Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-08-05
From the Detroit Free Press.

The recent Whig State Convention of Alabama
adopted the following resolution
Resotued, That viii oppose to the utmost Of our ael
States stes equal of the South such territory
shall be expressly guaranteed By the articles Of eess'on.
While this is the southern wing doctrine, remarks
the Cincinnati Enquirer that of the same party at
the north s no more territory unless 1T into the
Unicn free-an admirable illustration of the entire
sectional character of the wing organization. and
the tenacity with which each branch of it adheres
to the old federal instinct and tradition of opposition
to territorial extension AS contrast to this mar
row. illiberal short-sighted, anti American policy
we cannot do better than give the resolution on the
same subject that was passed at the recent demo-
cratic State Convention in Vermont. Here it is:
Resotved That, opposing the narrow and timd policy
which, had prevailed would have limited the United
of America to the territory of Connecticut
Providence Plantations, the democratic party
wisely favored the enlargement of the domain OF free
dom and that we are in favor of the acquisition OF any ter
tory this continent the islands adjacent thereto
whenever be done consistent with the rights of other
nations and the rights of our own
Remarking upon the state OF things presented Dy
these resolutions the Enquirer says that in the
Vermont resolution the whole democratic party,
North and South most cordially concur, for 1t is not
only national in its character but it is in accordance
with the true interests of the country, and is the
policy which has always governed the administra-
tion of the government when it has been In demo-
cratic hands from the time of Jefferson to that OF
Pierce. We had supposed that the late glorious
and happy results TO the nation, that had followed
| the annexation OF 1 eXaS anu Cne purchase Vi O"-
forria, had dspelled the fears and conquered the
prejudces of the vative wings upon this
subject, and that they would make no more OPPOSE
ton to territorial extension in future; but we have
given them more credit for learning by experience
than we fear they deserve, the probability Il,
that both northern and southern whiggery would
unite in opposing it, though for precisely different
reasons. While the whig opposes annexation upon
sectional grounds, the democrat supports it tor ma
tonal considerations that have reference to the
whole country, and which greatly transcend in i'm
portance all our sectional strife and divisions. AS
the Vermont democrats we'll say, had the sectional
whig policy prevailed, the United States of America
would have been confined to the territory of Massa
chusetts, Connecticut, and the Providence Planta
tions." and the great country which is now compri-
sed in glorious Union would have been under a
dozen different governments hostile in their inter
ests and feelings, and the grand experiment of a
successful democratic confederacy would never have
been made.
The Alabama resolution partakes of the true
spirit of sectional federal whiggery, which never
yet took an enlarged and comprehensive view of E
public question, whose scope of vision always wa
narrow and confined within the compass of a small
particular locality whose provincial pref udces were
ever stronger than it's national feelings rendering
which should be the primary consideration of ever,
truly patriotic and enlightened legislator in consid
ering to affect national interests like tina
of the acquisition of more territory to the Union
What an admirable contrast is presented in tina
passed by the Democracy of Vermont, who yer,
properly consider all our local and domestic ques
tons of secondary Importance to be considered ant
settled upon fair basis after territory shall hav
been obtained, and who unwilling to jeopar'
our national interests by throwing into matte
that involves their discussion the fire brand OF sec
tional jealousy and anmosity