The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-14
presidential PerpIexltIes.


perplexity as prevail in the councils ofpoliticans,
concerning the next Presidential election. The
passage Of the Compromise measures by the
last Congress, created two parties in the North,
and two in the South. And although the par
ties in each section warmly opposed each other
in the elections and in speeches, they were
more nearly alike in platform or in creed than
any two parties ever were before. But it seemed
that the very close resemblance of their pro.
fsssions only produced stronger antagonism
in sentiment and policy; as sects of the same
religious faith, despute with more acrimony than
those which are fundamentally adverse. In the
South, one party proposed resistance to the
Compromise by the States with
their sovereign power. The other barely acqui-
esced in the Compromise, without approving it:
on the contrary, declaring that one more aggres.
sion, even of nature trivial in itself, would justi-
fy, and even require, rebellion. This was sub
stantially the position of the Georgia convention
and it has been adopted and applauded by the
whole of the party in the South, opposed to the
one which advocated resistance.
It will be seen that these parties differed only
in two things, and in those two but slightly.
One of them thought that the aggression was
already sufficient to require resistance-the other
thought that it was not quite enough, but thai
one other drop of aggression would overflow
the cup Of patriotic endurance. One party
thought that resistance ought to be made legally
through the sovereign power and functions of
the several States, the other, that il ought to be
made by open rebellion.
In the North, one party approved or acqu,
esced in all the measures of the Compromise,
except the fugitive slave law, which was the least
important of all in itself, and immeasurably less
still, in the chances of its execution. The other
acquiesced in, or approved all-that law included
proposing to submit to it, not because it was
right, but because it was law.
The elections that succeeded the Coupronise
resulted in the North, in the triumph of the op-
ponents of the Compromise. Those in the
South, in the success of those willing to submit
to it rather than to rebel, but declaring they
would submit to nothing more, Thus il will
be seen that, although the two parties in. each
section differed SO little in words, the two sec.
tons differed most widely in words and9h feel
ing. The North decided that she would not &C
quiesce in the Compromise, but would repeal its
only clause that was disagreeable to her, and has
already, in fact nuiied it in practice, whilst the
South decided that the Compromise was the ut
most she wonld submit to, and that the fugitive
slave law would not be surrendered. Ifthe Com.
promise then, as it passed on paper, was barely
endorable by the South, il is clear that as II now
works in practice, it is no longer so. The COM
pact is broken already, ard, as usual, at the ex.
peuse Of the South.
But Presidential election approaches, and
the position Of the two parties on this ques-
ton requires another compromise, and one even
more difficult to contrive than the last.
10. the North, the great body of the Wings
opposed the Comprehensive Of the Demo.
Crafts, considerable body supported il. In De
South, the great body of the Wings adop'ed the
Union or Georsia platform, and probably ma.
jority Of me Democrats were opposed to it.
And now il is thought expedient TO re-unite
these two parties in the two sections, on new
platform, or on some platforms. And what is
proposedl Why, as usual, another surrender
Of the Soulh TO the North. The Northern
Wings propose to the Southern TO renounce
any pledge, even on paper, TO support the Com.
promise-even as IL stands-practicaly violated
The Northern Wings propose 10 the Southern
10 support General ScoTT, a resident of the
North, though native Of Virginia. man op.
posed TO slavery, and too fastidious 10 endorse
even what Is lefs Of the Compromise. We be.
Ieve, however, the offer is made 10 sooihe the
feelings Of Southern Wings, that a certificate
shall be given that General ScoTT oas once in
favor Of the Compromise. And the Northern
Wings retain, rs their principal organ, the Ma.
tionai Iatelligenoer, which opposed the Com.
promise to the last, and supported General TAY.
LoRs policy, which was still more favorable "a
the North. (aJbe Ia,eHigencer has on hand q
fine fat job OF printing from Congress-the old
debates But in order 10 compromise with the
Southern Wings as 10 that, the Northern Wings
or some Of them, may 60 for giving the Repub.
nc, Nc. FLLxoRr's organ, portion of the cen
sus job In partnership in the Union.
So on the other hand, the Northern Demo
Gratis propose that the Southern shall surrender
The platform is TO be the Baltimore resolution,
of4s and perhaps Of 4i-resolutions which
have been practically construed by the seyera
parties, 70 mean either the wilmot Proviso, IN,
couPromise, or the equality Of the States, JUS
a. The three divisions of the Democrats part,
sonstrue them. II any thing more than thi.
Il demanded, The finality OF the Compromise !.
tendsred-thst Compromise which was opposed
BY an overwhelming majority Of Southern Dem.
ocrsis when 10 was proposed, but which they ar,
now offered a. party favor 10 them, after Il,
only condition in their favor is PRACTICAL,
broken And then the North claims the candi