The Washington union., 1858-03-25
From the New York Journal Of Commerce.
THE REASON.

II the Lecompton bill is defeated in the House of Rep
resentaves which to does not appear probable its
failure will be due to influence which we have been
accustomed regard ae of the side Of naioal principles
the integrity of the Union and against the sectional doc
trnes the candidates and the dcto Of the republican
party We alude to that class OF men who, once belong
ing the old whg party have declined to Join the abo
Iiton movement be led OFF by the anti slavery cry of
the republicans but have maintained independent po
son during the past five years either voting straight
whig tickets casting their votes judgment dictated
for the democratic OF American candidates
A number of leading statesmen in the country
pied this position and several Of the most reliable
papers in the Union have been acknowledged the
gans of that class of In the last presidential
test those to whom refer declined to support Colonel
Fremont and either cast their for Mr. Buchanan
for Mr. Fmofe Sintc the present administration Game
into power they have generally given to its
their support ard terostd yeferb,s confidence in the
ability qualifications and good purposes Of the President
conduct the affairs Of the county in ttcdi.able and
satisfactory The Lecompton question has, how
ever put their nationality to severe test and regret
TO observe that many of them have at this late day after
standing out against sectonalism well and manfully
yielded TO its embraces and likely to BE- swallowed
up by it, or by political organization of which
that will be the vital part.
We have watched the course Of those to whom nj
lue with deep interest and with large degree Of hope
that their national principles would prove sound and
mnnent but regret to large proportion OF
them tied 10 the protosit'vs Of the late republican
leaders for political organization. having for its
object the successful conduct Of the presidential campaign
ia 1860 Put for this movement and the countcnance
and support it receives from national those here
tofore regarded SUCH there would be shadow Of
doubt to the admission Of Kansas under the Lecompon
constitution and the consequent defeat and dissolution
of the republican party The consent of Senators Crit
tenden and Bell and of McssrS Marshall Davis, and
their American associates in the House. to be numbered
with the sectional party and to contribute to the
of its schemes may we do not say it WILL endanger the
success Of the measure upon which the administration
boc, and xhc ka
ed triumph for the party which all national men nave
opposed
1t is not be denied that while the administration has
looked with favor upon the applications for official posi-
ton of members of the former whg party and while the
recommendations and counsel of prominent men of that
stamp have been often concured in ha confidence has
great extent been repaid by failure to support, if
not decided manifestation of opposition to- the promi
ncnt claiming the attention of Cogress and
the country We have not the slightest knowledge of
the opinions entertained by the President this topic
but should think common courtesy, to nothing of
the dictates of principle and the prophecies of political
ations would prompt the class of of whom speak
to abstain from urging upon him the names of their
friends for official position while, body, they fail TO
sustain the leading of his administration
OF the newspapers formerly wi 4, and cupying
position agreeing with the adu nista'on the slavery
question, call TO mind y fe"- -nch sustain
the Lecompton constitution The Boston Courier is al
most the only at the North in minds which
does not denounce it, and not clear TO is actual
present position In this State the Buffalo Commercial
Advertiser the Albany Statesman and New York Express
late organs of the "slver grey wings and national
Americans among the oucst in denuncation of the
administration.
We have referred to this subject with the view of
placing the responsibility for the very close contest the
Kansas bill with those who, having the power. and
have always believed the disposition to promote the
of national principles have nevertheless yielded to the
nsdous propositions of the enemy and there appears
TO be to believe, entered into league respecting
future political action which demands the sacrifice of
present convictions and of present and past political
ations We shall be gutifed if the movement to which
refer proves to be than innocent hrtaton
instead Of permanent engagement and docs not 20 The
extent of defeating the bill now before Congress.