The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-01
WASHINGTON, d. c..
THURSDAY, MARCH l, 1855.
THE TWO WINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATION
PARTY

PARTY.
Evil associations corrupt good manners.
The Richmond VA Enquirer must take care,
or it may become demoralized by the party ne
cessity that constrains it to excuse the action
of its brethren of the Administration party in
Ohio.
1t will be recolleeted that the platform of
that section is an omnibus, accommodating all
sorts of passengers. In its January Conven-
ton it resolved, as usual, that Slavery is an
"evil," and that it is duty to :" use all power
clearly given by the terms Of the National
Compact, to prevent its increase, to mitigate and
ultimately eradicate it; then, that each State
Is supreme over its domestic institutions: final
ly, in favor of the Baltimore platform.
The Wing press of the South Of course finds
nothing but Abolition in the first resolve.
Why not? Does any Aboli.ionist 60 further
What is the doctrine of the party committed
TO political action against Slavery? That it
is evil, and that it is the duty Of freemen
to use all powers clearly given by the terms of
the National Compact, to prevent its increase,
TO mitigate, and finally eradicate it. And it
recognises with as much emphasis the suprem-
acy OF tie State over Tvs oomes,ic institutions,
and disclaims with as much earnestness any
purpose TO interfere with State rights, as does
this wing of the Administration party in Ohio,
SO tenderly embraced BY the Richmond En-
qairer.
And yet, see with what charity this press
explains and excuses a declaration, which, il
made by Free Sellers, it would. deem incendiary
and horrible:
at will be seen that, while the resolutions on
Slavery are far from being satisfactory to us,
they are not as malignant and mischievous, as
the Wing press, relying on Geographic reports,
had represented them. While regarding Slavery
as an evil and avowing it to be their duty
10 use all power clearly giren by the terms Of
the national compact TO prevent its increase.
&c., they at the same time recognise the doc
trine that to each State belongs the right to
adopt and modify its own municipal laws, to
regulate its own internal affairs, to hold and
maintain an equal and independent sovereignty
with each and every State, and that upon these
rights the National Legislature can neither le-
gislate or encroach.' Is not the denunciation
of Slavery really emasculated by the qualifying
reference to power clearly giren,' &c, and
by the subsequent language we have quoted
above?"
The Richmond (Va.) Examiner, a paper not
a whit more loyal to Slavery than the En-
qaier, but with little sympathy for the Admin
istration, has not the same reason for exer-
cising charity towards the Ohio Convention.
After conceding that there is little more
NATIONALITY in the Northern Democratic
party" than in any other considerable body OF
politicians in the free States, it scouts the no.
lion of looking for orthodoxy on the Slavery
question in any party at the North. The
South, in its alliances, should maintain eternal
vigilance.
She must not consent to overlook excep-
tionabe conduct in her allies, and must keen
the understanding ever uppermost and alive in
their mind, that the alliance is to last only while
the most jealous selfrespect shall tolerate it.
There are two conditions necessary to the
continuance of this alliance. The first is a
scrupuldhs observance of all the safeguards
that are drawn by the Constitution around the
domestic institutions of the States. The second
Is friendly abstinence from all indirect as
sault and censure upon those institutions, which
is often more insulting. if not injurious, than
direct attack through the forbidden agency Of
Government. II is not an ally that shall con
stantly remind us OF our unworthiness of his
countenance and support, and shall embrace
every occasion, fit and unfit, to lecture us phari
saicslly upon the exceeding depravity of the in
stitutions he is leagued with US to protect, that
the South desires or will tolerate.
at is precisely this sort of alliance that is
proffered us by the Ohio Democracy"
II proceeds to quote the resolutions of the
Ohio Convention, and then pays it the follow
ing piquant compliment:
There is more honesty in downright, ram
pant aboiitionism, than in such cowardly, sneak
ing, miserable cozenage."
We presume, that should the Eraminer and
the Enquirer change places in relation to the
Administration, the former would become as
charitable as the latter, and the latter as pug
nacious as the former.
In this connection we beg leave to call the
attention of the Examiner and the Enquire,
to the following letter to the Sachems of Tam
many Hall, from Mr.. Chase, one of the most
distinguished advocates of the Independent OIL
Free Democracy 1t embraces in its term.
the creed, purpose, and policy, of the politica
Anti Slavery party. Can the Enquirer pon
to anything in II exceptionable in doctrine-or
the Examiner, to any phrase insulting to thu
South? VIII they not both admit that it j,
entirely in harmony with the resolutions o
1888?
LETTER FROM SENATOR CHASE.
The following letter was sent by Hon. ;. r
Chase, of Ohio, to the COMMITTEES of the New
York Tammany Society, who invited him to b
present at their celebration on the 9th OF Jan
uary;