The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-10

the Columbus Times, whose name has been
unnecessarily dragged into the printing coptro-
versy. The letter is addressed to the senior
editor of this paper, who at present is not in the
city. Any comments, therefore, that he might
desire to make must necessarily be postponed
until his return, which will be very shortly.
We commend to the earnest consideration oil
our Southern Democratic friends the political
portion of this letter, and desire them to weigh
| we'll the convictions forced on a disinterested
observer and staunch Democrat, by personal
observation here. If the DoNELsoN diplomacy
| is to be persevered in, and the Southern wing
of the party to be admitted on sufierance only
into its ranks, and its press prescribed to favor
the Wing Compromise organ, then will the in
dgnant utterances of Mr.. FORSYTH echo back
the voice of the Southern Democrats, and an
effectual finality of the National Democracy be
made in the coming campaign.
MOBILE, April 26th 1859.
To Elwood Fisher, Esq: In the Southern
Press of the nth inst, find the following
paragraph:
"Mr. German states that the editor of the
Columbus Times, who was here some weeks
ago, made overtures to the Committee on Print
ing. for a portion of it for the Southern Press,
and offered to pledge this paper to and acques-
cence in the Compromise, and to the support of
the Baltimore nominee. As to Mr.. Forsyth, he
can answer for himself-so can we, and so will
we. And therefore, We now state, that neither
we ourselves have ever offered, or proposed, or
intended to do either, that is to support the
nominee of the Baltimore convention, or to
acquiece in the Compromise. On the contrary,
when such things have been proposed to us, as
they have been, we invariably and promptly re-
fused. And no person has ever had any au-
thority, express or implied, directly or indirectly,
to make any such offer. And We repeat, that we
have never offered any pledge, promise, or stip-
ulation of any kind whatever"
Mr.. german speaks without the card" ]
never made any overture of any sort to the
Printing Committee as body, nor did | ever
exchange syllable with an individual member
of that committee, on the subject of the public
printing. Except to Messrs. GoRMAN and STAN
TON, was not even introduced to any member
of the committee, and to these two only, at the
dinner. table Of mutual friend-on which oc.
casion the subject of the printing was not
broached within my hearing, and never met
them to speak, afterwards.
am not in the habit of begging for favor,
either for myself or my friends and when do
begin such political mendicancy, l shall certain
ly not apply in quarter known to be hostile to
the division of the Democratic party to which
belong-so hostile indeed, as to prefer Wing
newspaper, being for the Compromise, to Dem
ocratic paper being against the Compromise, as
the recipient of its favors
perceive, also, that the Washington Union
advises the Southern Press to take my testi-
mony before making certain positive averments
touching this printing business. ! have no rea-
son to withhold my testimony. | say now, pub
licly, what said to Maj. DoNELsoN in converse
ton on the subject, and in reply to his request
urged with diplomatic caution and reserve
could not apprehend as belonging to the occa-
sion, to have it distinctly understood, that he
made no proposition on the subject My reply
was, {" / wish you Maj. DoNELsoN o understand
distinctly, that do make proposition to you,
and that you are at perfect liberty to disclose
and proclaim it toSwnomsoever you please
have no secrets in the matter-what propose
am not only NOT ashamed of, but shall be proud
of, if it succeeds, because its end and object is
to settle delicate question that now embar-
rasses the Democratic minority of Congress, and
to take political step towards that Democratic
union, reorganization and reconciliation, about
which some gentlemen talk SO much and feel so
little" The truth il, was at Washington as
peace-maker. Having myself so soon as the
Georgia contest on the Compromise, resulting
in the election of Mr.. Conn, was over--made
up my mind that the best policy of the South
ern Rights party was to take position with the
Democratic party; saw that the violent alter
cations between the Union and Press were
widening breach wished healed, and keeping
asunder political forces whose combination was
necessary to defeat the cunning schemes of
SEWARD Whiggery to get the control of the
government. | thought the Democratic party
ought to have an organ at Washington-that
the Union and Press ought to be united-not
on the basis Of acquesence in, or reputation of
the Compromise, but on the basis of common
sense view of the fact that the Compromise
legislation was thing past settled and done-a
thing about which Democrats had disagreed-a
thing in which they never could agree-a thing
about which for the purpose of defeating the
enemies of the country and Constitution in Their
attempts upon the reins of power, it was not
necessary that they should agree-a thing, in
short, to be ignored, and thrown overheard us
Jonah whose presence had already sufficiently
disturbed the peace and perilled the safety of
the Democratic party.
These are the ideas talked to and urged on
political friends in Washington; and these, per-
nit me to say, were accepted as sound, rational
and proper views by all the Democrats | met
with, except the peculiar adherents of Messrs.
COBB, FooTE & Co. 1t would be uncandd n
mo not tn say that alopp with th;s nuhl;c I