The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-16
THE PHILOSOPHY OF DoUBLE-DEALING.

says:
The Democratic Committee has acted open
w and honestly All its documents are ex-
POSED to the public gaze. 1t has not spoken
with double tongue IL has not drawn two
characters of Gen Pierce-One for the North
and the other for the South 1t has not been
guilty Of inconsistency, nor evasion, nor con-
cealment 1t has never made two statements
with regard to Gen. Pierce's views on slavery.
1t has made the same representation of his his
tory in the North and in the South. To every
portion of our people it has denied that Gen.
Pierce had any sympathy for the Aboltionists,
and everywhere it has denounced the New
Boston libel which was invented and circula-
ted hy the Republic and its allies, and used the
evidence of the National Era and its partisans
and affiliated presses to prove its ibellous
character When the Wing leaders in this
city adopted the Abolition attack in order to
affect the Northern mind, an important and
significant movement was made-one which
made it the duty of every honest organization
to announce its character to the Southern people
and to the country. We made that announce
ment through our columns; and the Democrat
ic Committee made it. by publishing in pamph-
let form an exact copy Of the National Era s
article, with preface explaining fully the OBJ
ject of the publication"
The Union fully confirms all that we stated.
1t said that the Wings had circulated
our record of Mr. Pierce in the North, and
made the charge in such way as to suggest
some concert between them and US. We re-
piled by denying all concert, and by charging
that our record was purchased by Southern
Democratic members of Congress for crcula-
ton under their frank in the South, printed in
the Union, and in pamphlet form in the Union
office, for circulation where it would suit their
| purposes The Union admits the truth of our
charge. Was there any concert in this trans
action between US and the Union editors or
| Democratic Committee
But, says the Union, we have acted fairly
and openly-making the same representation
| of General Pierce North and South. 1t may
| be so-we did not accuse it OF double-deal-
ing-only. we should like to be informed
whether this pamphlet edition of our record
issued in the Union office, was circulated
equally at the North and South or chiefly in
the South! As to printing it in the columns
of the Union everybody knows that the crcu-
lation of that paper is very limited in the
North
"The iniquity. says the Union consisted
in speaking with u double tongue; for such
speech is false always, and is never uttered but
with the premedtated purpose to deceive and
defraud When Wing Congressman and com
mittee-men were sending the Republics articles,
made up with the assistance of Foss, GOodale,
and Tuck, with the knowledge and understand
ing that other Wing Congressman and com
mittee-men were sending the North a docu-
ment of different character to array the Abo
litonists against Gen Pierce, the spectacle has
a fraudulent aspect"
We understand that the charge of double
dealing is made not against us, but the Repub-
hc, Wing Congressman. and the Wing Com
mittee Of course, we have nothing to do with
it, Let the parties accused repel it if they
choose.
This kind of double dealing in politics is
loathsome enough, but so common that it
awakens no surprise. 1t is the result OF the
conflict of sectional prejudices, sectional
sentiments sectional interests sectional instltu-
tons.
The system of Slave Labor, begettlng pecu-
liar interests and opinions, prevails in one half
of the country; the system of free labor, gen
Grating opposing opinions and interests pre-
walls in the other half; and yet the effort is to
unite both sections every four years, in the
choice of Presidential candidates How is this
dOnei Not by fair, open, consistent dealing
for the candidate who explicitly avows himself
in favor of the system of Slave Labor, and his
purpose to secure its ascendency in the coun-
ellis of the Federal Government cannot re-
cevc the support of the North, any more than
the candidate who should avow himself in fa-
vor of the system of Free Labor, and his pur-
pose to secure its ascendency in the Federal
councils, could receive the support of the
South An unambiguous, notorious Pro-Sla-
very position would forfeit the vote of the
former, as an unambiguous, notorious Anti
Slavery position would forfeit the support of
the latter The old parties and their managers
know this, and yet look to both sections and
the supporters of both systems for favor to
their Presidential candidates.
Now, we put it to any man of candor and
common sense, what will be the course of
such Parties, controlled by such necessities
win they, can they, avoid double-dealing and
evasion In relation to Slavery, and all ques-
tons connected with it, each section will be
piled with arguments which would work mis-
chief in the other 1t will not do to urge the
claims of General Pierce in the North, because
he il regarded in the South as more loyal than
any other Northern politician to the interests
of Slavery; nor would it promote SCOTS pros
poets in the South, to republish there the Anti
Slavery appeals. of the New York 1I'bun'.
Facts will be admitted or suppressed, distorted,
disparaged, .or exaggerated, as the interests
and preludices of different sections may render
expedent Whenever you see a Nominating
Convention passing vague or ambiguous resolu-
tons, or no resolutions at all, upon questions OF
interest to the People. you may know that
clectioneering Justification.
The position taken by the Independent DEM
ocratic organization exempts it from all tempt
alton to double dealing or evasion. Its Con-
vention at Pittsburgh spoke out its creed in
unmstakable terms, upon all questions that
could interest the public in the present can
vass, and its candidates are known to repre-
sent the views of the Convention, Independent
Democracy has not two faces on the subjects
of Slavery, River and Harbor improvements
Land Reform, or Non-lntervention nor have
its candidates nor its orators nor its presses
nor its documents They all sneak one Ian