Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-10-15

HE WASHINGTON UNION AND Mr.. DICKINSON. Hon.
ID. s. Dickinson has recently written and published
to consider an attack upon him by the Washington
Union regret the appearance of this letter, be-
cause it is written under very gross misconception
and betrays bad spirit The Washington Union
has made no attack upon Mr.. Dickinson. If Mr.
Dickinson knew his friends he would know that the
editor of the Union has long been of his most
dent and unfiinching admirers He has long been
with him IN sentiment and feeling, and would be the
very last man to say aught to which Mr. Dickinson
and his friends could fairly and justly object.
The truth of this matter is easily stated. The barn
burner faction of the New York democracy, which
heretofore has been tainted with free-soism has
lately recanted its antisavery hereses and profess
ed warm and hearty acquiescence in the Compro-
mise, and determination to refrain in future from
all agitation OF the slavery question. Instead of re-
oicing in this thorough repentance of the barnburn
ers, the leaders of the national faction bit
ter towards them than ever, and appear to act upon
the unchar1table maxim that former freeso notions
cannot be atoned for. 1t is unnecessary say that
such spirit this is the last that should or will be
INDUCED by patriotic men. Whoever wishes well to
the South and her institutions will heartily rejoice
over the recantation by northern reesoiers of their
antSlavery opinions. This ree-soil sentiment at the
North must either go forward or retrograde- can
not remain stationary Believing this, think
cry patriot should and will rejoice when he sees it,
it is, the decline. He will be ready to ex-
tend the right hand of Fellowship to the who thus
repent, as the surest means of confirming them in
their repentance Those who deny the virtue of re-
pentance in this case like the so-caed leaders the
national faction in New York betray an unpardon-
able spirit and will not escape the odum of very
grave suspicion. If these leaders would have the
country repoSe implicit confidence in their integrity
and patriotism, they must henceforth evince more
liberal and spirit towards those who recant their
errors and ask to be forgiven. They forget too that
IN former years. many of them, entertained senti-
ments on the subject of slavery not altogether
uonal as their sentiments at present 1t was for the
purpose of reminding them of this fact that the
Washington Union referred to Mr. Dickinson's views
on the Wilmot proviso in 1847. That gentleman
then protested his readiness to vote for fundamen
tai clause prohibiting slavery in the territories
but with Judgment and patriotism which the coun-
try Will ever admire, he subsequently changed his
views on this subject, and has long been regarded
as of the soundes and staunchest of the nation
al democracy of the North. The Union argued and
very justly too, that as Mr.. Dickinson had been ex-
cused for opinions formerly entertained by him. his
friends and admirers should extend 'the same for
bearance towards those who fell into the same error
but were only little later in righting themselves.
There was nothing In this reference to Mr. Dickin-
son to which he could fairly object made as it was
by one who has long been one of his warmest friends
IN the South. We copy below the Unions editorial
remarks on this subject together with the commune
cation of its correspondent stB" Whoever can see
IN these editoriGl remarks anything like an attack
upon Mr.. Dickinson must be blessed with an uncom-
monty acute vision
He must have optics sharp, ween,
Who seeswhat is mot to be seens
Nash0stte Union and american.
The difference between those whom the world es-