Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-09
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
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-S,S,,,,InSnsS MORNING, DECEMBER q.
Tur COMPROMISE AND THE BALTIMORE PLAT
FORM

@.TH1JRsDAY MORNING. DECEMBER q.
~ur COMPROMISE AND THE BALTIMORE PLAT
FORM.
t,u,w,ng para ersnh from the Washington Union has
oosed severity of criticism which does not surprise US
hecause there is no expedent of opposition to which
.s,n,cas Democrats and their Wing sympa'hsers VIII not
".,o, ,o their war on the Administration
,f the Baltimore platform had expressly approved or ois
oxsd OF the Compromise, the nominee wouio nave he
app, defeat The friends Of the measure OF adjustment
ce''a strength 10 elect President, and this
@ ossh 10 Impress Itself with force upon he mlnas Oh
smca,s who claim from the Administration more con-
ss,ion toward the original advocates OF Inc COMPROMISE
,sso they are supposed TO have received.
M man can contoyert the ,ruthof is allegation AS
member of the Baltimore Convention Of 1882 and an eye
witness of ito proceedings, we can attest from pe'so"a
ledge the correctness Of the statement that the pa
form was designed neither to approve nor 10
cm,roptss Indeed the language Of the platform IS per-
ee,ly conclusive Of point The only resolution 0ue"
,u the Compromise defines the position OF inc parry "
,s,s,ion IN the following words ;-"Ihe Democ'aac paS "
M Union standing on this National PLATFORM 1O ao'de oy
Jbsre 10 faithful execution Of the acts known as the
,omso settled by the las, Congress, the act for re-
fusitives from service labor included rh'eh acs
by designed carry out express provision Of The Con-
,uior cannot. Nth fidelity thereto be repealed Or SO
changed os 10 destroy impair its efficacy NOV" us per-
cy manlfect to every mind capable OF apprecauhs 'he
rcs of language that the phraecoogy Of this resouuon
was selected with distinct purpose OF avoiding an express
op of opiuon In regard to the intrinsic merit OF 'he ea
.n,es Of Compromise The resolution pledges the Demo
cratic par,y in the precise and emphatic terms 10
oba. by aad odhsre to ,he Compromise but carefully
.h,ns from any in,ima,lon of opinion In respect to
the Justice and cxpediency of the settlement "hic" =.
,bps declares TO be final and invoabe And how couo
Il have been oherwise2 An attempt 10 coerce an eA'
PRESTON either of approval disupPoval OF the Io
PROMISE would inevitably have produced ''o'eh'
son of The Convention The majority oil members !lo" ''e
bouth were known regard tbs Compromise as
Of Southern rights and they would never nave
resolution 80 an,agobistic 10 their sentiments unu
,s Tbere were members Also from the Nor!h who were
10 the Compromise the pete1t that snrrenoefe"
TOO much the South. Neither the antitomPfohise ne"
of the South nor the Compromise men OF the Noh
would ever have sanctioned expression of approval he
Compromise the part of the Convention On Inc o'hef
hsad there were many members both from the Norm ana
from The South who among the original supporters OF
N. COMPROMISE and who regarded equitable ADJUST
msdt of depornble sectional diapute. These would not
resolution expressing dsapproval OF the
Coupromise. The Convention therefore, respecting the
opinions and feelings both of Compromise end satCom
oniss Democrats aosained from enforcing auY test OF
sentiment in regard the Intrinsic merit Of the Compro-
nae at the same .me pedgins the party 10 the most 80
lsmn name. TO ebiGe by and adhere TO- the adjustment
In regard 10 one stipulation in the Compromise an c1.
ne,.or of oppon was made by the Convention and exact.
ed of all who stood upon the platform vi the iusye slave
law the Convention arms first, that II wac enacted IN
discharge OF obligation Of the Constitutions and second
H. ha, fidelity 10 the constitution forbds any mobilization
Of the law which shall impair It's efficiency This suii
ceny emphatic approval Of the only feature OF Inc Com
promise favorable 70 the South.
Thus, II appears that the Baltimore platform was I'll
pnph ic the South for while it avoids any expression Of
appreciation of those measures of the Compromise which
though, detrimental TO Southern Interests eAPhcy
aud emphaticany approves the measure IN winch 'e onV
concession was made TO the demands OF the Soa'h
Now 10 there anything ambiguous or fraudulent in such
q resolution May not man, WIN per'ec' consistency,
oppose the Of particular measure as unjust ans
Impolc and yet whcn II becomes law, consent to casere
and abide Does not this thing occur In every In
stance In ncn law the unanimous opinion
of the peope7 And did the Baltimore Convention perperale
fraud on the country Withholding its opinion OF the merit oil
rho Compromise while esoved adhere to cnd abide oy 1t
ys,ne law Of the aud and solemn compact between the
North and the South Indeed the original supporters of
The Compromise did commend every distinct and sepa
rate measure their approval bestowed on the sautuy
operation Of the Whole.
The Democratic party met In the Baltimore Convention
In spirit of concaton and harmony. The absurd at
tempt enforce uniformity OF opinion In respect to sub
ec conccrDiog which there much discrepancy oil sen
ment was never suggested In that assembly OF intelligent
gentlemen This however, done 1t was resolved tc
aG: and abide by the compromise 10 preserve the Fu
gve Slave Law invioste and 10 dscountenance and sup
press anti slavery agitation What could the country
demand1
we had no. seen so much Of Wing eiron,ery, might
affect surprise the criticism OF the Whg press on
the above paragraph from Union newspaper In view OF
the fac, Wing party In the South were by
unanimous 10 their support Of the Compromise
and that The Whg party the North were not entirely unan
nous In their opposition to the Compromise, we might
With propricty el2rese surprise at the Indignation with
which the Wing press Affects 10 regard the declaration OF the
Cno7. But tho Inconsistency Of the Whig press Is ial
more glatng in their Of the phroseoogy OF the
Democratic PLATFORM The public will hear with astonsh
men since this demonstration OF the Whg press
that The Wing plorm carefully aud cautiously avoids any
s2poVa Of compromise and is thus obnoxious TO the
very which the Wag urges against the Demo
cratic platform. We make reference 10 the suspicious
circumstances under which the Wing platform adopted
and by which good faith of convention was Gscred
,ed-we say polhng of the reputation of the platform BY
large and powerful section OF The Wing party The plat
form 10 Ito language exposes the Inconsistency and
hypocrisy of h whg press Its ccnsure OF the resolution
Of The Democratic Convention This Is the language Of The
Whg platform In regard to the Compromise:
the kncssn the Fugitive Slave 10 " included
ceved and acqulesced In by The Whig party in the United
States settlement, In principle and substance OF the
dangerous and exciting question: which they and
Tar they concerned will maintain them, end In.
m their strict enforcement until time and experience
h'A demonstrate the necessity of further legislation
uaa against the evasion OF the laws on the hand nd
e abuse Of their powers the oher-not mparing their
present efficiency and deprecate all further agitation OF
ne Questions thus setled dangerous to peace aud
VIII dscounlcnnnce ul eforts to continue or sue
S:.on whenever s'etover or however the attempt may
Se msde and we will maintain this system essential to
Union"
s mere any expression OF opprorai disapprora hee2
series OF acts receir. and aequie,ced but
The doubtful expression received and acquescsd
WIZ warrant an Inference Of asappropal, but Is absolute
Inconsistent With any idea of concurrence or oonmenda
'on Il Inc Hhs Convention mean, 10 approve the Com
p''"seas The Wing journals of the South would nou
10 0eeVs-why did they not cay 10 express terms2
Sns~er 10 obvious and salisfactoy-eher the Wing
Saea'l'n did no, intend approve Compromise or
meg So disguised their design In ambiguous phraseoIo
deceive the anil Compromise wing of their party