The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-18

| | rejected this "coatiOn" for two reasOns-Ist
II would not attain the principal end had in
view, the re- union of the two wings Of the party
| and I'd, if that could not be done, and the war
was to be kept up between the Democratic
compromisers and the Southern Rights Demo-
crats was certain to be found fighting on my
side of the quarrel and not on the Unions side
There was another coalition to which MAJ.
Donelson was quite ready to listen was that
by which the Southern Press should be absorb
ed in the Union, the present editors OF the Press
thrown overheard and its subscription list IN my
hands carried to the Union office. But de-
handed fair and equal terms and perfect recipro-
city maintained that the Press was AS fully
entitled to be called the Democratic organ as
the Union-that they each represented wings of
divided party and that the editors of the
Press, had ably and fearlessly performed the
duties and executed the trusts confded to them
and their friends could do no less, with honor,
than to stand by them. In this connection, !
may add, that am sorry to see that some OF the
Southern Rights men in Congress have not
stood by these gentlemen with the devotion and
unflnching fidelity with which they have stood
by the rights of the South And it is mortify-
ing reflection that while the National Era, pub
lshed at Washington, is so sustained by aboli-
ton subscription as to yield princely revenue to
its editor the Southern Press has to lean for
pecuniary support on the private fortune of its
proprietor, Mr.. Fisher. The Press ought to
have $4,000 Southern paying subscribers. 1t
has done incacuabe good to the Southern
cause, and trust the people of the South will
sustain it with iberality and zeal proportional
to the Importance of its existence.
And now hope have done with answering
Misrepresentation of my conduct in reference
to this printing business | said nothing and
did nothing at Washington that was not and
am not perfectly willing to have the whole
world know thought the Democrats, North
and South, could be united on fair and hon
orable basis of amnesty for past disagreements,
and of communion on the ancient and cardinal
points of Democratic faith did not believe it
was necessary, as in the case of the Wing party,
to re. affirm the compromise, because in refer
cnce to the Fugitive slave law, the only one of
| the statutes that is considered repealable there
was not shadow Of danger that any nominee
of the Democratic convention, would hesitate
an instant to veto an act passed for that pur-
pose, should such an act ever pass the ordeal OF
Democratic Congress. The Democratic party
had no arch "higher law" man like Gov. Sew
ard who is using his strong hold on the fanatica
passions of his party in the free States to dictate
Il Frecso candidate for the next, and pave the
way for his own candidacy in the succeeding
Presidential canvass. ! was, | confess, disap-
pointed in the temper of the compromise De-
mocracy, represented by the Washington Union
With accents of Cancellation and harmony on
their lips, there is deep well of bitterness in
their hearts against their Southern Rights
brethren. Their ideas of Cancellation appeared
to me to be limited by the need to have South
ern Rights votes-while the platform,Ith candi-
date, the offices and emoluments were to be all
their own. The Democratic convention will
have grave difficulties to encounter, and if
it can, compose. thought they ought to have
been settled early in the present session of Con-
gress Ilabored to accomplish it, failed and
now want to see what the convention will do
to determine my own courses.
JOHN FoRsyTH.