The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-12

"ehpers Vi pooh houses Oh congress, 10 beginning To
create more than usual attention among the poll
tcians OF all parties in this quarter The wing
journals at Washington, from which might
,ae.t seine information on the subject, are very cos
. and very chary Of letting out any of the
= secrets Of the prison house, The following is
all that the Rplitic newspaper gives MS on the oc-
casion;
CAUCUS
In pursuance Of the call the papers yesterday
whig members of Congress met last evening in the Senate
chamber seven O'clock The meeting was organized
by calling Mangum TO tho chair and by the selection
Of Mr. Chandler Of Pennsy lvana, and Mr. Dockcry of
North Carolina "a secretaries. The in session
till about eleven o'clock and after somewhat animated
and amcabie conversation points Of party aud
public interest adjourned to again next Tuesday
week.
The National Imteihgeacg has even less, simply
stating the hour of meeting and the hour Of closing
but pretending to know nothing of what took place
inside, account of the door being shut on all the
rest of the world All this dccacy and affectation
Of the whig organs at Washington, or elsewhere,
only intimate with great force the Importance of
this meeting, and Of the discussions which took
place ON that interesting occasion. We have already
given exclusively the substance Of these discussions
and the obstacles which affected the caucus, and
the causes which produced the adjournment for u
week. without the meeting coming to any satisfae
tory conclusion.
Now, what are these obstacles! What were the
obstacles to action in the whig caucus? What are
the difficulties among the whg members All this
is plain and simple. The same difficulties that
agitated the whig caucus in Washington, have been
agitatng the democratic party and the democratic
caucus in the same region, and elsewhere through
out the country. II is distemper which equally
affects both parties-democratc and whig-in either
section, North South, East West. 1t is diff
Guilty which had its origin in the North in the anti
slavery tanatcism which sprung up about twenty
years ago, and which has been growing and strength
ening ever since, in consequence Of the venality,
corruption, vengeance, discomfort or ambition of
the lending politicians in the North, and particu
larly Of such men as Vim. II. Seward and Martin
Van Buren,. The disease which affected the wing
caucus on last Friday evening is the disease which
has been affecting all parties at the North for the
last twenty years-an anti-slavcry disease-an
abolition disorder-an attempt ION the part Of
certain fanatics in the North TO violate the eon,ti-
tuition, and the rights Of the South while they re-
main within the verge OF the constitution, and
within the Union, at the same time. The Wash
| ngton RcppNic, the organ of the administration,
simply states that the discussion in the whig caucus
IL
scrpicn Of the true iactsit was an excited discus
sion, and anything but amicable. II was discus
sion or conversation springng from principles OPP
posite as the polcs-principles which will rend the
mhig party and the democratic party. and the Union
Itself, asunder if they are settled upon salts
faetorily by the great politicians OF the day, both
North and South.
The practical questions which have thus far dis
-. A..
III their internal regulations those items Of laws
which made mp the "Gompromisc, passedby the last
Congress, but more especially the Fugitive Slave
law" Both the national parties at Washington,
several occasions during the present winter
endcayoied 10 harmonic, the spoils prn-
cill,s, seccssionists and free soilers-Southern
uitras and Northern ultfas-cn the same Presi-
Dental platform, merely Tor tho sake of the
spoi.s. such harmony have no lasting cx-
issente and viii only lead to dangerous results ut
future day. The wing caucus may staye of this
question. and simply announce a day for the Wing
National Convention 10 meet for ms certainly a.
that convention meets, the question will spring
up tie last resort, and perhaps may breed more
disturbance, and more trouble and discussion,
than il could do at the preliminary caucus which is
called Tor next week From appearances too ii would
seem thst the Southern wings without stamina,
OF moral courage. perseverance, determination,
to stand their ground for their constitutional rights,
in The face Of prospect Of reaching power and plum
der by evading this question. Time, however will tell
whether they have the courage TO meot the crisis, or
not. II is "a most important crisis for the South.
1t is the first time that they have, on practical
grounds, met the anti. slavery agitators such Sew
ard Van Buren,, and their supporters, face to face in
caucus or convention and if the Southern wings
Or the Southern democrats finch from the defence
Of their constitutional rights in such caucus or
convention, merely for the sake of the chance
If receiving a prize in the Presidential lottery
The Southern States will regret it long a.
this Union conthrues-if it lasts much longer than
the present generation.
The friends and supporters Of the South who
reside in the North, are watching the conduct
Of both wings and democrats in both caucusos
aud conventions at Washington, Baltimore, and
elsewhere; and as they conduct themselves there
stand their ground in-so, they may
rely Oh twill the future Of legislative
ton in Congress be determined hereafter, TO their
slatnc o, to their glory.