The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-02
Recurrence to First Principles.

Recurrence to First Principles
Ii we'll said by the Detroit Free Press that 'here
has never been time since the establishment OF the
government when principles well Defined or
when there was so little disagreement in respect them,
as now. The democratic party of the whole Union
stand upon one platform. No segment of that party. in
any single State, professedly abure single plank
posing it. There is unanimity unparalleled in the his
tory Of political parties in the democratic ranks. SO far
principles are concerned The resolutions passed by the
late Baltimore Convention The touchstone OF faith,
and to this faith the democratic party, North and South,
East and West subscribe"
The unanmy OF sentiment as 10 democratic principles
attained by earnest and persevering cultivation Of
the spirit OF compromise which presided over the consult
ATOMS deliberations, and final action, Of the delegates 10
the Baltimore Convention. II should be well known and
constantly KEEP, in mind that the Baltimore platform was
not the work Of passion haste but that every word
employed those resolutions which refer to the slavery
question was carefully, anxiousy and maiurey weighed
and tcrutnized by the ablest and best patriots in our
party for days prior to the meeting OF the conve D.,
and during its entire session. There is void or
phrase 10 be found in those resolutions which found a
place there by accident without full consideration
The initiative in preparing the platform was taken by an
ardent advocate OF the compromise measures. He
aided and counseled by eminent democrats who had OPP
posed these measures. The language finally adopt
ed was the language Of compromise. and il
agreed upon the language OF compromise. The
advocates of the compromise laws agreed not to in
sist upon their express APPROVAL; the opponents
OF these laws agreed not 10 insist upon their
APPROVAL. BY way OF harmoaizing and uning, it was
determined 10 recognise the compromise
final settlement, and 10 declare their purpose by agree
ing to "ApHrRE and ABIDE By them as valid and
binding laws To union, il agreed TO look for
toard and provide for the future and not TO look back
,eard for the purpose of revvng past dscord and dis
sens ,n The words adhere 10 snd sbids by" were not
used for the first time in the Baltimore Convention They
were adopted as the moo OF the Union men OF The
South, and they had the efec, Of cementng The democ
racy Of the South in the great OF 1851 which
resulted in The triumph Of the doctrine OF oe9uis,snce IN
the Compromise az final adjustment. With familiarity
with This subject arising from deep interest in its SET
dement, commencing with the celebrated letter OF Gen
Cas- and ending with the final action OF the Baltimore
Convention. we have no hestancy in affirming that the
union OF the southern democracy not effected, either
in the elections in 1851 or in the Baltimore Convention
upon the proposition OF APPROVAL of the Compromise
but upon the proposition to ADHERE and ABIDE BY
il as final adjustment Although had advocated the
passage OF the compromise measures in public and pr
vate and hailed their adoption by Congress with exula
,ion vet we knew that they Theoretically oh
noxious to a large portion of the democratic party tina,
would be madness TO make the question of sppropa
the test Of democratic orthodoxy. AS advocate o.
the Compromise, and with enthusiastic. admiration
OF the noble patriots who contributed TO its passage, WI
could no, overlook the fact that party fatal,
divided this question:. unless some middle grount
could be found on which The friends and the orponent
OF the Compromise could stand together. We saw il
the doctrine OF scqusn this middle ground and with
zeal and perseverance equal to support Of the com
promise measures advocated the proposition OF atqu,
essence We stood publicly pledged TO its maintenance.
long before the Baltimore Convention assembled. w,
contributed our counsel and assistance preparing 10
the harmonious action OF the convention and in tba
body pledged ourselves the proposition of acquescenc
by voting for the resolutions According TO our view
Of good faith and of the obligations Of pledges thu
soemnly made we should feel that we would be jus,ly
denounced IL we came forward TO repudiate or op
rose The proposition on which our union was secure,
and our triumph gained. We intend to stand upon hi
union OF the democracy the Baltimore platform,
we intend 10 defend that union against assaults, COM
from whence they may. To show that we have s,aie'
fairly ard fully the basis which the union Of the part
was attained at Baltimore we deem it proper to quot
and fix attention on the resolutions to which we al
appeal as the rule of political faith. They
follows,
Rsoipd That Congress has power under the consti
tuition interfere with control the domestic institution
OF several Sie and that such States the sole
proper judges Of everything sppersining their al
fairs prohibited by the constitution that all efforts
the aboitonss others, made TO induce Congress in
with questions OF slavery or to take incpicnt step
in relation thereto calculated TO lead to the alarm
ing dangerous consequences and that all .uch effort
have an inevitable tendency dianh the hsppise.s
the people and endangcr the stability and pcrmapeacy
the Union ought to be coontenanced by any riene
OF our political Institutions.
"Rseip,d, That the foregoing proposition covers, and
embrace, the whole subject OF slavery agitation
IN 1onaress and therefore the democratic party Of III,
ltou standing on this national platform will
and Apusas TO faithful execution Of the acts known a