The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-07
NilkinU the RuIl.

The error Of the moon, under which our
opposition contemporary labors in regard TO
the Compromise, reminds us of somewhat
forcible illustration which DIR. JOHNSON en-
ployed in speaking of HUME and his school of
sceptcal innovators. They are vain men"
said the Doctor, "and will crafty themselves
at any expense. Truth will not afford
sufficient food TO their vanity; so they have
betaken themselves to error. Truth, sir, is
COW which will yield such people no more
milk, and so they are gone 10 mik the bull"
Without the faiings certainly which are here
attributed to HUME and his followers, our con-
temporary is occupied in the same unavailing
labors.
II is surprising that our neighbor of the
Union can draw his extraordinary differences
from the votes in the House on Monday
Equally surprising is it that he should
have seen in our article of that morn
ing any desire TO evade vote on the
Compromise. We denounced Mr.. JAcEsoS's
modification Of Dr. FITcH's resolution as one
sided and evasive, and said that it would not
be marvellous If the Southern WHIes should
vote in body against the call for the previous
question. The House took the same view of
the matter that we did, and voted down the
call for the previous question, with the pur-
pose Of letting in amendment that would
cover the ground which Mr.. JACKSON had
failed to touch. 1t was an Union Dem
ocrat from GEoReIA who admitted the de-
fecis in Mr.. JAcKsoN's resolution. by in
Producing an amendment which was sub
siantial, and which was carried BIZ majority
Of ttrenfy- nine rofes. Now, the majority who
voted against the previous question, and in ja-
por Of Mr.. JAcrsos's amendment, voted in
good faith, for the PURPOSE Of recording the
sense Of the House on real Compromise
resolution, not on a sham or riddle. II
they did right, then the Republic could not
have been wrong in suggesting the very
course which happened to be pursued and
our contemporary cannot ceusure our policy
without rejecting that Of the majority
who passed the Compromise resolution. I
our neghbor will consult our files. he will
find that ,rc have not been attempting Ito rid,
both sides Of the sapling." If there has beer
any wabbling on this question, we are very
certain that it is not to be laid to orr charge
We were not disposed TO encourage Mr.. JACK
SON in his desire to let down the Secession
lists on a soft place, while he held up the north
ern men to vote apparently in favor Of ha
part Of the Compromise which was supposed
10 be particularly distssteful to the North. w
had no faith in this sided reciprocity, an,
we supposed that the course Of the Repubh
had been sufficiently distinct and consistent o.
( this subject to enable us TO express our view
OF Mr.. JAcrsoN's resolution, without the i'm
putaton, even from an opposition organ,
desire TO shrink from responsibility. But
whatever may have been our motives or on
policy in making the suggestions we did, the
are no more open to just imputation than ar
those Of the majority who have Glanced to put
sue the very path that we bad pointed out.
Now as to the deductions of our neighbc
from the votes Of Monday. He says that "i
is sufficient to say, that on the two propos
tions testing the sense Of the House, our az
sertion is entirely sustained; that it is III
Democratic portion Of the House which ca
alone be trusted TO carry out the provisions
the Compromise re il were Sufficient 3,