The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-13
A SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC VIEW.

A SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC VIEW.
The editor of the Richmond (Va.) Examiner,
very spirited Democratic Journal, comment
ing upon the proceedings of the late Wing
caucus, makes the following remark f"
For wears past one Of the differences, broad
and ineligible. between the two parties has
been the mana cement of the Southern Wigs by
their Northern masters and the control Of the
| Northern Democrats by their Southern allies"
There is no such broad and ineligible diff
ference The Northern sections of both par
ties are controlled for the most part by their
Southern allies The nomination of General
Taylor in lS4S, and the non-committal policy,
were dictated by the South, just as much us
were the Baltimore platform and the nomina-
ton Of General Cas- We all know that at
first the Wings of the North generally resisted
the nomination and urged that their Conven-
ton should take the position of opposition to
the extension of Slavery, but they finally
yielded. 1t is true, General Taylor disappoint-
ed his Southern friends, and surprised his
Northern supporters but this does not alter
ehO ioOt tHut Hls was bhpcooN pm
the party by Southern politicians
Since his decease, what has transpired to
show the ascendency of Northern Wings over
their Southern associates Are we to find it
Webster In the strenuous efforts of Mr.. Fill
more to secure the passage of the Fugitive
Law! In the attempt Of the Administration
to introduce the law of constructive treason, so
as to uphold the pretensions of Slavery? In
the avowed acquiescence of Wing Conventions
at the North on the Compromise measures
In the adoption by a Wing Congressional eau
Gus in December last of the fnality test In
the total silence of the Northern Wings in
Congress, under the exactions and denuncia-
tons and menaces of their Southern allies?
The editor of the Examiner can point to no
fact giving cOuntenance to his assertion, but
the action of the late Wing caucus-in which
the Northern members, with one-half of those
from the South, defeated the attempt to extort
an untimely declaration respecting the Compro-
mise but that action is not conclusive
Should tho National Wing Convention refuse
to make any declaration in relation to the
Compromise and Fugitive Law, thereby reject
ing the demands of the South, should it nomi-
nate General Scott without pledges and COM
mitments, express or implied, then we shall
cheerfully admit, not that Southern Wings
have been managed by their Northern mas
ters," but that for once Northern Wings have
maintained equality with their Southern asso-
ciates
As to "the control of the Northern Demo
Gratis by their Southern allies claimed 80
complacently by the Examiner, the fact is I'M
deniable and if proofs were needed, we might
refer to the annexation of Texas, the Mexican
war, the nomination of General Cass in l84S
and the reputation of the Wilmot Proviso the
organization of the last Congress and the pres
ent the declaration of every Democratic can
didate for the Presidency in favor of the final
ity of the Compromise and Fugitive Law, the
avowed acquiescence in these measures by
Democratic Conventions ut the North coupled
not unfrequently with declarations of satisfac-
ton and approval. The refusal of the Demo-
cratic Congressional caucus in December to
re-afirm them cannot be set off against these
facts. inasmuch as the same caucus placed the
organization of the House under the control of
the Compromisers, and many of the members
who voted against an expression of opinion in
caucus, calculate upon such an expression in
Convention, Should the Convention refuse to
endorse the Compromise, and then put in nomi-
nation n candidate whose views in relation to
the fnalty of the Compromise are unknown, we
shall admit that for once the Northern Demo-
Gratis, acting in national capacity, have placed
themselves on an equal footing with their
Southern allies
We have not the slightest doubt as to what
will be the action of both the Wing and DEM
ocratc Conventions in June, but unwilling to
discourage the efforts of those who are hoping
to redeem their parties from thraldom to Sla-
very, We predict nothing.