The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-28


to be national in their feelings unite upon candi
date any other basis? Ought National Wings
anywhere, North South, to agree, for a mo-
ment, to lorego point vital to the preservation
of the peace of society? We did ardently desire
the Wings in Congress to adopt the proposition as
a conclusion OF their own. and to publish il to the
country as one Of the bonds of their political asso-
citation. 1t required no sacrifice of principle-no
recantation oil opinion-no remuneration Of error;
only determination-consistent with the noblest
impulses OF patrioiism-to abide for the future by
settlement designed restore peace to a dis-
tracteo country, and to carry into execution hon
estly the compacts Of the Constitution We
frankly state that it was deliberate purpose to
announce at the Threshold an unalterable deter
mination TO aid in scheme for an election aseo-
ciated with or allied to men whose policy it was to
ignore the final settlement of those dangerous
and exciting questions which are embraced by what
is ter med '.the Adjustment" With the candor of
ireemen 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 it was assumed from solemn sense of duty to
ourselves and to our country; and we rely for a
justification Of our course in these proceedings
upon the honest impulses of the people, and the
patriotism OF all who love the Union and wish to
perpetuate its blessings.
TO assert the converse of our propositon-"to
agree to Disagree" questions connect ted with the
institution OF slavery, it is recognised by the Con-
Sttution, the Fugitive Slave law and the finality
OF the Compromises to open willingly the sources
OF the most noxious agitation, and to reveal the
means Of assniling anew the harmony, and may
hap the existence OF the Union. Have the discussions
OF the past incucated no mora' Shall the progress
and peace OF the future be marred by the renewed
efforts OF fanatcism which halts at no barrier
erected by mortal power, and exultingIy proclaims
its obedience only to power higher than human
law? Shall The ties that link the various parts of
noble country together yield to the force of dema
goguism which wears the mask of liberty only to
perpetrate crime; or that it may, with compare
tive impunty, excite passion to reward ulti.
matey desire for self aggrandizement? Will
the Wing party, under e1isting circumstances,
shroud honest convictions Of public duty in
silence, that our candidate for the proudest
honor OF earth may have his opinions inter
preted variously to suit the changing preju
dices or prepossessions of particular ATTITUDES |?
Fellow Wings! such a policy will not-should
not succeed. 1t ia unworthy of great
party whose sentiments are conservative, and
whose aim is the prosperity and happiness of
the people. Its tendency ID to reduce the Wing
party to mere heterogeneous compound of dis
cordant sectional factions the ballot box to re-
ceptacle for votes obtained by fraud upon one or
other of the sections of the United States; and the
Presidential election to trial Of CT icanery and dis
stimulation among political mountebanks. We
do not seek to make injurious ascripton OF
motive TO any association of men; but
rcpudiate and refuse, for our part, now and
hereafter, to lend support to any candidate
whose principle are not plainly Defined or TO join
in any crusade against popular rights, the honesty
of poitics the papable interest Of the country,
for the purpose of achieving temporary political
triumph.
But, TO return. What was the ingredient in EN-
TRy's amendment that induced the Chairman TO
rule Il out Of order? The only aim OF the amend
ment was TO exclude a conclusion. 1t was framed
distinctly with view 10 absolve the Wing mem
bers present from implied pledge to support the
nominees ofthe National Con ention, "unless those
nominees shall be publicly and uncquivocally
pledged TO regard. the series of measures known
as the Compromise measures as a final set.
uemont Of the dangerous questions they embraced
and to maintain them inviolatc" What inference
can be drawn from the refusal to grant this ex-
enption but that the determination existed 10
commit all who participated in the meeting to
the support Of the nominees Of the National Con-
vention, whether be shall be pledged to support the
Compromise or notl Some OF the undersigned arc
bound by our solemn public declaration, made in
1850. that We will support for Office unless
be ia known, Untquivocslly and beyond contro
yersy, to be determined b maintain, support and
execute the laws known as the Compromise mca -
sures-Fugitive Slave law and ALL We shall reli-
giously redeem word We felt, after The defeat
OF Gxsray's smcndment, that silence or ncques
cence, under the circumstances, would commit us
TO an inconsistency, and Justly awaken suspicion
Of our sincerity. Regarding The vote on Gentry's
amendment as the emphatic declaration by the
meeting either that the persons present remained
uncommittcd as TO their own support Of the Adjust
ment measures, that they refused 10 Itsblish my
such test Of the qualification Of the nominee Of the
National Convention, no course remained, consist
ent with our conviction Of duty aud sense Of self
respect. but 20 withdraw formally from the meet.
ing, and TO retain the position we designed 20
tain.
IL has been charged that 1t is our deliberate
purpose TO distract the oounsols Of the whigs.
and TO cre,te an unnecessary schism in tho
body Of the Wing party. d has bcen charged
that our object Is TO open afrcsh the agitation
upon the slavery questions and 10 create sectional
strife, in order 20 prevent concentration of
Wing strength at the approaching Presidential
election. Ii has been charged that we present in
sultng terms TO the North by requiring the re,c-
ration Of pledges maintain and TO enforce lave
which exist tho statute book, and which no
member Of Congress or political aspifant has man
ifesicd an intention to disturb. These statements,
fellow Wings, arc unjust and untrue II any
sohi'm shall occur in the WING parry il will result
from the attempts Of men ~hosc present distinction
is alone attributable TO the with which they
have heretofore fed the flames of sectional ianoi-
cism, and ~hose future hope rtsts nianly upon the
creation Of sectional divisions Our effort has been
to induce the Whigs 10 assume national ground
a conservative and patriotic positon-thc only po-
stion upon which the statesman and the patriot
can maintain the harmony 81 these States or pre-
serve the existence Of this Government.
So far from opening agitation upon the slavery
questions, our avo~cd object is and the effect Of
the proposition assert must be, TO terminate
agitation by assuming ssrting point for the
canvass ihnt the entire party, North and South.
faithfully abidcs by the law IL exists and main
tains the Compromise measures n final settle.
ment Of the exciting quesIions they embrace. How
is il possible that this position afford basis