Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-01-05
The Progress of Fusion

| adjourned until the 17th day of January, 1859. -.s~~>~s~-
 The Progress of Fusion
 At the present stage of the game, it is doubt tul whether Seward or Critenden will be the opposition nominee in 1860 The Louisville Journal had late article on the most efectual means of combining the opposition. To this, the N. Y. Tribune makes proposition which evidently looks to MT. Crttenden. We give the article as it is necessary to watch this whole. sale fusion of southern know nothings with northern aboiionists
 Union of the Opposition.
 Can there be ubstantial union of the opposi. ton to the sham democracy in the Presidential canvass of 1860? This is question which we have not rase1 but, indingi under discussion, we propose to do our part toward elucilating it.
 The facts to be primarily considered are as follows
 l. There was in 1856 majority of the Ame rican people opposed to the set-styled national democracy.
 Il. That party is less popular and weaker now than 1t was in 1856
 III. It has been in the ascendant quite long enough and in every sense deserves to be, and ought to be, turned out.
 ". This can easily be done, if it's opponents can generally and heartily unite
 But Is such union practicable? and on what basis can it be effected?
 The Louisville Journal thinks it can and may, and proposes by way of basis the follow ing:
 l. That the republicans shall discard their distinguishing name:
 II. hat they shall abandon their peculiar "dea;" and
 III. That they shall not present or urge any republican for the Presidency
 On these conditions, the Journal thinks union may be effected, which will sweep the country, accomplishing all manner of political good.
 Considering that the republicans, though stigmatzed as sectional" boiled over four hundred thousand more popular votes in 1856 than the national' Americans and old line whigs, who ran electorial tickets in many more States than we did and that the republicans carried eleven States and gave Col Fremont IA clectorial votes, while the combined whig conservative-national- -union American vote for MT. Fillmore was but S. we must think that the Journal displays no very striking magnamtv or seil-sacrlhcng devotion to the success of the op position cause. We cannot encourage the Jour- nal to cherish any very sanguine hopes of unit. ins the opposition on its basis.
 Let us state, on our part, what we think the republicans would generally be willing to con cede Tor The sake ot harmonlzlng aud securing triumph to the opposition.
 We propose that the republicans, as the larger section Of the opposition. be permitted to name one of their number for President, to be sustain ed by the opposition, while the American and notlona whlSs propose the Vice. President The ticket thus formed shall be supported by the entere oppositon each party and each State making its own platform, and none being con- mitted to any but his own doctrines or proposi. tlons and the united opposition to be designat ed republican" American" "union," peo- ple's parry" or whatever else its voters in any locality may choose.
 
 But suppose this fair and conciatorv propo stion prove unacceptable, we suggest another, which would be heatily acceptable to us, and which, If satisfactory to the other wing of the opposition, We would heartily urge upon the ac- ceptance of the republican party-n4mely:
 Let the other wing of the opposition name the President, conceding the Vice President to the republicans, with this single condition. agreed to on all hands and proclaimed to the public, that tue administration Mus tormet shall do aH in 'ts po,oer to contine slavery w,thin he limits cf the erlsttng slave States.
 Is this asking too much? Consider that we porpose no party Shibboleth. no profession of faith. We do not require the President to do anything which he deems unconstitutional, but simply to exert whatever power he may have in tine premises to prevent the extension of slave ry. We know, and all know, that President p n hpI uu1th ha ,fa m governors, judges, marshalS, land officers, etc., etc, in the territories can easily make and keep them free if he will, in spite of all the senates. supreme courts and Dred Scott decisions that may be a'rayed against him. We ask for no warfare upon any states their rights-no as. seut 10 a republican, creed but simply the exer- else of whatever power the P,esid .nt may have to keep the terri iiorles--as eferson proposed and Washington approved sacred to free labor evermnre.
 Is there, then, sincere desire on the part of the Ameicans aud old line Whigs for union and consequent triumph of the oppostiou?- Ther response to the above sugsestiou will go lar to determine this question.
 At these propositions the Journal, demurs but says that there is deep, earnest and prevailing desire on the part of the Americans for d union with the Greelytes, and submits his proposition, as follows:
 In consideration of these facts, which we con- ceve to be incontrovertbe, and in view of the rising cry for the rout of the black democracy, which we believe to be sincere, we propose that the >ntlre opposition shall assemble by repre- sentatlon in a union convention at Washington in the summer of 1860 when we of the non- republican wing will engage to present candi- date for the Presidency whom the whole oppo- sition can consistently and heartily support with ont the condition in question, if the republican wing will engage to name a candidate for the | Vice. Presidency, whom the whole opposition can support with equal zeal and propriety. Of course it Is impossible to foresee exactly what disturbing political elements the next eighteen mouths may twing forth; but, if we are to discuss the future at all, we no particular good to come from beating round the bush.-- | We, therefore, del berately throw out this sug- ses,ion as point which may at least facilitate specialization of opinion. | In the mean time Senator Crittenden goes to New York and makes q speech wherein he faintly denies being an asprant for the Presi- dency. He says:
 "I am not ambitious for it. I am not anx. ious for it. wish to God and hope-and it may be so-that some one more able to guide the destines of this country than l am shall have it. would not accept the Presidency unless in contingency not likely to happen, viz: Hat t should be the unbiased opinion of the people of the United States that in that eapacity could serve my country weH But do not want to have my heart corroded with all the political cares that attend that high station. don't want to take upon myself the responsibility of it."