The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-11-25
THE CONTROLLING QUESTION OF THE LATE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION


What was the controlling question decided
by the late Election?
The Nep York Evening Post, and the liberal
class of Democrats it represents, say that it in
volved the comparative merits of Democratic
and Wing policy A majority of the People
were dspleased with the prohigacy and waste
of a Wing Administration, and in favor of the
well-known measures of Democratic policy
Hence the election of General Pierce
The NeW York Tribune, and the class OF
liberal Wings it represents, have not yet indi-
Gated what in their judgment was the control
ling question Just now there is a greal deal
more feeling than philosophy about them.
The National Democrats and the National
Wings, so-called-in other and more appro-
pirate phrase, the Hunker Democrats and
Whigs-are very free in expressing their opin-
ions. They boldly aver that the great issue
of the Election was AbOlitionism and that
in the triumph of Franklin Pierce the country
has rendered conclusive verdict against it.
By Abolitionism they mean, not any particular
phase of the Anti-Slavery sentiment, but active
opposition of any kind to Slavery, or Anti-Sla-
very agitation, whatever its form or object.
The Hunker Democrats, through their Or
gan, the Washington Union, insist that the
resolutions of the Baltimore Convention en-
dorsing the Compromise and the Fugitive
Slave Law as final settlement of the Slavery
Question, and pledging the Democratic party
against agitation on that subject were fairly
adopted, became obligatory on the party, con-
stituted its creed during the canvass, and
plainly submitted to the voters of the country
the Question, Shall Aboitionism or Anti
Slavery agitation be allowed or arrested
Their answer was given at the ballot-box on
the second of November-let Anti- Slquery agi-
tdtton cease
The fatal blow let as hope" says the Union,
"CaS struck at abolition on the I'd Of Novem-
Der. Like Anti Masonry, and other creations
of a single idea, all are already absorbed or
are gradually being absorbed by those broad
and more general principles which are the
growth and guardians of our free form of Gov
ernment and which constitute now as hereto
fore, the solid foundations upon which the great
Democratic party builds its CLAIM to a Nations
suffrage and support, and its title as the safest
administrator of the blessings conferred upon
us by our fathers"
Its pleasure is marred by the consideration
that two States of the South, Tennessee and
Kentucky, voted for Scott in the late election
and why?
Il, bof, h
and htgher-idWiSm betWeen nationality and
Sectionahsm between the Fugitive SlaUe Law
and fandttcism ; betCeen peace, quiet, and jus
ttce, on the one hand, and agitation, discard and
disunion, on the other-in such "a contest, to
find two States of the South espousing the side
of Sewardism, not only contradcts all the cal
culations of policy, but inhicts violence upon
our moral sense. The conviction is forced upon
the mind, that these States have not only be-
trayed their interests, but their duty Stand
ing as they do in the heart of the Confedera-
cy-liable, from their border position as re-
spects the slaveholding and non-slavehOlding
States to suffer from the incendiary appeals of
abOlitionism--with their interests all bound up
with the Union-we might suppose that they
would be foremost and frmest in protecting
the Constitution against the reasonable pur-
poses of Sewardism. If the South had march
ed in solid phalanx TO the overthrow of Sew
ardism, what would have been the moral effect
of the victory 1t would have made manifest
the determination of the Southern States to
suffer no encroachments upon their cOnstitu-
tional rights. 1t would have taught fanaticism to
hope for no succor in the South. The patriotic
Democracy of the North had nobly discharged
their obligations they had bravely borne the
burden assigned to them they had taught the
foes of the Constitution to expect of them
nothing but unyieldng opposition and war to
the death. If the South had but seconded the
blow, abolitioniSm aco,eld haze been crushed for
euer. II would hare withered and sunk under
the indignant rebuke Of the ochole country"
Again:
What q contrast have we here between the
conduct of Southern Wings and Northern Dem
ocrats When there was an alarm of danger
to the UntOn-1chen the sanetity Of the Constltu-
ton ,cds asSailed-achen Southern rights Were
in jeopdrdy-the aid of the Northern Democracy
waS Knocked by the South and inroked not an
ram. When came the hour Of final and deet-
size conflict ruth AbOltti0nism-when the foes of
the South were to be crushed forever-South-
ern Wings refused to respond to the call of
patriotism, and instead of aiding to protect
their own rights, treacherously deserted to the
ranks of the enemy The contrast is striking
and significant"
We would call the attention of the Barn
burners of New York, and the Radical Demo
Gratis Of the North generally, to the significant
language of their central organ it may be
edifying to them to learn that, in the opinion
of their Southern brethren, the late election
was "a final and decisive conflict NTH Abolition
ism that it was "a great issue between the
Constitution and higher-ldwism, between Ma
ttondlity and Sectionalism, between the Fug'-
the Stare Law and fanatieism that the prln-
cipal aim of those who supported Gen. Pierce
was to "cruSh Abolitionism FOREVER"
The extracts we give are but samples OF the
everyday teachings OF the Union. 1t is not
alone. The Boston Post, the organ of the
Hunker Democracy of Massachusetts, takes the
same ground. Protesting against the proposed
coalitions of the Democrats and Free Demo
Gratis of that State it says
Nevertheless, we trust that Democrats who
mean to sustain the Administration of General
Fleece in good faith, will remember that the
distinctive and allabsorbing moral element in
the recent national election is the determine
ton, resolute inhexible, of the great maiorities
of twenty-nine States in this Union to put down
political Abolltionism and political Slavery agi-
tation. This was the great issue, and this is
the grand result. Twenty-Five States and
some two millions of voters, endorse this doc
trine, which is the Distinguishing principle of
General Pierce, and the emphatic doctrine of
the Baltimore platform viz That the Demo-
cratic party will resist all attempts at renew
ing, in Congress or out of it, the agitation of