Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-02

Hon. Edward Ball, of Ohio. Hon. Richard
Yates, of III.
THE WASHINGTON UNIONS INTER-
PROBATION OF THE BALTIMORE
PLATFORM.
The Washington Union of the 30th inst, in
an elaborate article, which we partially noticed
yesterday, takes the following position:
IF the Baltimore platform had expressly
approved or disapproced the compromise, the
nominee would have met with certain de-
feat
This unlocked for announcement in paper
which, by many, is still regarded as official, has
produced in political circles here, and especially
among the honest true-hearted democrats, an
unparalleled excitement and sensation. We have
never known anything to produce more aston.
ishment, and to elicit stronger expressions OF
disapproval than the announcement referred
Has it come to this, that the great democracy
OF the nation assembled at Baltimore in 1852,
assembled there deliberately, and with malice
prepense, to perpetrate fraud ? Ifso, the part
of wisdom, prudence and of charity, would be
to cast over its proceedings protecting and con-
cealing mantle. Not so, however, with the Wash
ington Union 1t believes that the fraud was per-
petrated, and with every circumstance ofsolemn
formality it proclaims it to the world. 1t be-
comes us as a democratic journal, published
here at the national metropolis, to examine in
to this grave allegation. We will do so as
briefly and as satisfactorily as we can.
hid tho dapaoranr Of th;c nation pro ~
themselves at Baltimore, in the manner and
form so gravely charged?
The onion says: "If the Baltimore platform
had expressly approved or disapprored the
compromise, the nominee would have met with
certain defeat The inference is that the
democracy fought shy of the great issue then
and there before the country. That they de-
ceitfully palmed off trick upon the nation.
That they were afraid to express their real SEN
timents. That they neither expressed opinions
in favor Of or against the compromise.
In order to settle this question, we give the
following resolutions embodied in that plat
form:
Ninth Resolution.-That Congress has no power
under the Constitution 10 interfere with or control
and that snch States the sole and proper
judges of everything appertaining their own
affairs not prohibited by the Constitution; that all
efforts of the abolltionists, or others, made TO in
duce Congress 10 interfere with questions OF
slavery, or 10 take incpent steps in relation there
10, calculated to lead 10 the most alarming and
dangerous consequences and that all such efforts
have an inevitable tendency to diminish the hap
piness of the people, and endanger the stability
and permanency of the Union, and ought not TO
be countenanced by any friend of our political
institutions.
Resolved, That the foregoing proposition covers
and was intended TO, embrace, the whole subject
of slavery agitation in Congress; and therefore
the democraiic party Of the Union, standing on
this national platform. will abide by and adhere to
faithful execution of the acts known the
compromise measures, settled by the last Con-
gres, the I" act for reclaimng fugitiyes from SER
vice or labor included; which act being designed
10 carry out an express provision Of the Consttu-
ton cannot with fidelity thereto be repealed or so
changed as 10 destroy or impair lis efficiency.
Resolved That the democratic rarty will resist
all attempts at renewing in Congress, out of il,
the agitation OF the slavery question, under what
ever shape or color the attempt may be made.
What can be palmer than that the PROPOSE
ton denied by the Union is true, to wit: that
the compromise was expressly approved in the
Baltimore platform. The whole subject of
slavery agitation, in all its aspects and issues,
was intended to be embraced In express
terms the convention resolved that they would
"abide by and adhere to faithful execution
of the acts known as the compromise measures
Is there any Suppression of truth, or sugges
ton of falsehood there? Is there any effort Il
escape responsibility and avoid an expression
of opnionP If so, we cannot perceive il
Had the resolutions said we acquiesce, Their
would have been some doubt, as that wor
means the Withholding of opposition, rathe
than original approval But the words abid
by, and adhere to, mean maintenance Of wha
was first approved.
But has it come to this-that the Democrat,
party Of the nation is forced, by the attacks o
reputed organ Of the government at the me
tropolis Of the country, to resort to subtle anc
scholastic analysis of words, in order to prov,
its truth and establish its integrity?
But the short text that we have selected from
the Union suggests world of reflections. We
give it again: " If the Baltimore platform had
expressly aPprOced or disapprored the compro.
mise, the nominee would have met with certain
defeat"
Another inference TO be drawn from this
text is, that if any nominee of that convention
should have been known to be compromise