Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-26
WASHINGTON, d. C.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2s, 1854.
THE PRESIDENT VIOLATING THE BALTIMORE
PLATFORM

The Press of New York city, with two or three
exceptions, has entered upon its full considera-
ton The Tribune, Radical Wing the Com
mereial advertiser, Conservative and Wing; the
Daily Times, Progressive and National Wing;
the Express, Compromise Wing, and the Post,
Jeffersonian Democratic, have opened heavy
fire on the Bill Of Senator Douglas. The Jour
nal of Commerce makes lame defence of it.
The Herald goes into the fight with its usual
alacrity, caring for nothing but the excitement
Of it. The atlas and the argus, of Albany,
stand arrayed against each other on its merits.
Throughout the North and Wests the(
will soon be absorbed in the subject letter
writer's and the telegraph are sending stirring
reports Of movements concerning it, all over
the country. Legislatures are beginning to
move. In the. South, it is becoming the chief
topic Of newspaper discussion, and party differ
ences are gradually losing their Importance in
the profound feeling created. 1t will not be
long, before the spirit of 1S4S will be re-awa-
kened, and the whole nation be again shaken
by the struggle between Freedom and Slavery.
Now, we suppose it will not be denied that
the Bill and Report of Senator Douglas have
led to this condition Of the public mind, this
renewal Of controversy between two great
Principles and Sections. By him. and by the
Administration of Franklin Pierce, in utter dis
regard and defiance Of the Baltimore Platform,
to which they profess profoundest devotion,
and rigid adherence to which is made the test
Of Democracy, this revival of the agitation of
the Question of Slavery has been brought
about They have aspit upon !" their own
platform, part Of which is
aThat the Democratic Party will resist all
attempts at renewing, in Congress or out Of it
the agitation Of the Slavery Question, under
whatever shape or color the attempt may be
made"
The renewal of this agitation has been at
tempted by Senator Douglas and President
Pierce, "in Congress and out of it" in the
shape and color" Of repeal of the Missouri
Compromise The Anti-Slsvery men we're
willing to see simple bill for Nebraska Ter
ritorial Government, without any reference to
Slavery in it, introduced in Congress, and car
ried through without a word spoken on their
part. That such bill was not brought for
ward, is not their fault, but the fault of Sena-
tor Douglas and the President who determined,
the Baltimore platform to the contrary not
withstanding, on "a renewal of the agitation
Of Slavery, in Congress and ont of it" by re-
pealing an old, elLestablished act excluding
it from certain free Territory
The question for the Democratic Party
now to decide is, whether it will abide by the
Baltimore platform, or not. II must choose
between it and the President. IL faithful to
the platform, it must resist President Pierce
and Senator Douglas, and vote against the Bill
which the one has originated and the other
adopts; if loyal to them, it must violate its sol
emn pledge embodied in the platform.
Can anything more be needed to show the
hollowness of that pledge, and the hypocrisy Of
those who insist upon it as a test of Democrat
10 orthodoxy
THE ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBLE
That the Administration has adopted the
last bill Of MIR. Douglas and become RESPONSE
BILE for it, cannot be doubted by any one who
reads the organ" That paper, commenting
on the measure, says
at is designed, therefore, to carry out in
good faith the principles Of the Compromise OF
1880; and rs such it capnot fail to command
the support Of all Democrats who are standing
faithfully and sincerely upon the Compromise
of $780, as final and permanent settlement Of
the Slavery question. We cannot bat regard
the policy of the Administration as directly IN
poiped an this question. That policy looks 10
fidelity 10 the Compromise Of 1850 as an essen
tiai requisite 10 Democratic orthodoxy. The
proposition Of Mr. Douglas is a practical erecu-
ton If the principles Of that Compromise, and
therefore cannot but be regarded By the Adminis-
fration as test of Democratic orthodoxy The
union of the Democracy on this proposition ,pM
dissipate forever The ehargesof Free SOIL sympa-
fhies so rscklessly and pertinacio,lsly urged
against the Administration By our Wig oppo.
nenfs; ahiia IL iciH take from diufsefion an
our own ranks The last uestige Of prsfert for its
opposition"
This is plain enough. The measure is re-
garded by the Administration as "a test Of
Democratic orthodoxy 1t win separate, in
the language Of another writer, athe goats
from the Sheep driving out Of the sheep-fold
all Democrats who refuse their sanction to q
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise. In so do
ing, it viii take from dsafection in our own
ranksD says the organ, the last vcstige Of .
pretext for its opposition"
The meaning Of this is, that the Administra-
ton has surrendered TO the @Hardsn and ex-
poets the radical Democrats who have sup
ported it TO 90 with it. Those who refuse are
to be expelled from the Democratic Party.
What answer will be given by the Albany
alias and the old Barnburners of New York;
We need not inquire of the New York Euening
Post Its position is never doubtful on ques-
ton Of principle. We have little doubt that
the atlas will soon make its purpose manifest.
Mr.. Dean, Of the House, who, protesting to
speak for the Softs" Of New York, committed
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