Washington sentinel., 1854-01-31

sustain the repeal Of the anti-slavery feature Of
the Missouri compromise; or that the condition
of public sentiment was such that it could not
defend and protect its freesoil allies because it
had tarnished its own fame SO much, that its
testimony had lost its force. Perhaps it had
discovered both of those facts; but whether it
discovered one or both, it shifted its ground on
the Sunday following, (last Sunday week. and
came out in favor of the positive repeal of the
Missouri restriction, and declared the support
of that proposition a test Of democratic or
thodoxy.
We congratulated the Washington Union
upon this happy change, and promised, if its
contrition and repentance were sincere, to aid
its attempts to repair the damage which its
shortsighted and illadvised policy had pro-
duced. But the freesoil organs Of New York
stand firm in their hostility to the application
of the principles Of the compromise of 1850
to the territory of Nebraska, and we fear much
that we perceive the signs of shrinking hest.
fancy and trembling irresolution in the Union
Of Sunday last Our eyes may possibly de-
ceive us in this particular; but yet it is per-
fectly clear to us that the Union Of Sunday
shows that it has not lost its affection for the
freesoil associates with whom it has consorted
for the last six months, although they oppose
the Nebraska bill, and have spurned the Uaion's
test Of democratic orthodoxy prescribed less
than a fortnight ago. II is clear, also, that
the Union still cherishes its hostility to the
national democrats, although they stand ready
in solid phalanx to sustain the Nebraska bill
and submit to the test of democratic ortho-
doxy.
These latter remarks are based on the fact
that the Union copies from the Binghampton
Democrat, published at the residence OF Daniel
s. Dickinson, an article urging the passage Of
the Nebraska bill and the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, restriction, endeavoring to damn it with
faint praise; and seizes on single expression
as pretext for a cavilling criticism and an
unmerited rebuke, and as text for canting
sermon on concession and forbearancs towards
the freesoil opposition to the Nebraska bill,
forgetting the while that, with fierce gesticula-
tons and a big voice, it declared, as one au-
thorized and duly empowered and accredited
to announce the law, that the support of the
Nebraska bill was test of democratic orho-
doxy. But this is not all. The very same
page of the Washington Union which con-
tained the article from the Binghampton Demo
crat contained also an article from the Nashua
Gazette, in which the position, associations, and
purposes of the national democracy were most
Extensively misrepresented and yet not one
word of rebuke, Of censure, or of correction,
was given to the Nashua Gazette. We cannot
but fear that these manifestations prove that
the chastening of the Washington Union has
not been sufficiently searching and severe, and
that its repentance is not true and trustworthy.
The national democracy will stand by the
Kansas and Nebraska bill. Daniel S. Dickinson
is in favor Of it, and the adamantines of New
York are in favor of it. But the Buffalo plat
form men will make a stampede, and prove
that their Syracuse professions were nothing
better than what we have always said they
were. The Albany atlas, the leading Journal
Of the softshell alliance, which was endorsed
few weeks ago by the Union as respected
organ Of the democratic party, is already reft-
ting the old Buffalo camp, and furnishing
up the freesoil phrases which it was accus.
toned to use when it carried the Wilmot pro-
viso cornerstone at the head Of its columns.
The New York Eoening Post, another Van
Buren organ, is following its Albany associate;
and the freesoil presses of lesser note are fol-
lowing the same course 1t may be that indi.
vidual followers of the Van Burens will, to all
outward seeming, stand firm or stand mute,
for the sake Of the spoils they enjoy, or to
mask the movements Of their friends and asso-
ciates, and to deceive the public eye; but
enough has already happened to show that the
freesoil organization will strenuously oppose the
Kansas and Nebraska bill, and that the national
democracy will give it an earnest and honest
support. We trust therefore, that>>the Wash
ington Union will remember its late test Of
democratic orthodoxy and apply it faithfully to
the barnburners, and we will answer for tho
purity and patriotism of the national democ.
racy.