The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-31
The Virginia Democracy and the Compro-
mise.

mise.
The Wing journals of Richmond continue
their comments on the silence of the Virginia
Democratic Convention in regard to the Com
promise, and the disposition to sacrifice princ-
pie for unworthy purposes, which that silence
may be supposed to indicate. The Times re-
marks, truly, that the void which exists in the
series of resolutions adopted "marks the thing
omitted with a startling significance"
"Wby is IL, we ask-nay, We demand, in the
name of the Virginia people to know-why, in
this proclamation OF party faith by a set OF men
who claim in the State almost prescrptive right
to rule, there Is not one line word contained
regarding the tremendous crisis from which the
country has not yet wholly emerged and wbosc
throcs and convulsons have shaken this Union
10 lite centre, Why not word Of the Com
promise mcasures-the Fugitive Slave law-the
vital interests and rights Of the South in con.
neron with those moasures-why no discus.
sion Of meme opinions on these momentous ia.
sues Why Ia the rightful demand Of the
country to be satisfied about the things that con
Germ its peace, its integrity, its existence to be
met with the nonsense uttered here about the DE.
mocratie usage not to express preferences,' and n
rcaffirnauon Of bygone and unmeaning gonersli-
of D.e country second time within the Lac,
twelve months has this same piebsld faction met
to csucus about its party and selfish interests-to
contrive machinery which shall secure to IL the
ascendancy in the State, the control Of is treasury
its Offices, iis power, destiny and If not obIivious
yet unmindful Of loyalty, Of all that patriotism
makes sacred, )aiied 10 bcstov thought or care
sbou, the very ark Of the covenant now endan-
eered-sbout a Union imperillcd-tbo unnum
bored woes Of civil strife hardly avorted-and
whyl
"Let the truth be told, strike where IL may.
There arc elements in that party organization ne
cessary 10 its success which il dare not eliminate
and Of whose true character they dare not inform
the country. There il portion OF il too powerful
to be sacrificed or Lost in the party struggles of the
day, whose loyalty to the peace measures, md
along with that, to the harmony and integrity Of
the Union 10 say the least, is q,aesfionabe~ boso
"ncq,ieseenoe' is but present cullen armed neu-
trality between the fierce extremes which go late.
~ endangered tie existence, but whose III -repress.
ed sfbnites and instincts will infallibly place
IL with the enemies Of peace in tie ranks of any
similar agitation which may hereafter convulsc
the country. II is his leprous spot in It's bosom
which the Democracy Of Virginia seeks not 10
cleanse but to hide. Hence this spectacle Of cal.
lous indifference to interests the most momcntous
THE creed only for the spo,is of country threat.
encd with ruin, like the sacrilegious pilfering OF
the altar when the holy temple itself il on fire. In
such view Of the subject the little and psltry
hibition VIC have just witnessed here becomes n
grave public offence; and the sense Of ridicue IL
might provoke is Loot in the stcrner sentiment Of
indignation and scorn."
This is strong writing, but jus, and true, and
in perfect accordance with the tactics Of the
party in some districts during the last Con
gressional and State elections. Even in Viz
GINA it numbers in its ranks quasi secession
lists. who concur in policy they cannot battle,
in the hope that future chances will favor a
holder course. They "bide their time" and
the remainder of the party prefer to purchase
their continued alliance by virtual surrender
Of principle, rather than TO add 10 difficulties
by Kidding its ranks Of the obnoxious members.