The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-23
For the Southern Press.
What Is the true Policy Of the SOuth III Nc
gard 10 the next Presidential Election.

the compromise" in private letter TO iriend,
now become public, declares himself utterly
opposed to sending delegates to the Baltimore
convention" meaning, | presume, the Demo
cratic convention. In this perfectly agree
with him but should have been better pleased
had he extended his disapprobation to Wing
convention, should such one be contemplated
1t is clear from this letter, which is extremely
we'll written, that Mr.. Stephens is becoming
aware that the compromise is not exactly a
finality" and that to-operation of either of
the Southern parties with either of those of the
North, must be brought about, not by conces-
sions, or guarantees to the former, but by ac-
quicscence in new encroachments of the latter.
In order the more clearly to comprehend the
actual position of the South, it seems necessary
to take brief glance at the present state of the
TIVE great parties, now disputing the ascendency
in the government Of the United States.
That section of the Wing party which seems
about TO rally round Mr.. Fillmore, or Mr.. Web
ster, make it sine qua non that their candidate
for the Presidency shall maintain the g finality"
of the compromise in all its parts; while that
portion of which Mr.. Seward is supposed to
be the head, maintain it is not final. either with
respect to the fugitive slave law, or against
future aggressions of the Abotionists. On the
other hand, it is said that a portion of the
Northern Democratic party, in like manner, rally
round the fnality of the compromise, while it
is certain that far greater portion, called Free
soiers, are sternly adverse TO it, on the ground
of the fugitive slave law, and especially, because
it does not embody the WiImot provso in so
many words.
AS yet, no party, North, East, or West, has
shown the slightest disposition to cooperate
with the South in defence of its Institutions.
No party has ventured to come forward in oppo-
siton to the settled, avowed policy of the Ado
litionists and Freesoilers No Northern party
dares to do So for these two adjuncts of one
and the same faction, would at once array
themselves in opposition to any candidate who
declared himself willing to make the slightest
concessions to the South and holding, as they
almost certainly do, the balance of power in the
North, would defeat any obnoxious aspirant to
the Presidency.
Why then, it may be asked, should either
party in the South send delegates to the Balti
more convention, or any convention but their
own! The only rational ground for such a
procedure, would be the expectation, q the
hope of their being instrumental in directing
or, at least, Influencing It's proceedings. Is
there any ground for such expectation or hope?
porting their principles; and should they ven-
ture to stipulate any conditions favorable to
themselves, all parties, Wing and Democratic,
will combine against them-for they will oe-
cupy position in which all are more or less
their opponents. At most, they will get nothing
but the hnaty of the compromise" and is that
an object worth contending for! Does any
man, not naturally or wilfully blind, believe that
the fugitive slave law can be enforced in Yer
mont, where it has been nullifed by an act OF
the legislature or in Massachusetts, New York,
PennsytsAnia, Ohio, Michigan, and other Wes-
tern States, half peopled by Yankee Abolition.
lists, and German Socialists Do they believe
that either the authorities of these States, or OF
the United States, would, if they could, enforce
this law, at the risk, nay, with the absolute
certainty, Of running their political prospects by
their doing their duty! Almost everywhere,
experience has proved that the public officers
cannot If they would, and would not if they
courts and jures would acquit its yolators, even
when resistance was carried TO the extent OF
murder What, then, do Northern politicians,
and Southern acquiescents, mean by the " final
iiy Of the compromise ?" They mean only that
il shall be final as respects everything injurious
insulting, or offensive TO the South, and null
and void as to the only measure in which al its
representatives heartily eoncured.
The sole agency Of Southern delegates to 9
Northern convention, will be limited TO a choice
Of evils; for il is scarcely within the reach Of
possibility that a candidate for the Presidency
in the least favorable to Southern rights will be
selected, Tor reasons have just specified. Their
choice, if they make any, must be Hopson'-
choice, or that Of the French people-lbat OF
none. They will exercise the right Of accediue
TO the selection, not OF the candidate who is
most agreeable, but Of him who is least disa
greeable. As in the case Of the compromise
@they must take the best they can get" and be
thankful for the smallest fyors. They must
accede TO the support Of a candidate who',
pledges" are least hostile TO their rights, thei
interests, and their safety. II seems TO me that
this would be placing the South in a false and
degraded position. Surely Il is not reduced SC
low in spirit or in strength, as to stoop to sucl
an alternative But il has lately been accus
toned to choice Of evils, and use reconciles u,
to almost everything but hunger, govt and th,
toothache.
If this view Of the subject is correct, It may
be again asked WHY should ann marty in ths