The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-04

"Present Posture Of The Democratic Party"
The Washington Union of yesterday cont inns
an editorial of the above title, in which it as
sumes that the Democratic party is united in
support of the finality Of the Compromise mea
sures. 1t asserts that 'the elections which, fol
lowed (the Compromised showed that with few
exceptions, the old party lines were drawn; and
the great question at issue, which party stood in
the best position in regard to the Compromise
measures, to command the confidence and sup
port of the popular mind. The general tri
umph Of Democrats throughout the Union was
the result. That triumph was achieved upon
the doctrine of acquiescence in the Compromise
measures as final adjustment of the slavery
question:" and that whilst we all agree that the
true position is "the inality of the Compromise"
we are not satisfied to rest together on our
common conclusion"
If the editor of the Cnjon will persist in as.
sorting that the Democratic party is united on
the basis of acquiescence in the finality of the
Compromise, and if he thinks that he thus pro-
notes reunion, we must occasionally ex-
press our surprise at his notions of facts, and of
policy. We denv that the Democratic party is
reunited on any such basis, and we repudiate
the policy of insisting on any such assumption.
large body of the Southern Democrats was
opposed to the Compromise, and remains OPP.
posed In several Of the Southern States an
overwhelming majority is thus opposed. And
whatever authority the editor of the Union has,
for speaking in the name of Democrats else
where, he has none as the organ of the South
ern Democrats, except for the few that cooper
ated with Com and FooTE. Nor do We under
stand that he has any to speak for the Northern
Democrats, who oppose the Compromise.
Now, we hold that large body of the South
ern Democrats, and in several States, an over
wbelming majority of them, never have and
never will acquiesce in the Compromise meas
ures, or in their finality; but will, all proper
occasions, protest against them--and whenever
favorable opportunity occurs, will seek in
demnity for them, and security against them.
If California were now, or hereafter, to pro-
pose division of her territory, 80 as that the
Southern portion would be opened to Southern
colonization, the Southern Democrats would
support it, although that would be an infraction
of the Compromise. If We were to acquire
new territory, the Southern Democrats would
claim enough to indemnify the South for her
loss in the Compromise measures
We never will recognize the Compromise
measures as Compromise. Because they were
not Compromise to which the South, as a
party interested, ever acceded, or ever will ac-
cede, and we will not now acquiesce in any
party or presidential movement designed to nc
cure her accession 10 that scheme, to which it is
too well known, she refused at the time to Sc
cede. We will not recognize those measures as
Compromise, because, as they were not sup
ported by the parties respectively interested as
such, so they do not contain the elements OF
Compromise, but were in fact, articles Of
captulation, to which we refused to subscribe at
the time-now refuse, and will ever refuse, in
any way in which it may be proposed
We have no faith in Congressional Compro-
misses any how, even when they are Compro-
misses. They have no constitutional or legal
obligation or sanction, and have been repeatedly
violated, and will continue to be, whenever the
opinions or interests of majorities in subsequent
sittngs Of Congress dictate.
We shall be accused of keeping up the
slavery agitation. We den. that The slavery
agitation will be kept up, and is kept up in the
North, in contempt of Congress. And we don't
intend to enter into any bonds to keep the pence
when our enemies engaged in active HOSTILE
ties, and defy the jurisdiction of the magistrate
with perfect impunity.
As for the next Presidency, we intend to sup
port the candidate in whom under all the circum-
stances, we can best confde, as we'll for preserv-
ing the remnant of Southern interests and re-
establishing Southern Rights, as for the general
welfare of the country. And we admit we
have, from present appearances, stronger hopes
from the Democratic party than the Wing But
we don't intend to cooperate with any party
except as equals--equals in rights, equals in
opinions, equals in honors, and equals in emolu
ments.
African Cnffn.