The southern press., 1852-01-10
SOUTHERN PRESS
WASHINGTON CITY.
FRIDAY, JANUARY ,, 1852
The BENTON Platform.

We relcrred some time since to the action oil
the BENTON Democracy of Missouri, in nomi.
mating VIM. o. BUTLER for the Presidency, and
THOMAS II. BENTON for Congress. The letter
of MIR. BENTON, in response to that meeting, has
reached US, and will BIZ inserted tomorrow II
is not only highly characteristic, but also i'm
portant, because il distinctly lays down the pro-
gramme of the position Of the Freesoil party
of the North in the coming campaign. In that
letter Mr.. BEHToN denounces the nullfers and
disunionists" as roundy as. the Union news
paper; and insists on reading out of the Demo-
make way for the genuine " Union Democrats"
of the stamp of himself and the VAN BURENs
Like the Union, also he swears by the name OF
General JACKSON, scoff, at States Rights as
"nuliihcation," gires in his adhesion tC lie Bali
more platform Of 1913, and abuses the Nashville
Convention with equal zest and relish.
This coincidence of sentiment between the
organ and Mr.. BENTON, must be highly crafty.
ing to both, though rather unexpected to the
latter. MIR. BENToN's letter is as fiippanty
abusive Of the " treason" Of the advocates Of
States Rights doctrines and of the traitor"
who stood up for the rights Of their section, as
the Union ever was, when countenlncing and
supporting the war made upon the Southern
States Rights Democrats by Messrs. COBB,
FooTE, d. Cor more recently in its exposi.
tons OF the binding force and efficacy of the
Proclamation and Force. bill on all the Democ-
racy. As, in another instance, solitary and
alone" Benton set his ball in motion against the
Southern Rights Democracy like snow
ball, it has gathered "a it rolled, until it has be-
come an avalanche, impending over the heads of
all who dare still cling TO the old faith Of JET
FERsoS, MADISON, and RANDOLPH, With the
progressive" policy Of the Jackson Democratic
Association, under the lead Of +. p BLAIR, TO
entangle our foreign relations, and the BENTON
and Union programme Of the prescription of all
States Rights men and States Rights doctrines,
to consolidate power in the hands of the North,
the Southern Democracy are exposed to a fire
in the front and in the rear
Mr.. BESToEs endorsement of the Baltimore
platform of lS4S is accompanied by an expla.
nation of what he considers as the Democratic
ground in relation 10 slavery" We give his
own words:
FOurthly Adhesion to the Baltimore platform
OF l84S is another point On which hold you to
be right, and the Nuliters wrong. That plat
form contains the Democratic ground in relation
10 slavery. The Nullihers wish to engraft upon
it a new dogma which was expressly, and almost
unanimously rejected by the convention which
framed it. namely, that Congress has no rig HI 10
LegiSLdfe upon Slarery IN the Territories. This
dogma, like all the doctrines OF the school to
which it belongs, is Of modern invention, and
only invented for the purpose of multiplying
chances to find pretexts TO resist the laws OF
Congress, and for flying off into that new con-
iederacy which is TO consist wholly of slave
States, and to be christened "The United States
South" The Democracy take the Baltimore
platform as il was agreed to-not as il was not
agreed to-still less as rejected-and above all
AS attempted 10 be interpolated by the dregs Of
the party which made the effort, and so misera.
bly, failed in it at Baltimore.
This language is too plain to be nisunder.
stood; and the object is obvious In view of
such coalitions and combinations, we'll may the
South keep watchful and distrustful eye on
proceedings and movements, so full Of peril, not
alone TO the rights Of the separate States, but
TO the safety and even tie existence of portion
them.
Far from being dead, political Abolitionfsm
rears its head higher at this moment than ever
before; and from present indications threatens
10 control both the old parties, in case Of their
reorganization on their former basis. No man
can doubt this who observes and Judges for
himself Rendered careless and reckless through
confidence, the old wire .pullers Of the Albany
and Of the SEWARD school, with their orgars
and satellites, have shown their hands too plain.
ly to be mistaken.
The tone Of Southern presses of late proves
that some at least Of conductors have been
awakened 10 the danger. Others soon will
catch the alarm, and the real character of the
inyidious game now playing, will be exposed.
The plotters against Southern rights and
Southern safety may exult for time-but let
them look for the recoil Of their own internal en-
gines Of Freesoil and consolidation. Under that
black banner no true-souled Southern, and
many N bern men, will not march, but rally
to the rescue Of the nstitution, the rights Of
the States, and the safety Of millions Of our PEG.
pie.