Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-25

gether, we got but three poies for il.
In the Senate, on the final passage of the bill,
the yeas were S5, and nays l3-of these 35 yeas,
Brodhead of Pennsylvania, Cass Of Michigan,
Douglas of Illinois, Gwin Of California, Jones of
Iowa, Norris of New Hampshire, Petit of Indi-
ana, Shields of Illinois, Stuart of Michigan,
Thompson Of New Jersey, Toucey of Connecti-
cut, Weller of California, Williams of N. Hamp-
shire, and Wright of New Jersey, were Northern
Democrats; and to these may be added the names
Of Bright of Indiana, Vice President pro tenn, and
Dodge of Iowa, absent at the time, but known to
be warm friend of the bill-nlakiag sixteen North
Democrats in the Senate for the bill; while of the
Is votes against, but two Northern Democrats in
that body of the number, to wit: Hamlin of
Maine, and Walker of Wisconsin. See Con-
gressional Globe, same session, page 1929 Out
Of the IS votes for the bill in the Senate, there
was not one Northern Wing or Northern Know
nothing. And out Of the ll3 votes in the House
for the bill, there was not one Northern Know
nothing. Bad, therefore, portion of the North
ern Democrats are, (such men, for instance, as
Dix, Van Buren, s. Co.. justice to such of them
as true to the Constitution, requires il to be
made known, that a majority of them in both
Houses of Congress, including good and bad to-
gether, stood by the rights of the South on this
great question. find II the Kansas bill had been
LEFT 10 the Northern Democrats only, Including
sound and unsound, the measure wouM hare been
carried in both Houses Of Congress pithout another
These are important facts for the South to be in
formed upon and TO consider well before they join
any national party, one of whose main objects is
to 'scrush out" and "put down. those men at the
North who have proved themselves true, not only
to the Union, but to the Constitution, and our
rights under it, even if they do call themselves
Democrats.
Parties should be characterized and known by
their principles and not by their names.
Respectfully,
ALEX. III. STEPHENS.
P. S.-Most of the seven Southern Wings who
voted against the Kansas bill are Knoic-noihings,
and TO the best Of my belief every one Of them is.
That the Wing party ceased to be national
party before even the Know-nothing party took
its place, is conceded by the facts stated by Mr..
Stephens, (and let the reader-the Wing reader
remark, that the statistics given above are not
our statistics but the statistics of Mr.. Stephens Of
Georgia, one of the most distinguished Wings in
the Union, and in whose admirable organization
but thing turns the scale, and that is patriot
ism--a most rare virtue in these degenerate
days.)
What does Mr.. Stephens say lie bears testi-
mony to the fact that majority of the Northern
Democrats voted, in Congress, for the Nebraska
Kansas bill. He bears testimony to the fact, that
bad the fate of the bill been left to the decision of
Northern Democrats, and Northern Democrats err
clusirely, it would have passed. He bears testi-
mony to the fact, that notone single Northern
Whig, and only JouySeen Southern Whigs roted for
it. He says: 's.Nost Of the seven Southern Wings
,cho roted against the Kansas bill are Knoic-noth-
ings, and to the best of my belief EVERY ONE
OF THEM Isl"
In view of these facts, can any rejecting man
believe that the Democratic party, national
party, is disbanded. The test of this proposition
was the vote in Congress on the Nebraska and
Kansas bill. Three thousand and odd ministers
Of religion (but not one solitary Catholic) moved
heaven and earth against that bill. They sent in
petition Of gigantic dimensions, and signed by
imposing names Nor did they only sign in be-
half of themselves, but arrogantly and blasphe-
mously for God Almighty. The Aboltionists,
the Freesoilers, the Fanatics, the Fusionists, and
all the ncendiaries of the North, no matter OF
what complexion, were reused against it. Every
| thing that could shake the brave, appal the
timid, and even the mercenary, was done. In
despite of all these powerful influences, MAORI
ty of the Northern Democracy (but not single
Northern Wing or Know-nothing) voted for the
Nebraska and Kansas bill Can any one, in
view Of this, say that the Democratic party is
denationalizedi
But who were the Democrats, from the North
or from the non-slaye holding States who su p
ported this measured They were not Tom, Dick,
and Harry. They were not obscure unknown
Il r.
expectations. They staked all that they enjoyed,
all that they hoped for, their votes. They
rcere The first men Of the .North--they were the
material out of which Cabinet Ministers, Sena-
TORS Vice Presidents and Presidents are made.
/ No persuasion could win them-no menace in
timidate, and no bride purchase. If at such a
frightful crisis these great acted bravely
and virtuously, when the crisis has passed will
they not be sustained We know that they
will
We have proposition to put. 1t is plain and
simple II is this: If (as there arc many there
are Wings who voted with the Democrats on
this vital questionable Nebraska Kansas bill
If they acknowledge that The old Wing party is
disbanded il they abhor the Know-nothing party
4
party that opposes all the issues, all the errors
and all the hercsies Of the unlucky times in
which we live, is the Democratic party, ought
they not TO unite with USE What is tho use of a
new party Such party would be altogether
sectional.
We respect that pride Of opinion and that
strength Of prejudice that would seek TO bring
others over 10 itself But pride Of opinion and
strength Of prejudice ought to yield to patriotism.
| If men cannot choose what they will, they ought
to make choice Of evils. Now, between ex-
| ploded Whiggism, rampant Know-nothingism-
| projected new partyism, and the Democracy
| (whle we cannot allow this latter to be an evil)
we think, that on the showing OF the Hon. Mr.
Stephens, every patriot ought to join the Demo
! cratic party.
| The Wing party is dead. Even the able, elo-
\ quent, and accomplished Senator Benjamin says:
''I viii not even join the attempt TO revive the
organization Of the Wing party. Its ashes alone
remain, and the phoenix is equally fable in poll