The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-19


up.
Party OrganshIp. ITS Rights, Duties, Pow
ers, Privileges, Perquisltes. and Pay.
The existence of party organship is either a
necessity Of party, or consequence so general
and uniform as to be almost, if not quite, inev-
liable. But it is one of the most curious and
important elements in the science of govern
ment. It cannot be regulated by constitutions
or laws, nor by the ballot box, by the executive
or legislative power. The paper or the editor
which can get the greatest number of respon-
sible, intelligent, and influential subscribers is
an organ, and the Legitimate power Of such an
organ is the result of the integrity and ability
with which it is conducted Such is the proper
and salutary result of the liberty Of the press,
and the power of reason and Of principle. The
power which such press will exercise is not,
of course, uniform; for it is disturbed and in.
terrupted by passion, prejudice, and ignorance,
at all times more or less active or prevalent.
But the power Of such an organ is, nevertheless,
positive, permanent and effectual. For its coun
sells cannot come to naught. They may not
prevail at the time, or at any time, but they will
always modify the existing and the resulting
state of opinion and Of government, according
to the degree of good sense and of morality
which exists in community. And more than
that. Truth, in whatever degree il may be
adopted, is a more powerful element in human
affairs than falsehood-for that which is false
perishes-perishes by its intrinsic fu.ility, and
by the conflict which one folly wages with
another-whilst truth can never die.
Since, then, the press is an organ Of so much
power, it is Of course liable to Intervention and
perversion and it well becomes people to be
watchful of it, and to take notice of all the ele
ments that control it.
Let US take an instance. The Washington
Union was, withinless than two short years ago,
the recognized organ of the Democratic party
here at the seat of government. A great con.
fic. of sectional opinion and interest had been
pending for several months, and the course taken
by the then editor was SO unsatisfactory to a
large portion Of the party, and to his subscrib.
ers that an enormous reduction occurred in his
circulation. 1t became expedient that he should
retire, and itbecame necessary that new editor
should be obtained. How was this to be done
The question lie, and was, one of grave import
snce, Who was to decide It! One would think
that il such question were to be decided at al
by the party, that the party ought to have beer
consulted. If by the leading men of the party
in Congress or elsewhere, they ought to have
had notice. In the leading editorial in tina
paper of Friday last, the editor says the posi-
ton was assigned" him by the pressing in
vitation Of nearly all the members of the party
especially Of the most of those who. compos,
the list, from which, in all probability, will b,
selected the flag bearer in the contest now abo<
to be fought with the Wing party"
Now, who composed the Democratic part,
when the editor Of the Union was thus 10
vitedi Did il include anybody opposed to th,
Compromise measures! IL it did not, then thu
Democratic party was only about half as M
merous as the year before. For Il will be seen
on consulting the votes 10 Congress, that scarce
ly one-half Of what was before the party, voted
for those measures Does the editor Of the
Union mean TO say that those who opposed the
Compromise were not Democrats Or, If he
does not mean that does he mean that nearly
all the prominent members Of the party" wer'
supporters Of that schemel Or, II he does no
mean dtaf, does he assert that nearly all th,
prominent members Of the party, both the op
ponents and friends Of the Compromise, wer'
engaged in that pressing invitationl" Now
il Is important to the country and the Rarty tina
his allegation should be understood. II is i'm
portant TO know who, and how many, and how
prominent Of the frrty, undertake 10 select Al
organ, and how hdny Of them, and who, ar,
Presidential aspirauts.
II Is, we think. rather decidedly probable tha
none ofthe opponents Of the Compromise unitec
in that pressing invitation" And as they ther
constituted in Congress and in the country abou
one-haf the Democratic party, il results that tbi
new organ is the choice Of only one-half the lead
ers Of the party and this is an important fact wbei
he undertakes TO lecture the whole party OF
''the duty Of the Democratic party" Now, W,
would like 70 have the names Of the gentlemen
who In secret whether in conclave or not IN
dertook 70 elect or TO appoint an organ. Tbos.
who recommended the establishment of On,
Southern Press proceeded publicly. They sub
scribed their names, and they declared their oh
jects-and they acted for themselves. But here
has pleased their fsyorte, the editor Of tn
Union, 10 proclaim as @nesrIy all the promineu
members Of the party" have secretly or private
ly assumed the responsibility Of creating part
organ. We want TO know them, who and bov
many, and what their authority. We woul'
like also 70 know their reasons for the selection
for the reasons are BY no means apparent in an.
part of the editorial which makes this announce
ment. True, the editor himself suggests som,