The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-07-21
WINGS OF THE SOUTH.
GFRoM THE BALTIMORE AMERICAN

We object both to the fact of making the
Nebraska question test Of Wing orthodoxy
and to the authority of those who seem anx-
ious to dissolve the party on that issue. The
question of the repeal Of the Missouri CON-
promise has never been made Wing doc
trine-t was not mooted when the Wings
met in the national council-it formed no
issue upon which the Wings North or South
were elected to Congress, and the simple fact
that it is opposed by the Northern Wings
does not warrant the hasty conclusion that
the party is to forsake its national organiza.
ton, and to become segregated fragments,
powerless by themselves and inevitably des-
tined to be made the despised tools of those
with whom they coalesce.
1t has, however, been urged, and with some
Truth, that the Northern Wings have not been
content with mere opposition to the Mis-
souri, compromise, but that they have col
leagued with abohtionists, and the cry for
the repeal of the fugitive slave law has been
mingled with their demand for the repeal of
the Missouri compromise. We have no dis
position to deny any fact in the case, and
must admit the force ofthis objection. But
its force is more apparent than real, and it
will rest very much with the Wings of the
South whether the threatened compact of
the Northern Wligs with the freesoil and
abolition factions shall become real and
tangible danger to the South, or spend itself
in the mere ebullitons which anger and dis
appointment have created. Ina paroxysm of
unwise anger the Northern Wings have al
most offered themselves rs the willing allies
of aboltionism but there is still room for
confidence that the men who rallied around
Clay and Webster, who stood firmest and
foremost in defence Of the Compromise
measures, will not, by any ordinary cause, be
? driven into the permanent support of meas
ures threatening the perpetuity of the Union
or dishonorable to the South. Indeed, we
think the revulson that will bring the North
ern Wing party back to its national fealty
has already commenced. Their press is rap
idly opening its eyes to the fact, that the
clamor raised for the restoration of the Mis-
souri, compromise is but the blind under
which abotionism seeks to advance its
schemes Of agitation, and to convulse and
perhaps ultimately destroy the Union. And
the fruit of this conviction is already becom-
ing apparent. The New York Express has
Indignantly rebuked Senator Summers recent
traitorous disavowal of his obligations to
obey and respect the constitution-the Bos-
ton Courier has denounced the disunion spirit
that is corrupting Massachusetts--the New
York Commercial has exposed and held up
to common contempt the Massachusetts
Wing address-the New York Courier with
forcible sarcasm has shown that the threat to
dissolve the Union, come from what quarter
it may, is but an unworthy political subter-
; fuge-and the Detroit Advertiser has repuls-
ed the attempted interference of the New
York Tribune by which it sought to bring
about a coalition between the Wings and
freesoilers of Michigan. These are all evil
dences-and time and research would doubt
less abundanty multiply them-that the
storm which threatened to commit the Wings
of the North to the support of abolitionism,
is already spending itself and thata interval
frehection--such rs the anticipated adjourn
ment of Congress will allow-and the alb
sence of all causes of irritation upon the
part ofthe South will be productive of the
best effects in calming the agitation produced
by the Nebraska question.
We place, however, our objections to the
dissolution of the Wing party at this time
on higher ground than concerns the mere
perpetuity of the party itself. Its dissolution
will add most powerful stimulus to the for
nation Of Northern sectional party. There
is, we honestly believe, vast body of na-
tional conservatism still represented by the
Wing party in the North. The members of
that party have opposed the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise, but it does not follow
that they are opposed to the South on other
issues which far more vitality affect il, nor
that they will join in crusade against its
institutions, if not provoked thereto. The
South will commit mischevous and hurt
ful error by chasing all the opponents ofthe
Nebraska bill as abolitionists, and by such
course must multiply enemies where it has
the power to make friends. There is now
no immediate occasion for any declaration of
position on the part of the Southern Wings.
By waiting they will commit themselves to
no course that may hereafter be cause of
regret, nor in the least degree embarrass their
future action. But precipitate course now,
unjust to the Wings of the South because it
will not meet with their unanimous sanction,
and irritating to the Wings of the North be-
cause it will seem to be hasty prejudgment
of their motives and intentions, may involve
in it evils of magnitude that cannot be con-
sidered without apprehension.
But we turn from this too hastily pro-
nounced sentence Of dissolution against the
, Wing party to more hopeful anticipations.--
Adopting the words of the National Intelli-
gencer, we would remind those who have
) pronounced this sentence, "that it is not CIV
en- to one, nor yet to two o. three malcon-