Washington sentinel., 1854-01-08
PAST FEUDs.--THE OLIVE BRANCH.

We are not querulous; we would not need
lessly complain. 1t is far more agreeable to
our feelings and consonant with our wishes to
approve and to praise, than to grumble and
condemn As conductors of public journal,
here at the seat of government, we are often
times compelled to take notice of things, that,
as individuals, we would suffer to pass without
word. However unpleasant the duty, it must
vet be performed. We have frequently had to
complain of some of our contemporaries. We
have only done so when we deemed it necessa.
ry; we shall in future only do so when neces-
sary The Washington Union Of yesterday, in
an article under the caption of "Let the dead
past bury its dead" takes occasion to tender
the olive branch" to those of the democratic
party from whom it has recently differed, and
closes that article in the following manner:
"The union of the democratic party is the
political sentiment nearest to our heart, and
the hope that this object may now be attained
induces us to make this tender Of the right
hand of fellowship to all who are prepared
henceforth to stand together for our common
cause Those rho decline TO accept the tender
aoM thereby choose to be regarded and treated as
inue regular opposition, and so ace acH regard
and treat Mem."
The last sentence of this extract is not a
modest sentence. With every disposition to be
charitable we are yet constrained to say that it
arrogates power and privilege that cannot
be conceded, and does not belong to any jour
nal The construction, and the only construc-
ton to be placed on it, is this: You have diff
fered from Us, (the imperial u.s. We are the
tests and touchstones of democracy, and if you
presume, after this tender of the olive branch" !"
TO hint at any difference of opinion-if you do
not unequivocally disavow and recant every
thing that you have said against our views and
opinions, you " shall be regarded and treated as
in the regular opposition
Now, here is an assumption Of imperial pre-
rogative-an assertion of monarchical authori.
ty! The question naturally arises, what right
has the Washington Union to erect itself into
the head of the democratic party? What right
has it to say that no man is democrat who
differs from any Of its opinions? Has it been
elected to the high dignity Of leader of this
nation? Has it been chosen political Pope,
and invested with the power Of excommunicat
ing sinners and heretics, at pleasure?
Again, it tenders the solve branch" Bu
when? On the 7th day Of January, 1854. j
is magnanimous. indeed. 1t created, or helpet
to create, feud, which it now seeks to com
pose. We had no part in fomenting that feud
but after it was stirred up, we had, as a matter
of duty, to engage in it. But the Washington
Union, with great parade Of forbearance anc
magnanimity tenders the "olive branch"
is too late for it to run away with the credit 0
that act for we made the first tender. Has it for
gotten, or did it never see the Sentinel of the Is
of January? 1t surely must have seen il, fo
the caption to its article is but q quotation
from the Sentinel of that day.
On the lst day of January, 1854, the frs
article in the Sentinel was as follows:
"This is the beginning of new year, and
we wish most heartily that all our readers may
be able TO say at the end Of il, that it was q
happy year for them-a peaceful and prosper.
Gus year to them and TO ali connected with
them. AS for those who have made war upon