The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-21
opPosrIoN MOVEMENTS Ar TIFF SOUTH

ieeDle endeaVof 10 revive some sort OF opposition
to the democratic party in the Southern States We
are at q loss 10 know what principles OF grounds
such movement can be conducted. There was an
attempt just after the close of the last session of
Congress, to inangurate Peoples party 2 but after
pretty decided tariff demonstration at Philadelphia
and an ovation two to Senator Crittenden in az
many Western cities, the movement utterly broke
down. There was, at that time, color of plausible
for such movement Tho black-repubcan
party in tho Northern States had indicated, in posi-.
tive terms, a willingness to modify and, if possible
10 nationaze their creed. That party and several of
the Southern opposition members had acted in con
cert during the session Just expired, and il seemed
obvious that if cordial union of all wings of the
opposition could he brought about, the democratic
party, divided it the Kansas question
could be easily overthrown.
The scheme seemed so practicable that very hope
full aud earnest endeavors at once made to &C
compsh it and the country forthwith began to hear
of ovaiions to Mr. Crittenden and coalition meetings
in several of the large cities The opposition en-
tered into the canvass in some of the southern
States with good heart--more especially in North
Carolina, Kentucky, and Missouri. In Kentucky and
Missouri the soutly contested and con.
Quoted on their part with hopeful animation The
result however, most discouragng. The popu-
lar verdict against the party which could look with
the least degree of allowance upon coalition with
the confederates of the Tribune and Nh. Seward,
was decisive and overwhelming. The rebuke was
crushing and whitening and we have CT lsequenty
heard very little since that time of the peoples
party" 1t was demonstrated beyond doubt on cav
that there could be no coalition between southern
men and the back-republican party, which the
southern people would tolerate. s
Elections came ON in the northern States. Disar-
fected democrats, who had united with the opposi-
ton at first the basis of modified abolition creed
and for conjoint rebuke Of the "Lecompton fraud"
and who found themselves confronted just before the
elections, with the Rochester declarations of Mr.
Seward, found that they were too fully committed to
recede and voted in concert with Mr. Seward party
in lSost of the northern States But the disastrous
issue of the elections to the democratic party in
those States, gained as the opposition victories
there appeared to be upon the basis of the Roches-
ter speech--however encouraging the result might
have been to the opposition at the North--ony con-
frned that repugnance to the movement of the South
which had already been most emphaticalIy testified
The peoples movement may therefore be re-
earded as the weakest and most hopeless one that
ever was attempted in the southern States. But
there is large class Of men in that quarter of the
onion who are actuated by mortal and unconquer-
able hatred towards the democratic party. They have
been beaten by that party repeatedly and SO
severely that there ia not drop of the milk of hui
49,, ly;,d,a,o left in their hsorts Tbay arc If
envy hatred, malice, and all unchartahleness to-
wards that party and although there seems
ground of reason or principle left which oppo-
sition be made agans: the democracy, yet there
are indications in various quarters of the South of
purpose, If possible, to bring into the field some
sort of opposition to the democratic candidates
So long as this movement is conducted on grounds
Of open and avowed opposition to the democratic
party there is no sort Of danger In one of the an
Gent congressional districts of the Old Dominion
there was a most patriotic, estimable, and intell-
gent gentleman, who, afflicted with monomania for
Congress, was in the habit of announcing himself
candidate for the House of Representatives at the
recurrence Of every election; and, among the living
generation, the memory of man runneth not TO the
contrary of this old gentlemans being eager can
ddate for this honorable branch of the national egs
lature The number Of votes cast for our venerable
patriot varied irregularly, in the twenty thirty
campaigns which he went through, from dozen to
fifty or sixty. This bronzed veteran was type Of
his party in the South in their nndyng opposition
60 tho democracy. They will never give up the
ship. They will "neyer tire" of the work, however
hopeless fororn. But their opposition is venera-
ted by the democracy, and does not excite the slight
est concern feeling.
SO long, we repeat, as the opposition is avowed
and Open 80 long it is merely that of the old and
sworn adversary, there is possibility of injury to
the democratic The danger, if danger there
be, is from another quarter. 1t is from men who
profess the creed and boast the name and title of
democrats. 1t is from disappointment aud disaffec-
ton within the party organization; and from the
waging by disappointed men, who affect a devotion
70 the party of opposition to the policy of the party
under color of zeal for democratic principle The
peoples party movement has utterly failed at the
South. All open opposition TO the democracy must
Fail in that section Of the Union. Thefe is hut one
possible chance Of success left to the opposition
combined now of those old adversaries who hate
it with perfect hatred, and those new ones
who have taken dudgeon at some fancied grievance
- n Al. IL. Il