Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-07-20
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
TVTLmINCToN. n. G., MONDAY, July 1e. 1855
g Northern Sentiment"


oNOrthern Sentiments
The Fayetteville Observer of Monday last has an
article under the above caption which contains great
deal of good, hard, common sense. In reply TO one
of its former Wing associates. who takes 1t to TASK
for stating that the Know-Nothing Convention term-
mated in sectional split, it proceeds 10 prove the
truth of its nostion most cancusvely from the action
of The delegates but II of whom from the North
ever sanctioned the platform and but out of six
teen Northern States; as well as by the subsequent
action Of the Northern party and press. "Indeed,"
says the Observer we have yet TO the first ap-
predatory word in any Northern paper, speech or
vote, except at the meetings in Philadelphia al New
York cities"
This is even So beyond question. But what we
mainly had reference to in the outstart the quo
tation made and endorsed by the Observer, from
Wing cotemporary." That contemporary takes the
ground that there are and must be two parties in the
country and tina these, in some shape, must be per-
manent " Like lositiVe and negative electricity,
their operation may be disturbed during the storm,
but when the air is cleared and the elements return
to their normal condition. they certainly come in
to operation" Local and transient questions may,
for d time, obtain the ascendancy, but the original
principles upon which alone parties be organized
pies of radical difference may be best shown by bor-
rowing an illustration from astronomy. They are
like the centpetal and centrifugal forces controlling
the motions of the earth The centre Uf idea is
the Federal Government-of the other the States
The one lends to the centre-the other from IT. The
old Federalists, many of whom were able, high
minded patriots believed that the General Govern
ment wanted strengthening, and, when in power,
their policy tended TO strengthen il at the expense Of
the States. The Democratic party, under Mr.. JET
ferson, took different view Of the 1t took the
ground that the tendency of all power towards
Capitalization, and 10 oounteract this. and preserve
the States, it becomes essentially States Rights par
ty. No party is perfect-no number of men al
ways keep abstract principles in view but, making
allowance for temporary defections the line of party
action has been mainly in accordance with the ideas
upon which parties first started. The alien and Sc
dition laws of the elder Adams, and other things
character strongly resembling modern Know Moth
ingsm, made Federalism early odous, and the famous
or Infamous, Hartford Convention with accom-
panying circumstances, fixed that Odium and mad
it permanent. The name was lost, but the origina
centralizng idea still remained under various name
and forms of opposition to the Democratic party
which party may be said to have always been til
party, or governing power of the State, while tn
opposing party has mainly acted as check-per
haps, at times, wholesome one-upon the dominan
majority. But the Wing party-the latest form @
the opposition to the dominant majority, seems t
have again Reconstructed the secret movements of tn
Hartford Convention, under the forms of the Know
Nothing Council, while the spirit of the alien and Sc
dition laws breahes through the platforms and dog
mas of the order In time, the whole affair will pas
away, all but the odium will entail upon its orig
majors and promoters, who, haply of the Kennel
Rayner and Ned Buntline order too insignificant
to be long remembered, even objects of contempt
Even now the thing is fast wearing Quits little
penny-whistle organs are flashing themselves into
big fury, like an milan warrior going through hi
death. song Another turn of the wheel, and tn
thing will be over.
The original forces will again be felt in their prS
tine strength and Vigor. The parties founded upo
inherent differences of opinion in reg.rd to the cor
struoton of the respective power of the State an
General Governments under the Federal compac
will and must, in some shape remain, while the Ii
tie, temporary, one-dea fanatcisms will pass ava
with the small Demagogues who have attained SON
petty notoriey by using them for their own SINAI
temporary purposes