The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-07
THE wILMor pRovlso ABANDONED,


The whole politics Of this country for four years
past has turned upon the pivot Of slavery in the Ter
ritores. No other question has marked, Tor any
length of time any distinct division of parties
Ktpw-nothingism had brief existence; but the
other question OVERRIDE and obliterated it from
the party platforms Slavery in the Territories has
been the all-absorbing question, Aaron's rod
swallowing up all others whatever.
This question of slavery in the Territories has had
Two sides, and presented two practical alternatives
These were, whether Congress was empowered to de-
eide the question by The prohibition Of slavery in the
Territories, whether Congress was prohibited
from erfer ing, and tho people to be left free
to decide the question in preparing for admission
into the Union States. The irst was the doctrine
of the Wilmot provso, advocated by the black
republican party; the second was the doctrine Of
popular sovereignty advocated by the democ-
racy.
Upon this issue have the contests of the two par
ties been conducted for four years past They have
been excited, bitter aud Incorporating in The last
degree. There has been no changing Of front, no
shifting OF Positions by either Of the parties during
all the long they have wagcd against each other.
But within the astwcek tho question has suddenly
assumed new aspect. The black-republicans have
suddenly dropped and abandoned the Wilmot Pro-
viso. They have not only forsaken thor own doc
trne, but they have adopted the antagonist doctrine
and now claim more perfect and consistent devo-
ton to popular sovereignty than that Of the demo.
cratic party itself The unanimous black-repubican
organization in Congress have cast their votes in
favor Of bill expressly submitting the slavery ques
ton to the decision Of the popular vote in Kansas
The blackrepublican press sustain the vote, and
make no 4conccalmcnt Of thor sudden conversion
from the Wilmot Proviso principle to that Of popu-
lar sovereignty
The New York Times treats the matter with lev
ity. Itwarns us that 'tIoro il great danger that
tho opposition may steal this democratic thunder
and appropriate it solely and exclusively to their
own usss They have already secured the author of ii,
and they very likely to adopt the principle hef'
The Tribune is less unreserved. II exclaims,
with logged defiance, "We take your Jccompion
constitution, eternal aauery and Ill., provided the peope
90 not see W to reject it, and form new one instead
And John Wentworths Chicago Democrat wants
to have grand Jubilee over the conversion of its
f"'J W s'Ao uVooSHau VI puPHtdl sovereignty: Let
MS have ro,sing convention Let the old and the
young come. Lot not only the old liberty men bat
the recent converts come. Let Ms give Douglas and
the thousands Of other democrats who are dissatis
fled with Mr.. Buclanans administration cordial
welcome into the republican ranks, and let us stand
or fall upon the principles Of the platform on which
John G. Fremont was nominated for President ~
Long Johns ideas confused, in the ecstasy Of
his joy lie thinks tho thew converts from the
democracy have over to his principle.
But his party III Washington and his colleagues
Of the New York press consider that they have gone
over 70 popular sovereignty and this is evidently
the true state of the case We must therefore cor
rect tho Chicago enthusiast to some extent While
admitting that Mr.. Douglas has deserted to the black
republicans, we cannot but deny that il seems to
have been on the condition that they on their part
should desert the Wilmot Proviso. There has been
desertion on both sides. Which desertion has been
the most fragrant may admit of doubt Proba-
bly, il is crcditable to have deserted the Will
mot Proviso than the democratic party.
q ~