The southern press., 1852-05-20
PerpIexities about Party Platforms.

PerpIexities about Party Platforms.
CARLYLE's striking image Of modern society
applies most forcibly to the present position of
the component parts of the old parties, seeking
to re-organize for regular campaign. lie says
that society now " is like a pitcher of Egyptian
tanned vipers-each trying 10 get us head abope
The o,her." This seems to be the great struggle
now between the sections of the old parties,
and will be the motive power of each colec-
lively, should the difficulties of reorganization
and nomination be surmounted. These diff
cuties and perplexities instead Of diminishing
have increased as the period for holding the
convention draws nigh, and new splits are per,
ceptble every day in Congress and out of it.
1t is idle to talk at this time, of there being bu
ttoo parties in the country. No sensible man
will believe such slang-no prudent man would
stultify himself by insisting on it. 1t is true
that there may possibly be partial reconca
ton, and common struggle made by the former
members Of the old parties, for The purpose Of
securing the election of candidate who would
represent more nearly their different interests
than the nominee of the oppostion-bu the re-
union would only 60 to this extent, further,and
the foundation of each would be shaky plat
form, not rock.
Let any man look at the existing divisions
in the old parties on matters not alone of per-
sonal preference for particular candidates, but
of principle also Both Houses-Whig and
Damoeratic--are divided against themselves
The Wing party North is triangle, composed
ofCompromise, Ffeesoil, and Abolition Wings
South, it is also triangle composed of South
ern Rights Wings, most of whom act with their
Southern Rights Democratic brethren-the Con
stitutional Union Wings who are for. and those
who are against the National Wing Convention |
Thus the National Wing party as at present
composed, consists Of six parts, to which the
schism in Congress has added seventh. Tae
sharp sparing in the House on Monday between
the FILLMORE and ScoTT divisions will not tend
10 harmonize matters much The ordinations
and recriminations were very spicy. The squab-
BILE was, as usual, between the Southern men
the Northern men smiled and held their peace, I
allowing the Kilkenny cat process to go on
When the last tail is left on the field, they will |
step in and stick the bush in their caps as
trophy of triumph. They prefer the South
should perish by felo de Sc, rather than by the
more violent process of open assassination.
Curious revelations were made during this con-
roversy, which we shall lay before our readers,
rs the special Wing organs wont-being stone
deaf and blind to anything that might disturb
the harmony of the party.
Sothe Wing party is now an unu' of seven
parts, each having wonderfully little affinity for
the other.
The Democratic party-whose convention
meets in two weeks time-is in not much bet
ter plight. II is at present composed of two
great sectional divisions, like the other party,
embracing several minor divisions in the bosom
of each, between the members of which any.
thing but fraiernal feeling reigns The North.
ern Democracy counts among its numbers the
friends of the Compromise measures snd IFS
btterest enemies, the one insisting on its final.
ity, the Others on the reputation or final repeal
of the fugitive slave law, its only Southern lea.
ture.
The Democracy of Pennsylvania is a CUm-
promise Democracy-that of Massachus>ys.s and
Ohio, Frecsoil Denocrscy-that of New York,
composed of both. In the Southern States
the division is between the Southern Rights
and the Union Democracy, whose feelings arc
parm il not cordial towards each other The
latter have been insisting OIL Compromise test
in the Baltimore convention, which the former
have steadily opposed. That difficulty-the
stumbling block Of the Compromise after much
in and out of Congress, was sup
posed TO have been removed by tscit under.
standing that the convention would not meddle
with il, on account of the opposition of the ex
tremes TO il, for widely different reasons See.
ing this, the Southern Compromise Wings and
Democrats who would be crowded out of both
were laboring 10 perfect a new
and Independent organization-when new
brand has been flung into the heart Of the
Democratic camp, which may kindle mp most
dangerous and deyas' ating fire. The Frcesoilers
in both houses, on the Democratic side have
thus far this session kept very quiet, except
when forced out to define their positions but
the rapid stridss made by SEWARD and the Free.
soil Wings towards putting that party on
freesoii platform, and thus swaying and WELD.
ing the Northern mind, have compelled the
Freesoil Democrats TO talk out too, to contest
that supremacy at home-for that the rooted
religion Of Northern sentiment is Ant-Slavery,
no sane man can doubt, no candid man deny.
Even il by so doing they are elected from
The Baltimore convention, Of which they feel |
little risk, they are bold enough and confident
enough to believe that they can defeat the party
Ind fall back on the Buffalo platform--even
IS the Freesoil Wings would have done, had not
5EwARp's outside agency (as revealed in Mon.
lays debate) worked the Wing caucus wires
0 suit his plans ard purposes. Therefore, on
'dday last, Mr.. HALE, in the Senate, flung
own the gauntlet Of the Freesoil Democracy
n the face Of the party, and proclaimed the ui.
ma,um Of himself and his party, in a speech
'f startling boldness, which, as it has apparently
escaped the attention Of the locuD, lenens Of the
Union, we would invite his attention to, as