The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-09-26

or vote for the Proviso in some shape or
other. Two efforts were made by the
Democratic party to settle tbedifficuty ,du-
ring the administration Of President Polk.
One in ls4S (Which was agreed TO by the
Democrats OF the South with Mr.. Calhoun
at their head) to give governments to the
Territories, without the contamination Of
the Wilmot Proviso, which passed the
Senate, and was defeated in the lower
House 10y the vote of every abolitIonist
and Wing from the North, together with
the votes Of 8 Wings from the South
The other on the last night of Mr.. Polk's
administration, when an amendment
known as Walkers, was attached to the
civil and Diplomatic Bill in the Seuate TO
accomplish the same object, after whole
nights struggle ii the lower House, by
the vote Of every Wing from the North,
and many of the nominal Democrats also
the Wilmot Proviso was fastened on the
amendment, and that too, a short time
before day light on Sunday morning, at
the risk vi the loss or the whole Bill, and
consequent arrangement Of the aspira.
lions Of the government. In this condi.
ton Gen. Taylor (who, according to his
own declarations had been elected as no
party many found the Country; the issue
had still to be met. He threw himself
into the arms of the Wing party North,
aud took as his counselors several OF
their most uuscrupulous abolitionists, and
it is idle to dwell upon the California
Juggle, Foreigners and Roman Catholics,
Indians and Negroes without distinction
or objection, formed or ratified constitu
ton for that empire, prohibited the Soutl,
from participation in its treasures, and
settled forever the inequality Of our peo-
pie in this Coufederacy. This was tue
work of every Wing, every abolilionis,
and many Democrats at the North, who
lament to say were aided by many
Wings and Democrats even from the
South.
A compromise, that fatal term for the
South, WAS male, which was held up as
u grand and glorious settlement of all the
difficulties, and vindication TO the South
Of all her wrongs, the Fugitive Slave
Law and the failure to enact the Wilmol
Proviso in letters and words were claim
ed BY its advocates as a triumph, and all
farther agitation was to case forever. Still
there was the Wilmot Proviso so far as
California extended; more effectuaily en-.
acted, than Congress had ever dared to
attempt, and for the Fugitive Slave Law
| never would haze given the parchmeu,
it is cnscribed on.
The whole South, however, acquiesced
in the compromise, and this was the plat
form on which President Pierce was elec
ted 10y anoverwhelming majority in 1882
ard am free to confess that during th,
first session Of Congress under his admin.
istration, | had for a time, higher hope O
justice to the South than supposed wo
should ever obtain, in the present conted
eracy. We had the odious Missouri com
promise, that first fatal error submitted tc
by the South, that foul stain upon oul
honor and our rights, that burned for sc
years, as upon a cheek that had beer
smitten and for which there seemed ne
redress, repealed, and the last Of the Ter
rilory obtained from Frauce thrown oper
to us upon terms of equality and justice
But my hopes soon vanished, and tha
from which we all thought might follow
at least some, repose but furnished th,
occasion for an entirely new phase in th,
political condition Cf the country, anc
brought into existence the new and un
precedented, Know Nothing organization
The President had been elected by a ma
Jority that Pros.rated the entire whig party
and the loaves and fishes seemed to hay,
gone from them forever. He bad thrown
bis influence in favour Of the Kansas and
NebrnskaLegisla,ion. With him, a number
of Democrats from the North who hae
not became abolitionized, ,co.operated, and
10y tue aid Of Wings South, who at las
were willing to cut loose from their ole
abolitionized brethren of the North, W,
had secured to US, those acts Of Justice
but the old Wing party North who wer,
witbering and growing lean, under thei
disappointm ont and deprivations, the sam,
party who held the Hartford Convention
the same party who inflicted upon tn,
South the Tariffs Of 1924 and 1928, tn.
same party who would have Bapkrup
the country at intervals Of about every II
years with United States Bank, th.
same party who would long since hav,
destroyed the veto power had they had
the strength, the same who violated tb,
compromise Tariffict Of 1888, and put