Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-21
From the Albany August
The Atlas and the New WiImot Proyiso
AGITATION.

| Il
The Atlas and the New Wilmot proviso
! Agitation.
A few days since, when, after much DELAY ant
consideration, a carefully and insiduously writ
ten article-the first upon the subiect-ap
peared in the atlas Of this city, demanding th,
prohibition By Congress of the institution 0
slavery in the proposed territory of Nebraska
we called the attention of our readers to the
ominous fact. The position thus reassumed b,
that sheet was we are compelled to say, iden
teal with that which it and its followers main
tanned in ls4S. Those who refused to give il
credit for consistency have been disappointed
Those who gave its followers credit for sinceri
ily in avowing (what the Atlas itself never
ayowedl principles in unison with the doctrines
OF the Baltimore platform, have been equally
disappointed. The Atlas, which has SO long
maintained position Of armed neutrality be
tween the camps of Baltimore and Buffalo, has
renewed its adhesion to the latter; and the
diminished hosts which obey its signal, are al
ready on the march thither.
We have alluded to the fact that this pro
nnncian,ento of the Van Buren, freesoilers was
| prepared with care, and may be considered as
the official outgiving of that faction, and as q
warning and notification to the administration
OF the amount of.snpport the latter may receive
| upon this question from that party upon which
it has lavished its favors in meretricious profu
sion. For weeks after every smaller partisan
Of freesoil in this State had Joined in the fierce
cries and threats of the New York Erenino
Post, the atlas was silent. Its editors visited
New York, and New York politicians of its
stamp were visiters here. From the centre
and west OF the State, counsellors and advisers
were summoned. The remaining representa-
| tives OF the blood of the Van Burens travelled
hither and thither. The darkness of night con
cealed many Earring cabal assembled in this
CITY AT last the product of joint delibera-
tons, often revised, appeared. Concealed be-
meath himsy covering of words, were the
hideous and familiar features of the veritable
Wilmot proviso.
1t had been but day or two BEFORE that the
insolent and hypocritical Washington Union had
alluded to the gratifying promptitude with which
democratic presses had spoken in favor of the
Douglas proposition. The Washington Union
had drawn this magniloquent comment from the
tone of tiro administration sheets-neither pub
ished in the State Of New York and the COM
ment itself was designed as hint to its allies
and supporters in this State. The reply Of the
Atlasshow in what manner the hint is accepted.
The Washington Union staggers under the blow.
1t has quoted only two administration presses,
before it is compelled to dissent from and re-
monstrate with third Such is I" the har-
mony in the democratic ranks" which the
spoils-system of uniting the party has developed
The Van Buren, "section " refuses to " stand
up to the rack" although the preferred recipi.
ents Of the fodder"
The remonstrance Of the Washington Union
with Its recusant partisan, is one of the signif.
cant things of the day. 1t is compounded Of
alternate coaxings, threats and apologies. We
may hereafter undertake to examine it at length;
but dismiss it with the present remark, that it
characterizes 'the sentiments of the atlas as
exciting its regret" while it ventures the abb
surd suggestion that both the Argus and itself
have "misinterpreted the position" of the free
soil organ.
The subject under discussion has come upon
the administration and its tools, unawares and
quite unexpectedly. The former was comforta-
bly, engaged in contemplating the measures Of
its own greatness, and the latter in congratu-
lating themselves upon the prospect that the
best and purest democrats in the State of New
1ork---and indeed in most other States in the
confederacy-had been driven from any parti-
cipation with them in the drippings from the
presidential table. Sectional difficulties were
quoted; we had official certifcation of the
fact. The ship of state would glide, for this
presidential term at least, through smooth wa
tiers, upon which the oil of patronage was
crafty diffused. The sleek and sleepy Palinu.
rus Of the Washington Union discovered no
rock ahead. Now, that it is already upon the
lee-bow, we discover what it may be-.
For the only remaining portion of this I'M
organized territory appertaining to the Union,
territorial organization is projected, and this
project renews, in spite Of official assurances,
the factious violence and discords of the past.
The administration, listening to the counsels
Of a disappointed and unforgiving member,
has madly rejected the profered aid of national
democrats. 1t has endowed with its favors the
advocates of anti-democratic policy; and IL is
receicing its re,card!
When the Washington Union undertook to
dictate to the democracy new "by authority"
construction of the doctrine Of the Baltimore
platform, substituting, instead of approval of
the compromise measures of 1850, as a guide
and precedent for legislation through all
future time--a simple dcqaiescence in the laws
bearing that name merely as legislative acts
which it would be unwise to disturb-it either
did not see, through STUPIDITY, or would not
see, through perverseness, this practical effect
OF its teachings. What is sought now, and
what is proposed in Congress, if we understand
the Douglas proposition Alright, land if we do
not understand it correctly, we desire to be
known as dissenting from it, is declaration
OF entire non-interference by Congress with
the subject of slavery in Nebraska. If Con-
gross has heretofore erred, in legislating upon
that subject there or elsephere, it is sought that
the hands of that body shall now be washed
clear from il.
The democracy refer for precedent to the
laws organizing New Mexico and Utah. The
freesoilers adhering to the principle Of the
cabinet organ, declare that while they aequiesce
as to those territories, they do not approve of
pursuing the same sysmem with Nebraska. In
this they are but echoing the permission not
long since accorded to them by the consistent
mouthpiece of the administration, in the con-
struction we have spoken of and they may
with reason complain Of its variance Of doc
trine,
The upshot simply is, that the administra-
ton committed its first grave blunder when it
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