan organ for them. But ours mus
be the court journh, and must be sent TO th'
foreign embassies, 10 give them an adequate ide,
Of the refinement Of this country, and the soupc
philosophy Of free conservative principles.