Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-06-25
w. II. seward.


We are sadly wanting in biography of this most
extraordinary individual. His career would afford
study of interest than that of any other prom
inent politician in the United States; and in watch
ing his progress upwards from the position of OBJ
scure demagogue to the dictatorship of the wing
party, we would have an insight into motives
a knowledge of maneuvres, and we fear picture OF
the depravity of human nature that would be fairly
startling,
Well do we remember, how in April last when
the whig congressional caucus met, with Mr.. Man
gum in the chair Stewards hand was seen and de-
nounced by very many Southern whigs.-well do
we remember the outburst of indignation with which
MIR. Mangum's change of position was received in
this State. But all this amounted to nothing 1t is
true that several Southern whig members seeded
from that caucus and ten twelve of them even
went far to publish manifesto of some kind,
but nevertheless the caucus issued call for conven-
ton and a convention held in pursuance of that
CALL and even the seceders from the caucus attended
the convention and Seward triumphed in that mat
ter. The convention met, and the South voted
one man, not simply in favor of Mr. Fillmore but
against Winfield Scott who under any guise or pro-
fession, was looked upon as the Seward candidate.
On Saturday night MIR. Fillmore. fearing this infu.
ence telegraphed his friends by all to go for
Webster and save the Wing party. MIR. Fillmore
knew the men against whom he warred. WE'LL the
Convention adj ourned upon Saturday night over
til Monday, and in the meantime, the Seward-Scott
party contrived to fix things; and on the SD ballot
the South was defeated and overthrown, chiefly by
some traitors in her own camp, haing from Virginia
And thus Seward again triumphed.
But it will be said that the Convention adopted
the platform of the Southern Wings 1t did not a.
dept that platform, as will be easily seen by
parison of the 9Th resolution of the platform adop
ted by the caucus of Southern delegates, with the
same resolution it finally passed the Convention
The resolution as presented by the Southern Wings
in caucus, reads thus:
49, That the series of measures commonly known
the Compromise, including the fugitive slave law,
are received and acquiesced in by the Wing party
of the u. States settlement In principle and sub
stance--a final settlement of the dangerous and ex-
citing questions which they embrace, and so far as
the fugitive slave law is concerned will maintain
the same, and insist it's strict enforcement until
time and experience shall demonstrate the necessity
Of further legislation, to guard against evasion or a.
buse, not impairing its present efficiency, and we
deprecate all further agitation of the slavery ques
| ton as dangerous to our peace. and will dscOunte-
nance all efforts at the renewal continuance of
such agitation, in Congress or out of it, whenever,
wherever. and however, the attempt may be made,
and we will maintain this system of measures as a
policy essential to the nationality of the Wing par
ty, and the integrity of the Union"
In the foregoing resolution, there is recognition
of the series of measures known the Compromise,
and including the fugitive slave law as compromise
and settlement of the questions, and declaration
that such settlement shall be considered final and
further declaration that the fugitive slave law,
a part of such settlement shall be maintained and
enforced until time and experience shall demonstrate
the necessity of further legislation to guard against
evasion esabuse, not imparing its present efficiency
Let US now see the resolution as it passed, after
, having been modified to meet the demands of the
} North. 1t reads thus:
80. RESOLVED, That the series of acts of the 3ls
Congress. the act known as the fugitive slave law
included are receive and acquiesced in by the Whie
party of the United States settlement, in prin
ciple and substance of the dangerous and exciting
3 questions which they embrace; and so far they
are concerned. will maintain them and insist up
on their stri-t enforcement until time and expert
ence shall demonstrate the necessity of further legs
lation, to guard against the evasion of the laws or
the one hand, and the abuse of their poacers tn
other, not mpairng their present efficiency; and WI
deprecate all further agitation of the questions thu
settled dangerous to our peace. and will dscoun
tenance all efforts to continue or renew such agita
: ton whenever wherever. or however the attemp
q may be made, and we will maintain this system a
essential 10 the nationality of the Wing party ant
the integrity of the Union"
- 1t will be seen that this resolution recognizes
~ compromise at all and does not, even by wore
IL discriminate between the series ofacts known tn
e compromise, and any all other acts of the Bis
Congress. 1t will also be observed, that whereas, i
the resolution of the Southern caucus, these acts
: recognized as final settlement, in the modified re
solution there is word of fnality at all That fe;
ture is stricken out. The platform of the Wing Cor
vention does not recognize the fnaIity Of the Con
" promise at all 1t recognizes them laws to
10 other of the acts of the 31st Congress but with
- more obligation to keep them there. We call a
;" tention to the words italicsed in the resolution
4" passed. 1t is already contended in New York, thu
." the clause giving the fugitive right to trial
Jury in the State to which he has fed is necessal
to prevent an abuse Of the po1cers' of the fugiti'
as slave law, while the Sewardites contend that
81 would not impair its present efficacy. We ask OF
readers to compare these two resolutions, and So
-. -. whether Mr. Seward must not be considerab
IA man. if he can cram the modified resolution dow
the threats of the Southern people as the origin
one presented by the Southern caucus. 1
sir- deed, the New York Times perhaps the able
1ss and most influential Seward Scott paper
to New York, and withal strongly Free-soilish in
ro notions seems quite pleased with the modification
tie 1t says:
we The Resolutions adopted were those of the Sout
ly ern delegates modified hosUeUer considerably to me
l.. At I~So ~-0I