The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-01
Prudential.

forms, perplexity and uncertainty increase, in
stead of diminish. The previous history Of
parties affords no parallel The slavery ques-
ton, ia all its various aspects, stretches across
the political horizon, and envelopes the country.
All feel that it is not setted-all fear that the
very attempt to settle will disturb it still more
And in addition to that, there are several other
questions, such as the land question, the i'm
provement question, and the expenditures, now
more than ever in state of uncertainty. 1t
seems to be utterly impossible to prescribe any
system of policy that will be acceptable to the
various sections of this widely extended country,
and to the conflicting opinions which of late
more than ever have arisen.
Yet one thing manfests itself more and more
clearly every day. And that is, that whilst the
two parties find it more difficult than ever to
express themselves in plain language, and even
to distinguish the creed of one fromAhat of the
other, the practical division of voters among
them is more and more sectional. 1t seems to
be quite generally agreed that the Democratic
party relies, for majority of its electoral votes,
on the South, and the Wing party looks for its
main strength in the North This has, it is true
been the tendency for many years. but never
before 80 much as now.
Almost all the candidates, of both parties, are
from the North. Yet among the Wings the
division is almost purely sectional-it being
we'll understood that General SCOTT has the
great body of the Northern Wings in his favor
Mr.. FILLMORE those of the South. Among the
Democrats similar symptoms are visible. Gen
supported only along the border in the South,
whilst other candidates are preferred in the
other Southern States, although many excep-
tions occur to this classification. There is Ger
tanly more plentiful lack of unity in princi
pie, and in popularity, than was ever witnessed
before.
The great question which is Immediately be-
fore both parties is as to the endorsement of the
Compromise. If that Is done by both of them,
both cease to be national parties at once in the
acceptation of those terms. For the Democrats
of several Southern States will not concur in
any such thing, nor will the Wings and some of
the Democrats of several Northern States The
endorsement of the Compromise, therefore, as
the sentiment of either party would not be true
and would be worse than vain--for it would
only exasperate the controversy on the slavery
question, which continues, and will continue to
agtate the country
Nor would it be true to declare the acquies.
cence of either party on the Compromise. Ac-
quescence implies the absence of n sentiment
either of approval or condemnation. And such
is not the fact. Both parties contain those who
approve, and those who condemn. and neither
contains scarcely man who really acquesces.
The Compromise consists of measures in which
principles are affirmed, and presidents estab-
lished. There is and there can be no finality in
such case. The law prohibiting the slave
trade in this District, received few Southern
votes-that for the restitution of fugtives few
Northern ones. The principles of these two
laws are utterly repugnant. If restitution of
fugitives is right or constitutional, the prohibi
ton by the federal government of the sale of
slaves here or elsewhere is neither right nor con.
stitutonal. But, if the latter was 30, the resti-
tuition offugtives would be absurd.
Now, it wont do for a man to say that al
though he is opposed to one principle, and in
favor of another, he will approve or acquiesce
in both. He might as well say he would ap.
prove or acquiesce in lie, if connected with
truth, lie that contradicted the very truth he
desired to affirm.
The prohibition of the slave trade here placed
the ban of the federal opinion on Southern pro
perty. The fugitive slave law was reluctant
submission of the majority in Congress to the
terms of compact, thus sought to be democrat
lied The Constitution required in words the
ton to forbid the sale of slaves in the District
Taking these two laws, therefore, together as
they both expressly refer to slavery, no South
ern man can acquiesce in, much less approve
them, unless he believes that slavery is wrong
or that the country will always be too stupid tc
learn the right.
As for the territorial part of the adjustment
that proceeded on principles and for objects
against which the true Southern mind will con
tinue to protest as long as ray of the light o
reason continues to glimmer-as long as a sen
,iment of honor fingers in Southern BOSOM
H- The Augusta Const;tutiondlia thus re
iterates complaint made by our correspon
dents:
MAIL ERRoR-LETTERs OPENED.-The fol
lowing communication is from gentleman o
veracity, and should cause some inquiry TO b.
made:
Dear Sir: You would do well TO call atten
ton to the repeated opening Of letters and their
deprivation of envelopes, going from this section
North. The writer has, day, received letter
from New York, announcing that one of his
letters enclosing money, had come to hand, with
out envelope or money! This is not the first
complaint There must be an error somewhere,
and it is important il should be found out and
you will doubtless do good deed in giving il
publicity. In haste.