The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-24
From the Columbus ga Times.
The Great Game at Washington.
TIE WASHING TON UNION

If the patriots of the revolution could have
had the benefit of disclosure Of the suspicious
which were no doubt entertained by some of the
intended treachery of Arnold, the evil conse
oueuces Of his partial success would have been
avoided. II Mr.. Polk could have looked into
the heart of Santa Anna. or had been sufficiently
informed as to his purposes, so belied by his
suggestions and professions the latter could
not have entered Mexico, 10 become more
dangerous and unmanageable enemy, than any
general Of that country: and descending TO
smaller things, il the Democracy Of Alabama
had suspected that Jere Clemens had sold him.
self to the Wings for the Senatorship, and that
in electing him they were bestowing the Office
upon Wing, his defeat and their deliyerance
would have been certain. This much, as intro
ductory 10 the expression Of the belief, that the
Washington Union was, and u.s. and will continue
TO be, an instrument in the hands of the Wing
party. Let the Union speak for itself in the
Two following paragraphs:
at was 10 have been expected that the South
ern Press, after being beaten on all lis ground,
would have been content to acquiesce in the
verdict Of the people but, instead Of doing so,
il now seeks new controversy, under the ire
tence that the union Of the Democrats party
hiss been effected at the expence Of State rights,
OF the Virginia resolutions Of 1898 and 80 are
adopted. Its first position was that no Demo.
Graf could acquiesce in the compromise but
now that nearly all the disciples Of that school,
including especially those OF Virgins, have re.
jected the delusion which prompted so extreme
perversion Of their duties, il shifts the ground
and demands Of the Democratic party to put In
issue before the people the question OF seces-
sion and amongst the reasons assigned for this
arrogant dictation TO The Democratic party is the
unfounded allegation that the Washington
| Union has insisted upon this issue in It's oppo.
sition to the measures proposed by the Nash.
vile convention.
"a few facts will show how utterly incon.
sistent and idle Is this allegation. In the early
part Of the canvass in Alabama, rs soon as Gov.
ernor Collier avowed his determination 10 acqui.
esce in the compromise, we gave him our sup
port, although he maintained the abstract right
OF secession. We did the same with Judge
Bragg, and others Of that State. In Georgia and
Mississippi the same principle decided our views
Of the claim Of the candidates before the people
Mr.. Mcdonald adhering 10 the project Of the
Nashville convention, Of which he had been
president, and Gen. Quitman, until he declined
10 be voted for, on The ground that he could not
accept Office from The people Of Mississippi after
their determination TO acquiesce in the compro-
mise. In Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, North
Carolina and Tennessee, we did the same thing,
advocating the election Of Democrats where they
acquiesced in the compromise, without inquirng
what were their peculiar views about the alb.
siract right Of secession or about the amount Of
opposition which would justify an appeal 10 the
ultima ratio as the only alternative between
submission TO intolerable wrong and the main.
tenance OF liberty. While, for ourselves, npon
the abstract question Of secession we have held
the doctrine so long maintained by Jefferson,
Madison and Jackson, we have never regarded
that question as constituting at this time prsc.
| teal issue before the people. On the CONTRARY.
he real issue upon all this branch Of topics has
been, in our judgment, The disturbance or the
maintenance Of the compromise rs final adjust.
ment and, so far as the South is concerned the
reputation Of the policy Of resistance 10 the
measure proposed by the Nashville convention
| Il charges distinctly, that Gov Mcdonald
while a candidate, adhered 10 the project Of the
| Nashville convention, and that for this reason
| IL opposed his election. This statement il sim.
PLY and plainly untrue and If untrue, the Union
cannot escape the charge Of acting with, and aid.
ing the Wing party; for Gov Mcdonald was
supported by the great body of the old Demo
cratic party, and Mr.. Cobb was supported by
the great body Of the Wing party. Processing
national Democracy all the while, the Union
was active in placing that party in power, and
which will soon announce itself 10 be what IL