The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-08
UNION WITH THE SOUTHERN OPPO.
SITTON

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| We have so often pointed out the absurdity
of uniting the Republican party with the South.
ern Opposition in the support of Presidential
ticket, that we with reluctance recur to the sub.
ject. We have not only attempted to show that
in the nature of things such a union is impossi-
BILE, and fraught with defeat and disaster, but
we have quoted from the leading organs of the
Southern Opposition the most explicit refusal
to unite with Republicans on any other terms
than such as the South may dictate. We have
shown that half the Southern Opposition il
committed to the ultra Pro-Slavery creed of the
Sham Democracy while the other half insist
upon leaving the Slavery question entirely out
of view, and forming union simply and solely
upon the ground of hostility to the extraya-
gance and corruption of the Administration
But our labors have been in vain, and still the
appeal comes up for union union with the
Southern Opposition. Argument with such
men is useless, and we should despair of bring
ing them to our views, but for the persistent
and contemptuous disregard of their overtures
by the hayward and capricious objects of their
misplaced affection. The Louisville Journal
and the Richmond Wing are the leading
organs of opposition opinion in the South and
they are both champions of the slave-code
theories of Governor Wise. Why, in the name
of common sense and the eternal fitness of
things, do they not give their voices for the
Virginia Governor for President? He is the
author of the save.code theory, and should be
the candidate of all who favor it. The doctrine
is popular in the slave States, but it is far from
being so in the free States and if those who
uphold it remain divided, how is it ever to be-
come the established policy of the country {?
By all means, the Southern Opposition who
favor slave code should rally to the support
Of Governor Wise.
The following article from the Louisville
Journal will satisfy every genuine Republican
that union with the Southern Opposition is
as impossible as it is undesirable. The Journal
says: ID aa N
From the Republican of the 10th inst we
copy the article that will be found below. The
editor, it will be seen, is in favor of unisn O.
all the Opposition oUerse to The use of tie Ma
tiondl Government for the strengthening or er.
oper the Democracy merit year. We have often
expressed ourselves in favor of union of all
the truly conservative elements of the country
for the defeat OF the Democracy, but we of the
South can give countenance to no union not
founded upon truly conservative and national
grounds. We don't exactly understand what
the distinguished Springfield editor means by
the pharse Opposition to the nse of the
National Government for the strengthening or
extension of Slavery The Judiciary is as much
part of the National Government as the Pres
ident or Congress is, and, if the Springfield ed
itor means that Southern men must not be per-
mitted to appeal to the Supreme Court for the
adjudication of their rights of property or that
Oagress and the President must permit those
rights, when adjudicsted, to be set at naught and
trampled undor foot by lawless men, zoe say to
him plainly that not more than the merest hand
tat Of the Opposition party o. the South can be
iy,dnced eoen for the rastty important object of
Frustrating the Democracy, to act in the matter
e,tA him and his friends. o9
!" Most assuredly we would not support a can
didate for the Presidency who should pledge
himself to put his veto upon any law that Con-
gress might pass for executing regular ju-
dicial decision Of the Supreme Court as to the
rights of slave property or any other property
In the Territories or anywhere else, and we
think that it would be absurdity and madness
on the part of our Northern friends to ask or
desire such pledge. Then, surely there is no
good reason why this thing should be intro
duced rs . disturbing element into the great
and important Presidential canvass of 1860.
~ But we say plainly to the men of the North,
what assuredly most of them must know a.
ready, thai, if there is to be cooperation be-
! tween them and the Opposition in the South in
1860, it must be without the requirement. Of
any concessions from US in regard to any of
the agitated questions of Slavery. OF course,
we and the whole mass Of the Opposition party
of the South are as much opposed as shey can
be. to the revival of the slave trade, bm hssy
cannot erpect rs to nnite siM them upon any
ground Of hostility to The srs9ssion Of Garey,
or to the asaiatesdace Of sosahera rights Of