The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-09
Ingratitude or Southern Politicians.

Isgratitude or Southern Politicians.
No political lesson is taught in more strik
ing manner by the proceedings of the late
Cincinnati Convention than the futility of ex-
pecting gratitude or even fidelity from the
mass Of the politicians Of the South. Mr.. Pre-
sident Pierce and Mr.. Senator Douglas went
before that body laden with claims upon the
South. For it they had sacrificed their all
the one his standing, the other his repute 10
the larger portion of the North. Strictly cor
rect and constitutional as was the Nebraska
bill, it was morally certain to involve q stu
pendous danger for it's author. A considera-
BILE portion Of the North, embittered by the
efforts Of demagogues against Southern insti
buttons, were sure to oppose it with virulence
When the bill was introduced, the storm of
opposition it enc ountered was even more flu
rious and more general than anticipation had
foreshadowed. There were no epithets, there
was no invention of calumny which the North
ern opponents of the measure shrunk from ap-
plying to it's author and abettors. They were
loudly stigmatized as traitors; and that not by
stump politicians, but by leading merchants
by neutral journals, by respectable divines
The extent Of unpopularity the bill drew upon
it's Trainer was perhaps unexampled in our
political history. Yet it is due to Stephen
A. Douglas to say that in the teeth of
vituperation, calumny and menaces, he stead
lily pursued his purpose to the end, without
once allowing himself to be checked, diverted,
or frightened. The bill was right, undoubtedly.
Its principle cannot be controverted. Its lead
ing opponents of two years since now acknow-
ledge as much. But in the then excited state
Of the public mind, it needed no small courage
to persevere in enforcing that principle, at the
enormous cost Of obloquy it was certain to in
volve.
On the other hand, constitutional as was the
bill, it was none the less gain to the South.
1t was their due; but like many debt in mer-
camille life, they had by their own folly thirty
years before almost debarred themselves from
recovering it. Southern statesmen, in their
rage for Office, had profigately bargained
never to exact it; ard though the maintenance
Of this bargain would in the end have been
hurtful to the North as we'll as the South
though it was clearly violation Of the spirit
of our institutions, it was none the less bar
gain to which the South had been party, and
from which it was gigantic service to relieve
her. That service was rendered to the South
by Stephen A. Douglas and Franklin Pierce.
How have Southern politicians requited
them? When the crisis came, they deserted
them both.
On the first ballot for President, Sena-
tor Douglas did not get Southern vote. With
the exception of Kentucky and Missouri, he did
not get vote from a slaveholding State
and on the third and fourth ballots the Ken
tuckians deserted him. He gained few
Southern votes from time to time, IS the dele
cations shifted and chopped round; but no.
thing is more plainly indicated by the detailed
report of the ballotings than the resolution of
the South not to nominate him, and to resist
to the last the efforts Of the West with that
view.
Mark the fortunes of Mr.. Pierce, who, poor
man, having no particular mind of his own
had been the docile follower of Douglas, and,
as President, the potent ally of the South. If
there was man who deserved the gratitude of
the South it was Franklin Pierce. Douglas
has character and talents to sustain him, and
reconquer popularity; Pierce has nothing to
rely on but the services he CHANGED to be able to
render to the South. Yet when the Convention
met, what is the unanimous report of news col
lect0rs? They Say" Pierce is standing
joke;" When people want to be facetious
they say they are for Pierce;" "The Office
holders mean to give Pierce q complimentary
vote, but it is doubtful whether it can be
managed" and so on. On the first ballot, 122
votes are scraped together from the Custom
Houses and Post Offices; and these go falling
away, falling away-the Southern delegates
setting the example Of desertion-until shame
compels Mr.. Pierce to withdraw, at the head
of three votes and half.
Was there ever so impressive lesson? What
was the "enormity of Austrian ingratitude" in
comparison with this? New, for whom has the
South deserted her champions? Assuredly,
one might suppose, for some chivalrous son Of
her own, in whose temper and courage she can
rely ct this great crisis; for some man with
heart of steel and tongue of fire, who will do
battle in her cause with more steady faithful
ness than Pierce, and more valiant ardor than
Douglas. Pshsw! the man the South has
chosen is an old gentleman, who was 10 the
prime Of life when the Missouri Compromise
was passed, thirty-six years ago; who helped to
pass it then and agrees TO its repeal now; .
calculating, prudent old gentleman, who never
ofiends anybody, nor commits errors Of tactics;
who has gone through life with cool eye to
the main chance, having no particular opin-
ions, and no particular principles, and no par
ticular prejudices that could stand in the way
Of his advancement and who, on all occasions
and at all crises, has been so cold, SO canny aud
so cunning that now at the close of his long
life he has not an enemy and he has not
friend.