Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-16
From the Richmond Enquirer.
The SO Sentinel and the " Union

From the Richmond Enquirer.
The I" Sentinel" and the I" Union.n
LoNGwoop June s, 1855
| GENTLEMEN: In the Washington Sentinel OF the
| 9th Of June is TO be found severe critque upon
an article in the Union headed The Democratic
Position on the Slavery Queslon," which is de-
4 hned 10 be thai no party embracing members at
i the North and at the South canbe national or un-
anmous in its organization which does not ex-
cude the question of slavery from its creed" AS
The Seuinel admits the possibility that il has not
caught the true intent and meaniDg" Of the arli-
! Gle, and invokes the "grave consideration of our
! southern cotemporaries,p | msy be pardoned for
suggesting, in all kindness, thai it has NOT caught
the True meaning, or, at all events, for hoping
| that such is the case.
The subject of slavery embrces two very dis
| unct questions. The one is diined in the Senfi-
/ NETS own language as the Sta.erights doctrine OF
resistance 10 the fanatcal .ncroachment upon
the institution Of slavery" The other is tn il
which is referred to by the Jniom the "ques-
| tom Is slavery "a moral AMI social wrong" or
| is IL a moral and political blessing? 2" and such
like expressions. Now, Will, yield 10 man
| IN this republic in uncompromisiDg resistance 10
! everything come from what source il may which
| tends TO the smallest concession of the rights Of
the South, am not willing I, pronounce iudg-
ment too hastily upon those who have hitherto
been consistent defenders ofihose rights. And l
must say from calm perusa of the Uasons
views, prefer thinking that the Seatineih has done
II the injustice TO put the wrong construction
upon lis words. cannot suppose that the Wash
ington Union, even were it 10 give other eviden-
ces OF trucking 10 northern presumption would
| be guilty of the suicidal sbsurdy Of taking no.
siion upon this subject far behind thar of the
| democratic cohorts of lew Hampshire, New
/ York, Connecticut, &c And this il would be
doing, beyond aii'cavil were il 10 assume that the
| question of "non-interfer,nce with the rights OF
| the South must be excluded in order 10 form
national party The conservative Democracy Of
the North have, in their conventions and legisla-
lures, boldly planted Themselves in front of south
1 ern rights, the fugitive.slive law, Nebraska bill,
| &c, and II would take stronger proof than any,
thing which appears in Tie LaaiouS article 10 in
| duce the belief in impartial mind that the
| Union advocated the alsurday of excluding"
| these matters from national platform. Indeed,
IFS own language throughout abundantly re-
tutc- any such idea and shows what rs the true
intent and meaning thereof that, TO use the words
OF the Senina, the question Is constantly recurring
| 10 me, Have not mistaken the meaning of the
| Sentinel
The question" discussed by the Union is, scan
national party cre,d be framed with the recogni-
| lion by northern men of slavery as moral or
i political good or by southern men Of slavery as
| moral or political evilp' This is mn construc-
lion OF It's language, and If il be the true one |
submit that II renders the SentineFs structures
| totally Inapplicabie. In short, in its own words
and IN the quotation OF The Baltimore resolutions
the Unton asserts broadly and unequivocally ali
that the South with sIy show Of justice can ever
| ask And IN the conclusion at which il arrives
that the question of slavery in It's moral or poll
| teal aspect, must BE- excluded from any national
party erees, ! conceive II clearly defines what
Il always has been th, Democratic position and
announces truth which the intelligent editors OF
the Sentinel would ind il no easy task 10 combat
i The Sentinel contends that the doctrine OF
the union" as TO the exclusion of the g abb
siract question" OF slavery flor bear in mind that
-. 81 IL 1.,N x,
cludeJ would open the door 10 Wilson, Chase,
Sumner, Giddings, &c. Well, now, i should be
truly glad il the . Sentinel" would give us lust
few OF the names OF those glorious Slate rights
men Of the North of whom il speaks in an adj
joining column as defending the constitutional
| rights of the South, who would be found sub.
seribing 10 a national Teed which recognises sa-
very as moral and political bessingm When
these abolition gentry are weighed in the balance
Of those Baltimore resolutions quoted by the
I" Union" as the aniho,tie position Of the Demo
erafse party fhe 4noct Of sarefy" there will be
liis need Of bringing them 10 The Procrustean
test OF the abstract question IN order to exclude
| them from a national party. But, if rightly APP
| prehend the Sentinel" AZ would not only exclude
| these, but would be compeled TO say 10 its "glo.
rous statesmen from the Noth,h "Y0n are pretty
good looking, but yon can't ,ome in citherp
Again The extraordinary positions assumed
| by the Union, if carried oui could but have the
effect oil thoroughly aboliiiorzing the Democratic
| party" What are we 10 understand, then, TO be
the position OF The Sentin,l 2? That a national
Democratic party can be formed upon the express
recognition OF slavery {" moral and political
goods" Then IL must expet the North 10 say 10
the South: " We abjure all our sentiments opin.
ions, and prejudices, and heceforth will not only
act in defence Of your coniutiona rights but
b,iiepe with YOU from the bttom OF our hearts,
that slarery is a moral and political blessing -
To this complexion the Norn may possibly come
at last, but IL will be when the failure Of their
own system and the conviction Of the success OF
ours leads them 10 IL as the hest course for their
| own salvation, not IN order 10 form a national
cred. Or does the Sentiu:p propose the only
alternative apparent 10 me, iiai all hope OF n ma
II tional party shall be abandoned nj once, and the
abstract question" made tie dividing line. be-
yond which neither norihernnor southern Demo.
Gratis ran pass III eaher thea il had better speak
out boldly and say so; for | slould think that en-.
tertaining these views, The Drthern Democratic
rejocings over Wise's election would be anything
but music 10 it's ears. w, OF the South man
have 10 take this stand, too but il will be- in my
humble judgment, when the pow erful section Of
The northern constitutional democratic party has
repudated the patriotism aid sense Of justice
which so far have characterized them and then
| IL will take fewer words TO lefne orr position,
| and we shall want a SertinS at Washington 10
| shoot other than paper bullets
In conclusion, 4 repeat, tina upon the most OBJ.
| vous, reasonable--In fact III only admissible
construction OF The language q the "Union y l. as
| State rights Virginia Democrat believing that
| slavery IS a moral aud political blessing and that
the question OF southern rights is the great one
| upon which alone nations party ran stand,
and upon which too much has already been yield.
ed. cannot word deserving condem nation.
And, on the other hand, il there be such an an.
tsgonism between the position Of the Sentinel
and that OF the Union as We must infer from
the words OF the former, and does not involve a
most singular and untensbe sttitude, il must be
that, "by some obtuseness Of mind, | have not
caught its true meaning and and intentn IL this
be the fact would be glad to be corrected.
Yours, truly, C. f. III.
| From Mexico.
Naw ORLEANS, Juno l2--Tho steamer Orizaba
from Vera Cruz has arrived, bringing City OF