The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-29


gated questions arising in their former dealing
and a decree has been rendered asserting tn,
true state OF their account, would it be consid
cred insulting or unfair that, in opening new
books, one should demand Of the other that tn,
decree shonld be accepted as the basis on which
they renew business? Would the answer b,
considered satisfactory You have your decre'
enforce il if you can; but do not require al
acknowledgment of its justice, by compelling
me to assert that will abide by lit" Had two
nenhbors disagreed and referred their respectiy,
claims TO arbitrators, does the loser forfeit dig
nifty by ack nowledging the award, and renewing
business upon the basis thereof! These homel,
illustrations point to the view we take of thu
present duties of all patriots in this government
The original compacts of the Constitution esiab
lshed the terms of this confederacy, and consti
tute the organic law of government. After /
series of years, sectional disputes arose, and tn,
Missouri compromise was made to quiet contro
versy relating to certain governmental power.
and constitutional questions.
1t was faithfully executed by the United
States, and submitted to by the people of the
slavehoding States After another series Of
years new acquisitions of territory were made
new disputes arose touching the same pow.
ers and the same questions. A new compromise
was made, whereby the balance of power was
yielded by the slaveholding States, and the reins
of empire were delivered up to the free States
by the admission Of California into the Union
The slave trade was suppressed in the District
of Columbia, territorial governments were Gre
ated over the whole public domain, and an act
was passed TO enforce the delivery of fugitives
from LABOR This settlement being made, has
the South murmured at the law suppressing the
slave tade in this District? Look upon the OPP.
posite picture Reply to your own hearts, how
has the law for the delivery of fugitive slaves
been executed We ask merely that the Wing
party shall not go behind this last settlement
that it shall nationalize itself by taking firm
and true position upon the finality of this set.
tlemeni and shall hold its members bound
without regard to former opinions, to maintain
and enforce this settlement in good faith and
honestly To this end we did desire the decla-
ration to this effect to come from the distin-
guished gentlemen who assembled in the CAPT
toll, Under the hope that the country would en-
Enthusiastically respond to it. We have been dis.
appointed in the realization Of our wish, and
because of the effort, we have been arragned
by anonymous employees of the press, and our
motives impugned by political leaders athwart
whose policy lies our own course and, as we
solemnly believe, the true direction for the pub
lie good What would be the effect of refus.
al to endorse the position we have assumed I?
What will be the result of a failure to respond
to the principle we have asserted Neither more
nor less than the inglorous and deserved defeat
of the Wing candidate for the Presidency, be-
cause the platform of the party will be too
narrow for the patriotism of the people. They
will demand one as broad as the interests of the
whole Union.
Should both of Che great political parties fail
to shape future party organization upon the
enlarged and fair principle to which we invited
the Wing meeting at the Capitol on the goth
inst, there remains but one other resort. The
people will demand such an organization at the
expense of existing parties, and it will triumph
over both or, misled by political leaders, whose
personal ambition rises above their love of coun.
try, the people will become involved in can
vass conducted by candidates whose parasites
will pander to sectional prejudices, and will seek
political preferment by arousing sectional pas
sions. The next Congress, in that case, will
be composed of men OF all par les pledged 10
renew the agitation of questions which the LIST
Congress closed with so much difficulty. The
result of such a struggle human foresight can.
not compass. We have believed that intelligent
craftsmanship, by timely action and patriotic
effort, could avoid the trial and the catastrophe.
We made an honest effort to point the way. We
have now explained our motives and our con-
duet, and we confidently submit them for your
judgment.
The events Of the Congressional meeting Of
the Goth Of April, are of significant import 1t
does not become the undersigned to sugg est
your course in view Of them. Our object is
accomplished by inviting to them your immed-
ate consideration, satisfied as we are, that they
will awaken your serious reflection, and guide
you to such action as may be demanded by the
duties TO the present and the hopes of the fu.
tuTc.
w BROOKE. Mississippi
JACKSON MORTON, Florida.
JOHN MOORE, Louisiana.
HUMPHREY MARSHALL, Kentucky,
M. p. GENTRY, Tennessee.
&. III. WILLIAMS, Tennessee.
Il. e. CABELL, Florida.
DAVID OUTLAW, North Carolina.
J. ARISTIDE LANDRY, Louisiana.
JAMES +. STROTIIER, Virginia.
] concur fully in the statement of facts, Of
well as the general positions of this address.
T. l.. CLINGMAN, North Carolina.