Washington sentinel., 1853-10-18

very question, under Whatever shape or color
the attempt may be made"
Now is it not strange strange"
that the men of Buffalo should have adopted in
hearty sincerity not only the planks of 1913,
which they had SO terribly opposed and so bit
terly denounced, but the additional planks of
1852, which SO strongly condemned their be-
loved agitation? Is it not wonderful that the
perpetual mar against slarey, proclaimed by
the freesoers in ls4s, should have been termi
mated by sudden peace with slavery, which
they should never again disturb? At Buffalo,
they said, tour calm and final answer is-no
more slave States, and no more slave territory!
AT Baltimore they are now represented to have
said, though Cuba should be annexed-though
slave States should ask admittance, we would
not agitate the peaceful surface Of the political
sea, by a single voice for Geesoil or our once
loved Wilmot
This singular phenomenon in politics, a radi-
cal and entire revolution in opinion in the in
terval of five years is not inexplcable. AS we
have already said, many washed their hands Of
all responsibility for the Baltimore platform,
"while others silently let the slavery portion
of the platform alone and advocated the other
parts oft.
But in Congress, in State legislatures, where
their responsibility Of conventional proceedings
does not avail to conceal individual sentiments,
and a recorded vote by yeas and nays perpet-
yates and makes them public, these free-soil
gentlemen have evaded disclaimer of their
Buffalo heresy, and, by doing so, refused a
profession Of the true faith. The rules of order
and decorum have been found Intellectual to
retain them in their seats when the test has
been applied.
1t was the design Of the platform Of 1852 not
to convert hypocrites, nor to allure plunder-
seekers. 1t was intended to unite all who truly
relinquished, and manfully proclaimed their
repentance of political opinions which, when
brought to bear upon federal action, imperilled
the safety of the Union, by destroying the guar
antees of the Constitution.
The idea Of conniving at hypocritical profes-
sions of change Of opinion on the part of for
mer traitors to the party, never was in the
mind of true democrats during the contest.
No party can drive from its ranks in the melee
Of battle those suspected of infdelity, nor in
the midst of a campaign can it subject the
motives Of citizen volunteers in its service to
condemnation and expose their deceit. But it
is competent, yea it is the imperative duty of
those who have the direction of the affairs of
a party to make the distinction between the
true and the false in the bestowal Of its honors
and rewards, rs we'll as in the distribution of
its responsibilities among its members. Policy
country demands that it be followed by every
party in the discharge Of its public trust.
1t will indeed be remembered that, in the
whole south, and in a great degree in the north,
a prominent objection to General Scott was,
that the mass Of his patronage would be dis
pensed to the friends Of Mr.. Seward. We
know that in the south the charge that General
Pierce would reward notorious freesoilers was
met with Indignation. 1t was urged that to
them he owed nothing-that his patronage
would be used to encourage the ancient friends
Of peace in the north, and to discourage those
fanatical leaders who had brought disaster on
US in 1913 and that if they were rewarded at
all, it would only be the sincerely repentant-
who would receive favors in subordination to
the better claims Of those who had never
swerved from the line of duty.
And tb;u 70 ond mo-. A., +,,,a
h,onage must be directed. and controlled by lyin-
ciple. Leave it without such guidance, and it
i too corrupt and corrupting to live in re-
public. To pay partizans for mere party SER
vice is a Walpoe idea, which should be, if it
is not, exploded by the democracy of America
The only Tiew in which patronage is not repus-
nant, when connected with opinion, is this !:
Let it be SO bestowed that it will make the gov
ernment unit in all matters in which opinion
Is essential to its unity Of action-and as to
other and subordinate appointments, let each
one made illustrate the fidelity Of the admins.
tration to the principles on which it came into
power. by the undoubted devotion to them Of
the person appointed. Then will the country
see that patronage is not a question of spoils--
but the means of the illustration of principles
and BY which they may be perpetuated and en-
forced.
We cannot but feel that it is the highest duty
Of the present administration to maintain in its
action the great principles on which it was
raised to power, and to dignity them by placing
in its offices their most worthy advocates, as
the best mode of demonstrating to the country
its own sincerity, and Of illustrating the truths
it processes by the character of the friends it Sc
lects as aids to the discharge Of its trust. Thus
acting, its mission and its history will be alike
useful and splendid.
IMPORTANCE GIVEN TO FREE
SOILERS.