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


Of the Union belong to the Democratic party
and cleaye to its time-honored principles, and
to the immortal memory of it's great founders
| and chiefs. But its strength as party is in
imminent peril of being FILTERED away. And
unless II can speedily organize, and exhibit a
more comprehensive and harmonious concert
ofaction, and go into the coming canvass fully
prepared for the contest, it may yet fall victim
IA mighty victim-to its own feuds, and to the
INSCRIPTIONS Vaccinations of its enemies
When that catastrophe shall come, the people,
whose wishes shall have been set at uaught,
and whose cherised principles shall have been
sacrificed, will hold a fearful reckoning with all
| the mer, of whatever section, or station or
name, who, in motives of local ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
or of personal vengeance, shall have contributed
to bring about a disaster so fraught with evil
| We submit these observations to our Demo-
cratic friends with confidence that they
will be appreciated as the result of sincere
devotion to the Democratic cause Associated
with General Jackson in the darkest hours of his
Presidential service, and when his greatest dread
was two-third vote against him in Congress
upon the bank question, we can receive without
being app lied the blows which are leveled at
us by those who mistake our motives and mis-
represent our conduct. The Democratic party
is not consolidation, or notification. or seces-
sion, or Freesoil party, any more than it was
bank party in the days when Nicholas Biddle
entered the political field for the purpose of
moulding the public will by the power of money
1t is still the party Of the Constitution and the
Union, and it not split into factions, is destined
to protect the people and the States agant the
causes which, founded in the nature of political
power, are constantly carrying limited constitu-
tions beyond their sphere, and making them the
mask for encroachment and consolidation.
In accepting the position assigned to us by
the pressing invitation of nearly all the promin-
eut members of the party-especially of the
most of those who compose the list from which,
in all probability will be selected the flag bearer
in the contest now about to be fought with the
Wing party-we forsaw the difficulties which
would be presented by the rival pretensions of
various local preferences; but we yielded to the
task imposed on us from the hope inspired by
the unanimous assurance that there were no
serious differences of opinion in respect to the
questions then agitatng the country. 1t was
known to all that we protested against the
recommendations of the Nashville Southern con-
vention; that we regarded it the highest duty
of every patriot to make no resistance to the
existing laws of the land and that we consid
cred it especially the interest of the South TO
stand as a unit in giving another assurance of
her willingness to cooperate with the other
portions Of the Union in maintaining the com
promises Of the Constitution. 1t was the wish
of all that we should maintain those general
features of public policy which had marked the
history of the party, and particularly those
which had been impressed upon it by the servi.
ces of Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, and Polk
How far we have fulfilled such expectations, it is
mt for ne In Hafo IL. ,lxut
we deemed our duty, ministering to no selfish
clique, and rejecting firmly whatever could SUBJ
ject US to the imputation of fayoring the per.
sonal ambition of any aspirant to the Presi-
dency, contrary to the usages of the party. II
cannot, however, be disguised that this general
position, whilst useful to the party at large, has
given US no special claims upon the cause of
any particular individual. On the contrary, in
proportion as we have been faithful to the in
functions of fair and just neutrality, Ihas been
the tendency of personal rivalries, operating
through other channels, TO weaken us. This
was to have boen expected TO some extent, and
is ground of no complaint. But when oppo-
stion from different cause-from divergence
of views respecting radical principle Of action
| has manifested itself, il is obvious that the
period has arrived when those who profess to
be guided by clearly-recognised doctrines should
give to such circumstance the disposition il
deserves. OF this nature Is the objection, re-
peated in numerous quarters, that the ground
maintained by the Washington Union in the
sectional controversy growing out OF the mea,
sures adjusting the slavery and territorial CUES.
| tions-and which cannot be abandoned whilst
under its present management-is not that of
the Democratic party; or, in other words that
the argument on which this journal opposed the
/ Iat H..
barrier TO the union Of the party on its ancient
platform.
It's not our function TO settle such an issue,
or TO make any issue for the Democratic party.
Our duty, plain and simple, is to leave such re-
sponsbily TO those who assume il, and, when we
do not share the responsibility, 10 incur no CEN
sure from those to whom will legitimately be
long its consequences. No party can be useful
without an organ, at the seat Of its principal nc.
ton, 10 explain its policy, TO make known its
measures, and TO enable the people TO decide
how far its conduct is compatible with the pub
lie good. Such a party, in a country like ours,
Is Indispensable TO the preservation Of its insti.
tutions; and in proportion TO the national i'm.
portance OF such party should be it, endeavor
to give dignity and character 10 the journal Sc
ected to manifest its leading views But this
cannot be done IL there is between Il and such
a journal radical difference OF opinion on
principle which is recognized as cause Of di.
vision. We therefore feel Il our highest duty to
urge upon The Democratic portion Of Congress
the removal Of any impeachment which may be
found in the position Of our press TO the union
Of the party on such platform as may be
deemed necessary: for is but too evident that
while the public mind is left In doubt upon such
a subject, the hopes Of victory over the Wing
party become less and less sanguine.
-" We find the following curious paragraph
in the Lowell American. II looks rather strange.
ly, coming from the boosted land Of free men,
free soil, aud free speech"
CcERcror IN THE LOWELL MrLLs.--Y yesterday
in the house, A r. Brown, of Lowell, offered
the following order:
! That special committee Of FIVE on the part