The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-28

be admitted as delegates at Baltimore!
A NORTHERN Man.
The FreesOilers and tho Scott Letters.
The movement of Mr.. ROBERT &. SCoTT
seems to have t.ken the Democratic Freesoilers
by surprise. They have probably not yet de-
termined on their line of policy, for the fiercest
of their organs, the New York Erening Post,
thus guardcdly aud gingerly aludes to the sub
ject.
After abiding to Mr.. Scorr's note, the Post
goes on to say
1.-THE answers to this note have not been pub
shed, but it is rumored that several of the
cand dates have been caught in the snare laid
for .them--that Mr. Cass, for example, has de-
clared that, il elected, he will veto any attempt
to modify the fugitive slave law; that Daniel s.
Dickinson, Of this State, Mr.. Ruhk, of Texas,
w. X. King, of Alabama, have taken the same
ground; that Houston has answered u little
more cautiously, and Douglas more cautiously
still.
1T would not be quite fair, at present. to
these gentlemen to decide us to the propriety
Of the answers they have given, until we have
their exact words. These the people are en-
titled to see without delay. If Mr.. Scott who
comes into our party from the Wing side, and
bellies himself with deysing and applying new
tests for our candidates, is tardy in publishing
the letters he has received from the candidates,
Mr. Cass, MIR. Douglas, and General Houston
should take care to guard against misconstruc
ton, by sending them Immediately to the jour
nails.
"Meantme we have this to say, that if a of
the persons named has pledged himself to Mr.
Scott, in case he should be elected President, to
put his veto upon any bill passed within the
next five years by majority of both Houses OF
Congress, with the appreciation ola majority of
the nation, mitigating the seventies and lessen
ing the odiousness OF the fugitive slave law, now
so much detested and so difficult to execute in
many parts of the country, he has played the
fool gratutously. He had bound himself, at Mr.
SCOTS suggestion, by most absurd promise
expressive OF utter contempt for the popular
will, and making no allowance for any change
of circumstances, or any future State of pub
lie opinion. He has volunteered mn engagement
the folly of which has not even the poor apology
Of being dictated by reasonable fear of losing
present popularity, and which will inevitably
place the giver of it in disgrace with two-thirds
of the nation. whatever may be the diversity OF
their opinions concerning the law which Mr.
Scott asks the candidates to uphold in opposi.
ton to the demand of the people for its atera-
ton"
The National Era Of this city thus gives the
Abolition view of the present position of the
Democratic party. ';ts voice is still for war !"
"THE PosITIoN OF THE DEMocRAcY.-Ont the
retirement of Major Doneson from the Wash
ington Union, il was supposed that the course
IF hat in 70 ba
would be changed-but this was a mistake.
Its policy continues unchanged. 1t still urges
distinct recognition of the c,mpromise and
fugitive law by the convention about to meet nj
Baltimore, and the nomination of candidate
openly committed to them. The speech of Mr..
King of New York does not seem to have even
moditid it's tone 1t finds in it nothing very
decded--it understands him to acquiesce in the
adjustment measures, and to be favorable to
harmony while his incidental declarations, at
variance with what ii considers the main pur.
pose of speech, it regards az the consequences
of the false position in which he had previously
placed himself.
"We have no doubt that at one time it was in
the power ofany respectable number of North
ern Democrats to have determined the action of
the Baltimore convention, bat we Npprehend
that time has gone by While that portion Of
the rarty at the North which was in favor of re.
uniting its ranks upon any terms eagerly
ratified the compromise, its opponents contented
themselves generally with saying nothing about
it, or, when it was urged rs party platform,
with simple expression of dissent. Nowhere
was resolute stand taken against the interpola
ton of new tests. And in Congress, while
Democratic members from the South insisted
on the iinality test, and denounced non com
piance with it as an insuperable bar 70 the
united action of the Democracy, Democratic
members from the North for long time were
either silent or asserting At last Mr.. Rantoul
spoke on the side of freedom lie asserted
sound principles, but he forbore to Indicate
what would be his course, or that of those who
sympathized with him. DIR. Townshend follow.
ed, in speech in which he maintained the
right ground on the slavery question, and, what
was still better declared plainly that he, and the
Democrats who concurred with him in his views,
could not sustain the action or nominee of the
Baltimore convention, on the new platform pro
posed by the compromsers. Next, great deal
ofseverc truth was spoken boldly by Mr.. Cleve.
land, but he did not zee proper TO announce the
principles on which hia action in the Presidential
canvass would be determined The same was
true of the speeches of Messrs. King and Floyd
of New York. They were admirable so far as
they went-they contained sound advice to the
party, limitations of disastrous consequences
from the stoption Of the new test; but no dec
laraton that should it be adopted, and candi.
date be nominated upon it, they would be
obliged to enter their protest against such a
nomination at the ballot-b box.
On the one aide, then, we have the Demo-
cracy of the North, one portion openly sustain
ing the compromise and fugitive law, another,
opposed to their incorporation into the party
creed by the Baltimore convention, but under
stood as being willing to submit should it be
ovelrued while, on the other, we have the
Democracy of the South, united in acqu-
escence in the compromise, united in the resolve
to maintain the fugitive law, a large portion of
it, at the same time, being pledged to independ
ent action, should the convention refuse to
adopt the finality test On one side, is exac
ton, on the other concession on the other,
cautious intimation; one section says, 81 ,cil,"
the other, "Oh, don't" Can the result be
doubtful! A few days will decide.
GEN. CAss-Opn,on Of a Mobile Democrat