Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-22
Politics of the Day-The Slave Question-The
Democratic Party-What has the South

From Hc LuschJwy JUynidn.
IS the Presidential election approaches
the Democracy are again raising the cry that
there must be an union of the South for the
purpose of rcsiStinga sectional party OF the
North. They are again repeating the OLD
song, that the rights of the South are in dan
ger, and that no other party, saving and e4
cepting the Democracy, is capable Of defend
ing and protecting those rights from the i'll
roads of AbolitioniSm.
We believed is more from the force of ha'
bit than anything else, that the Democracy
resort to this old plea. They surely do not
mean 10 say that the rights of the South are
any more secure now--or any less in danger
than they were twenty yearsago Though
the Democracy have been in undisturbed pos
session of the Government for thirty years
excepting the Presidency for a iefperiodl
and though the South has been losing ground,
comparatively. all the time, the party still
has the assurance to claim that it is the only
one capable of protecting Southern institu-
tons.
/ Forcsccing that the Democracy will, in the
next Presidential canvass. repeat the old sto-
nv about their peculiar ''soundness" in re-
I >pcrt of Southern rights. our able cotempo-
rary Of the Nashville Patriot proceeds to block
their game ut once, by showing up the hOl-
lowness and insincerity of their professions,
/ and the deep wrong that has been inflicted
upon the South by the continual agitation of
the slavery question for party purposes. We
cordially endorse the language of our cotem-
porary, ~ follows
/ What. then, have the people of the South
| gained. in respect of their territorial rights,
by confding in, and cooperating with the
Democratic party of the North? Nothing.
What have they gained in respect oftheir ter
ritorial rights by putting the Democratic
party in power throughout the South? Moth
Ing. The people of the South have gained
nothing at all: but their own immediate lea
ders who misled and deceived them in regard
To the opinions and intentions Of their North
ern brethren, and the potency Of the Demo
cratic organization to guard, and protect, and
enforce Southern rightS-these leaders have
gained, by the deception, power, and place,
and honorS, and emoI~ments!
The South, too, has become nearly a unit
in party politics-a Democratic unit. That
result will no doubt be claimed by the Dem
ocratic leaders and organs of the South rs
point Of the utmost importance, and of the
greatest advantage in political point of
view. But this union of the South has been
followed rs the slightest sagacity might have
forcscen, by union of the North, If the
Democrats of the South have succeeded i'll
uniting the South BY dmt Of slavery agita-
ton. they have also succeeded in uniting the
North against them. We say they. the
Democratic leaders of the South for to them,
to the course they have pursued, to their
continued agitation of the subject Of slavery
for unworthy unpatriotic, improper party
purposes, is the origin, rise, growth and pre-
sent gigantic dimensions of the Republican
party owing.
Mr.. Hale. if our memory serves us. stated
in the Senate. that he was indebted 10 Presl-
dent Pierce for his return to that body
meaning. that it was the re-Opening OF slave
rv agitation. under President Picrce's au-
spices. that enabled him 10 come back to the
Senate.
Mr.. Seward, in his Rochester speech, boas-
ted that whereas. but IL short time ago, there
were but MTee Of his set in the Senate, and
six in the House of Representatives, there
were now twenty ofWem in the Senate and u
haadred in the House, Thus, out of the
hot-hcd of slavery agitation prepared aud cul-
tivatcd by Southern democratic politicians tor
the most selfish party purposes, did there
spring up IN Il night, rs 1t were. full grown,
this gigantic plant Of Republicunism-its
roots quickly extending themselves deep, deep
down in the Northern soil and its branches
spreading over the whole Northern land.
Not only did the Southern democratic lea
ders thus force into existence and build up
the Republican party, but they, or the most
of them. are far from desiring TO see that
organization broken up, and would be very
far from pursuing any course OF policy, the
tendency of which would be to break it up.
They want to retain their power at the
South. and they want the Republican party
to scare the honest people Of the South with,
and to frightcn them into remaining united
under their lead: and if need be they will
present new and further slavery issues for
the express purpose Of keeping up agitation.
and thereby keeping the Republican party
togrthcr--thus PLAYING into the hands of Mr.
Seward. and other ultra leaders Of his party.
But what will the people of the South say
to 50 improper a courseof policy? Can they
see nothing to be dcplorcd in the near pros
pcct. the imminent danger of the North and
the South being divided into two sectional
parties? Have they any thing To gain by it ?
lIayn thcy--havn' all true patriots, all low
cr> Of the Union. South. or NOrth-hasn't
the whole country, except the Southern and
Northern disunionists every thing TO lose
by it?
We have said that it might have been fore
seen. thata union Of parties at the South by
means OF slavery agitation would be followed
by nm antagonistic union of the North. 1t
was forc>ccn and predicted long ago-eigh-
hcn years ago-bv distinguished states
man Of our own, John Bell only very few
years after the agitation had been commen-
cod at the South by Dem0cr"fir Politicians.
In letter written by Mr.. Boil in $40, to
the Hon. Geo r. Gilmcr. and published at
the time, Mr., Bell said;
What ought 10 he the measure OF indlg-
nation and Punishment which should be dealt
ont to these hollow and false guardians of
Southern interests. who will for the sake OF
a tritiing party advantage, puteyery thing to
hazard by perpetual agitation? For there
is and always has been 9"ite rs mnch 10 be- APP
,UrbcnIcd on this subject from those who
agitate the question on political account in
the South. a. from the AbolitionIsts them
selves.