The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-25
UNION WITH THE SOUTHERN oPPO-
SITION

The advances made by Northern Repubi-
cans to Southern Oppositionists are received
with Indifferent marks of gratitude. The pro-
posed concessions of the New York Tribune,
which, while they have given offence to rigid
Republicans, and been declared inadmissible,
have failed to meet the demands of even the
most liberal school Of Southern Oppositionists
1t is true that they are referred to as signs of
returning reason and moderation on the part
of the North, but nothing more. The Tribune
is informed by the organs of Southern 0pposi-
ton that it must not expect union with the
South on any such terms; and that nothing
short of a return to the basis of the compromise
measures of 1850 will be listened to by the
South. The Northern Republicans are also re-
quired to abandon their party organization and
name, and fall into rank as private soldiers,
under the lead of old conservative Wings who
have never damaged their regulations by as
Stunning the Republican name.
This imperious tone of the Southern OPPOSE
ton has gained strength since the result of the
August elections has become known. They
now have high hopes Of dividing and breaking
up the Republican party, and will listen to no
terms short of it.
The article below, from the Baltimore CLIP
per, which belongs TO the more liberal school
of Southern Oppositionists, and has the name
of Mr.. Bolts at the head of its columns for the
Presidency, will illustrate the above remarks.
The Clipper says:
1.-THE New York Tribune is the chief organ
of the Anti-Slavery party. II is the great ad-
vocate of the Republican party. 1t has labored
zealously and earnestly to maintain the integ-
rty of that party and has ably and warmly up
held the sectional theory Of William H. Seward,
that the States of the Confederacy must be all
free or all slave States. A few months since, the
Tribune and its followers hooted at the organi-
cation Of an Opposition party upon any other
basis than that of Republicanism. 1t then
deemed the Republican party strong enough to
control the result of the Presidential election
in 1860. Gradually ats tome has changed. The
mountain a0OULd not go to MdhOmet, and Mahom-
et has come to the mountain. The Opposition
qroald not heed the rain bOastiRg Of the Tribune,
and the Tribune has IO10ered ITS key After
claiming first that the Republican party must
lead the Opposition, then that either Repub-
ican or some one else pledged to use all his
influence and authority in favor of Free-Soilism
in the Territories must be selected as the Oppo-
sition candidate for the Presidency, it has re-
Gently put forth more practical proposition.
The following is the last declaration Of the
Tribune, and may be considered the definition
of the position of the ultra Republican leaders.
1t says it has no doubt that the great body of
Republicans are willing to unite in the election
of a President with four classes Of persons, I'M
der whatever party name they are now known,
viz: those who originally opposed the Kansas
Nebraska bill, and are still hostile to that
measure those who resisted, and now con-
denim, the Kansas policy of Pierce f; those who
repudiated, and still denounce, the Lecompton
swindle and its authors and abettors; and
those who will strenuously and persistently re-
sist the legalization Of the African slave trade,
Congressional intervention in behalf of Slavery
in the Territories, and the acquisition Of foreign
territory in order to increase the power of Sla-
very in this country.
"To obviate all doubt as to the character Of
the Presidential candidate it is willing to favor,
the Tribune says he must be a man whose
life and character were an assurance that, if
elected, his Administration would energeticaly
resist every scheme to enlarge the area or in
crease the power Of Slavery in the Union
This is step nearer to the right position than
we supposed the ultraism of the North would
ever be brought. There IS only one more step
needed to reach the compromise measures Of
1850, iohich furnish the only sound and safe
position aouh regard to the SlaUe1y question for
all sections. We want no more sectional agi-
tation. The North has no need of it. The
fsouti, is only nlured by IT, The Delasssrs.tssi
marty makessit a means of dividing the Opposi-
'tien and Invariably wins whenever the canvass
Us allowed to turn upon that question. The
course of the Tribune, representing the ultra
portion Of the Republican party, affords some
hope that Northern sentiment as approaching
nearer and nearer to conservatism and nation
atty, and that the canvass of 1860 will find in
the field a great and powerful national party,
which will bid sectionalism of all kinds def
ance, and will absorb the strength of the whole
Opposition and be enabled to control the re-
suit of the Presidential election"
This is the spirit of union which actuates
the most liberal Southern Oppositionists. It is
needless to demonstrate the folly of all attempts
at cooperation in the election of President
with such men. The Tribune has declared
against the idea of surrenderng the name of
the Republican party, and against the abandon
ment of its characteristic principle of hostility
to the extension of Slavery. The above arti
Gle from the Baltimore Clipper makes gar
bled and somewhat unfair statement Of the
1Tibune's position, in order to suit the imme-
date object in view. How idle, then, is the
hope INDUCED by certain politicians on either
side Of the line, that the Republican party of
the North can be brought into cooperation
with the Southern Opposition, on the terms
which the latter proposed
I, Il.
that coalition formed on such terms. by the
politicians, would be defeated by the people.
The Republican party was organized on the
one great idea of taking the Administration of
the Federal Government out of the hands of the
Slavery propagating Sham Democracy, and
putting it into the hands of honest friends Of
Freedom. If the party leaders abandon this
high purpose, and attempt to turn the power of
the Republican organization to other and alto
gether different objects, they will soon find
themselves without followers. Another marty
will be formed, which will throw into the shade
the Buffalo secession from the Democratic
ranks in l848. Not 1.-THE of the Republ
cans would stoop to the dishonorabIe condi-
tons proposed by the Southern Opposition.
The backbone of the Republican party is the
Northern tier of States, and that back bone will
be broken the moment such concessions of
principles are made as would enable the party
to carry Southern State We are no section
alists in feeling or principles; but the fact is
indsputable, that Repubicanism is a bugbear
in the slaveholding States, and that any party
in that region which allies itself with us will
be doomed to overwhelming defeat.