Woodville Republican., 1853-12-27


form was triumph for the South for while
it avoids any expression Of appreciation Of
those measures Of the Compromise which
were thought detrimental to Southern inter
ests, it explicitly and emphatically approves
the measure, to which the only concession was
made to the demand of the South.
Now, is there any thing ambiguous or fraud
ulent in such a resolution! Nav not man,
with perfect consistency, oppose the enactment
Of particular measure as unjust and mpoli-
tic, and yet, when it becomes law, consent
to adhere to and abide by it' Does not this
thing occur in every instance in which law
does not express the unanimous opinion Of the
people? And did the Baltimore Convention
perpetrate fraud on the country in withhold
ing its opinion of the merit of the Compro-
mise, whieitresolved to adhere to and abide by
it as the law Of the land, and as a solemn COM
pact between the North end the South In
deed, the original supporters of the Compro-
mise did not commend every distinct and sep
arata measure; their approval was bestowed
on the salutary operation of the whole
The Democratic party met 10 the Baltimore
Convention in spirit of conciliation and har-
mony. The absurd attempt to enforce an
uniformity of opinion in respect to subject
concerning which there was much discrepan-
cy Of sentiment, was never suggested in that
assembly Of intelligent gentlemen. This, how
ever, was done; it was resolved to adhere 10
and abide by the Compromise to preserve
the Fugitive Slave Law inviolate, and to dis
countenance and suppress anti-slavery agita-
ton. What more could the country demand
If We had not seen SO much of whig effron-
terry, we might effect some surprise at the crit
icism Of the whig press on the above para
graph from the Onion newspaper. In REV
of the notorious fact that the whig party in
the South were by no means unanimous in
their support of the Compromise, and that
the whig party in the North were not entire
ly unanimous in their opposition to the Com
promise, we might with proprety express sur
prise at the Indignation with which the whig
press affects to regard the declaration Of the
Union. But the Inconsistency Of the whig
press is far more garing In their censure Of
the phraseology of the Democratic platform.
The public will hear with astonishment since
this recent demonstration of the whig press,
that the whig platform carefully and cautious
ly avoids any approval Of the Compromise,
and is obnoxious to the very censure which
the whig press urges against the democratic
platform. We make no reference to the sus-
picious circumstances under which the whig
platform was adopted, and by which the good
faith of the convention was discredited--we
say nothing of the repudiation of the platform
by large and powerful section of the whig
party. The platform in its own language eA-
poses the inconsistency and hypocrisy of the
whig press in its censure of the resolution of
the democratic Convention. This is the Ian
guage of the whig platform in regard to the
Compromise
THAT the series of acts of the thirty-second
Congress, the act knownas the Fugitive Slave
law included, are received and acquiesced in
the whig party in the United States, as a set
tement, in principle and substance, Of the dam
gerous and exciting questions which they EN-
brace; and so far as they are concerned, we
will maintain them, and insist upon their EN-
forcement until time and experience shall
demonstrate the necessity Of further legislation
to guard against the evasion Of the laws on
the one hand and the abuse Of their powers
on the other--not impairing their present eff
cheney; and we deprecate all further agitation
of the questions thus settled, as dangerous to
our peace. and will diseountenance all efforts
to continue or renew such agitation, whenever,
wherever, or however the attempt may be
made, and we will maintain this system as es-
sential to the nationality Of the whig party,
and the integrity of the Union"
Is there anv expression Of approval or dis
approval here! The series af acts" are ire
,eived and acguiesced in" but not approved.
The doubtful expression, received and acqui
ssced in, will warrant an inference Of disap-
proval, but is sabsolutely inconsistent with any
dea of concurrence or commendation. If the
xhig convention meant to approve the Com
Dromi>e--as the whig journals Of the South
would now have us to beieve--why did they
not say so in express terms The answer is
obvious and satisfactory the whig con
Tention did not inteld to approve the Com
promise, or else they SO disguised taeir design
n ambiguous phr;sseology, as to deceive the
ti-Compromi' wing of their party, and to
,erpt trate a ftaudp upon the country. There
5 no possible ieape from this dilemma.
Ii Is not IRE evant to the point before as 10
observe the difference between the whig plat
olm and the democratic platform in regard
o the Fugitive slave law. The one treats this
tatute as an ordinary enactment subject to
and repeal-the other respects it
IS solemn compact possessing the sanctity
If constitutional stipulation, and to be OBJ
erved aud maintained with scrupaloas fide'-
iy.
1t is simply Misrepresentation Of fact IN
lemocrat to assert that the Baltimore Con
-ention pronounced Judgment on the Compro-
Mise measures. The whig press, in making
hisfslse statement the basis Of indignant de-
lnuciation, expose want of candor and con
isteacy as disregard Of truth.
GF- The man ~ho pirates about cruelty Of
..u.ls.. =. 81 ~. f,n,1 tnxariblv To haat his /