Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-30

determined not only by minority Of The VIII,
representation, but by preponderance Of that ele
ment OF the representation which either opnosef
the Adjustment or dsavows the "6nalitv,, of tbt
settlement.
Inc undersigned now invite review of tbei,
own course as connected with this Conpressiona
consultation: we shall pass over without COM
meht the evident predetermination of the Chair
man to guide the meeting to fixed result. bv con.
ming 1t to the consideration of such subjects n.
suited his own inclinations and purposes. We
presume TINS will be manifest to every one from,
the determination he announced in advance to
RUE MI. Ma1shalPs resolution out of order, even
as an original substantive proposition. By what
parliamentary law or common usage does the
chairman OF a meeting limit the business thereof
TO single question, when no Limitation is express
cd in the notice under which it assembled, Does
the objection lie in the fact that the members pre-
sent were to be called upon to express their SEN
timents as to the proprety of maintaining and en-
forcing the Compromise measures? We leave vou
| to Judge. ="
What reason can be rendered of the decision
that the resolution ioaS out Of order? 1t differed
rom ron Mr. Stanlys In one particular only In ad-
elIi1li TO the determlnation of the time and place
for holding the National Convention MarshaTs
resolution suggested the Congressional caucus re-
solution OF December, 1851, as a condition nrecA-
dent to the union of the Wing members of Con
gress IN the approaching canvass Il did not at
temptto prescribe platform for the National Con
venton, or to dictate to the delegates from the pr
mary assemblies OF the people. 1t avowed the de-
| termination OF Its friends to remain uncommitted
and to abstain altogether from taking stems initio
tory to National Wing Convention, unless the
condition was satisfactorily met. 1t was not in
consistent with Stanly's res oution, but cumula-
tive thereto by the imposition of a condition af
tectlng only the actors in this Congressional meet
ing, and, implicitly, relieving them from com
initial to sustain the nominees of a Convention
which might fail to require the same condition of
ltscandldates. 1t did not dictate or seek to die
tate the programme OF the National Convention;
out merely asserted an affirmative endorsement of
the 'fnalty of the Compromise' as a basis of
union among the present Wing members of Con-
gress Was that improper! Can the Whig
members OF this Congress, who claim to be ma
tlonal IN theirfeelings, unite upon candidate on
any other basis Ought National Wings any,
where' North or South, to agree, for moment,
o1ofeso point so vital to the preservation of the
peace of society? We did ardentlv desire the
Wings in Congress to adopt the proposition "a .
conclusion of their own and to publish if to tbe
country as one OF the bonds of their pr itica asso
citation. 1t required no sacrifice of principle-no
| recahtatlon OF oplnlon-no remuneration of error
only consistent with the nobest
impulses OF patrotism-to abide for the future
by settlement designed to restore peace to a dis
tracted country, and to carry into execution hon
| estiy the compacts of the Constitution. We
frankly state that it was deliberate purpose to
announce at the Threshold an unalterable deter
mlnation to aid in no scheme for an election asso-
Grated with or allied to men whose policy it was to
agnore the final settlement of those dangerous
and exciting question which are embraced by what
Is termed ''the Adjustment" With the candor of
| treemen we presented in the proposition submit
| ted to the meeting the position to which we shall
adhere. We rest its vindication upon the fact
that 1t was assumed from solemn sense of duty to
| ourselves and to our country; and we RELY for n
| justification OF course in these proceedings
upon the honest impulses of the people, and the
| patriotism OF all who love the Union and wish 70
perpetuate its blessings.
10 assert the converse of our proposition--s.to
agree to disagree" questions connected with
the institution of slavery as it is recognised by the
Constitution, on the Fugitive Slave law and the
hnallty OF the Compromise-is to open willingly
| the sources OF the most noxous agitation and to
reveal the means Of assailing anew the harmony,
and, mayhap, the existence of the Union Have
the dlssenslons of the past incucated no moral =
Snail the progress and peace of the future be mar
red by the renewed efforts of fanatcisn which
hats at no barrier erected by mortal power, and
eXultinSly proclaims its obedience only to power
higher than human law! Shall the ties that link
to the force of demagoguism which wears the
mask OF liberty only to perpetrate crime; or that
1t may with comparative impunity, excite pas
sion to reward ultimately desire for self-aggran-
dizement? Will the Wing party, under existing
circumstances, shroud honest convictions of public
duty insilence, that candidate for the proudest
honor OF earth may have his opinions Interpreted
varlousy to suit the changing preudces or prepos-
sessions of particular attitudes? Fellow-Whigs
such policy will not should not succeed
1t Is unworthy of great party whose sentiments
are conservative, and whose aim is the prosperity
and happiness OF the people. Its tendency to re-
duce the Wing party to mere heterogeneous
compound of discordant sectional factions: the
ballot-box to receptacle for votes obtained by
fraud upon one or other of the sections of the u
States; and the Presidential election to trial of
chlcanery and assimilation among political
mountehanks. Wedo not seek to make an injurious
absorption of motive to any man or association of
men; but we repudate and refuse, for our part |
now and hereafter, to lend our support to any
candidate whose principles not plainly de-
fined, or to join in any crusade against popular
rights, the honesty of politics, or the papable in
terest of the country, for the purpose of achev-
ing temporary political triumph.
But, to return What was the ingredient in
Gentrys amendment that induced the Chairman
to rule II out of order! The only aim of the |
amendment was to exclude conclusion. 1t was |
framed distinctly with a view to dissolve the Wing
members present from an implied pledge to sup
port the nominees of the National Convention,
"uness those nominees shall be publicly and
unequivocally pledged to regard the series of mea-
sures known as the Compromise measures as a fl
nal settlement OF the dangerous questions they en-
braced and to maintain them inviolote.' What
inference can be drawn from the refusal to grant
this exemption but that the determination existed
to commit all who participated in the meeting to
the support of the nominee of the National Con-
vention, whetherhe shall be pledged to support the
Compromise or not! Some of the undersigned are
bound by our solemn public declaration, made in