The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-17


The New York Herald has a lengthy leader
on the present position of parties, from which
we give extracts. We do this merely to show
the light in which this reflector of Independent
opinion in New York city, throws the late
movements Of the politicians in that y and
this. The HeraLds spe atoms are always
characterised by much -ewdness and some
truth, though it will mar the effect Of them by
blending clap trap with candor to catch the pop
ular ear. Thus in reference to the printing
matter it repeats the stale slang of the coa-
tons about combination between the Free
sellers and Secessionists to defeat the job. This
is the more inexcusable because the vote shows
the statement to be untrue, since the coalition
owed its defeat to other causes and combna-
tons. We advise the Herald, before repeating
this nonsense, to read the unanswerabe speech
of Mr.. FITcH, of Indiana, on this subject. He,
Northern Compromise Democrat, was one Of
the most unninching opponents to the coalition,
ton We give the HeraLds political specula
tons, to pass for what they may be worth. He
hits hard on some spots:
The GAME OF THE Two OLD PARTIES ON
THE CoMPR OMIsE--WHAT SAYS THE SOUTH (!
The light increases--the fog is clearing away
to the verge of the political horizon its land
marks are becoming visible. The plan Of the
campaign of 1852 already stands out in bold re-
lief II it too palbably manifest TO be misiner-
preted, that the compromise measures will be
completely lodged by both the Baltimore con-
ventions-that neither the Democrats nor the
Wings will have the moral courage to touch
them--that they will both go before the country
with the door wide open to the slavery agitation,
and that the great issue will not be the finality
of the slavery adjustment, but contest between
the Wings and Democrats for abolition votes
and the plumber Of the public treasury.
Now, what are the prospects of recognition
of the binding effect of the compromise meas
ures, by the National Democratic Convention =?
They meet on the lst of June. and the Wings
will thus have the advantage of their platform
as guide. If the Democrats, then, evade the
compromise, and give it the goby, or lay it
under the table, the Wings will have all the adj
vantages of doing the same thing. Still it is
clear that the Democrats intend to dodge the
question. We have recently had some very
curious developments on this subject, perfectly
satisfactory to us, that the Democratic conven-
ton will be rs dumb as General Scott upon the
compromise measures, from fatal misconcep-
ton of their true policy.
Major Donelson, the late active editor of the
Washington Union, has just thrown up his in.
terest in the concern, on the plea, that, a the
advocate of the compromise platform, his labors
have tended rather to distract than to harmonic
the Democratic party. The plain English of
the matter we suppose to be this =
Major Donelson was party to the recent ar
rangement in Congress, by which the public
printing was to be taken away from the present
contractor, ard given to the Union and the Re-
public But both these organs, standing upon
the compromise platform, were defeated, or
mainly defeated, by junction of Frcesoilers
and Secessonists, who do not recognize the
doctrines Of such oracles. The Southern Rights
Democrats were particularly determined to give
the Union the taste of little retaliation. So
they repudatcd it, and Indignantly made sport
of its distress. Failing to harmonic the party
upon the public printing, Major Donelson might
we'll dispair Of ever uniting them upon the CON-
promise measures at Baltimore. He was com
PEELED, therefore, either to abandon his princi-
pies or abandon his post. He preferred the al
tentative and we think he has acted wisely. The
prospect of any very profitable job of the pub
lie printing to the Union Office is slim and dubi-
Gus; and without government pay, daily party
organ in Washington is painfully losing con-
Germ Major Donelson, therefore, by leaving
the Union, gets rid of his troubles, anxiety, and
hope deferred, and saves his principles his char.
acter his credit, and his money. But his re-
linquishment of the Union simply means that,
as the advocate of the compromise platform, he
has been beaten from the field, and that no such
platform will be attempted at Baltimore.
4 4
What will the South do? Can tn Y, or will
they, after submitting to the action of both con-
ventions at Baltimore do anything to resist the
controlling influences of the ant-savery senti
ment of the North? Can they do anything but
submit, if both parties at Baltimore dodge the
fugitive question? This is the only vital ques.
ton of the whole adjustment; for, while the
other parts of it cannot be disturbed, this may
be repealed, and the entire North made as open
and safe to fugitive slaves as Canada itself Let
the Democrats eyade this question, and without
gaining anything in the North, they will give
every advantage of the dodge to General Scott
in the South, and, most probably, lose the cleo
ton, from the useless attempt to outbid Seward
for Abolition votes. The true policy of the
Democrats Is to recognise the binding tlnality Of
the fugitive slave aw--that is the question: and
the true policy of the South il TO make it the
sine qua non in both the Baltimore conventions
The Democratic party is pretty sound in the
North on slavery, except in the Wing States
Let the Democrats adopt the fugitive slave law,
and if they fail to bring Gen. Scott to the mark
they will gel their usual Northern vote, and will
sweep the whole South. IF they bring him to
it, they are at least upon equal ground on this
vital issue.
But we fear the plan of the campaign is
settled-that the Democrats are resolved to
shirk the fugitive question to conciate the
Northern Abolitionists; and that in resolving
to sacrifice principles for plumber, they will be
beaten by the military candidate of the Wing
party, North and South 1t is manifest that
botl, parties intend to dodge the fugitive law,
a law which has been already nuIilied by law
of Vermont and which is threatened with multi
ication in Massachus etts, bill to that effect
havirg just passed the popular branch of the
legislature. 1t is manifest, we say although the
repeal of this fugitive act is the first object of
Seward and his allies all over the North, that