Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-03-06

some defections from its ranks, the iron rule 0
party held stern sway; but in the hands of Mr.
Van Buren, the sceptre was held by a feeble
grasp. The misrule, the extravagancies, th.
work, the corruptons of the administration
were more than the positions of the Democracy
could withstand, and for time the people were
States of New York. Ohio and Massachusetts
and in the South the States of Kentucky, Ten
nessee and North Carolina were in the ranks O
the Wings, while in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana
and Virginia, and some of the other States, the
contest tor the supremacy was sharp and doubt
| full.
The great questions of Executive power, Con
gressional responsibility, economy, reform of a.
buses, of protection to the great interests of the
country, were pressed at every point, and the
opposing hosts reeled and staggered under their
irresistible force. Condemned upon these issues
by the public Judgments in their extremity they
let fly Parthian arrow at the pursuing hosts,
and the envenomed point ranked in the bosom
of the country. For the first time in our histo-
ry, the question of slavery was introduced for
party effect. and that dangerous element intru-
ded into the conflict of parties. The Democrats
OF the Southern States set themselves up as the
exclusive guardians of the institution of slavery,
while those of the Northern States were strenu.
| Gus in the interests of freedom, and the Wings
found themselves in the anomalous condition of
being assailed in one quarter as unsound on the
question of slavery, and denounced in tile other
as untrue to liberty. Yet, both in the North
| and in the South there were in the ranks of the
Wings men as eminent for ability, as illustrious
for integrity and patriotism as ever adorned the
division of party, and as thoroughly identified
with the interests of their sections, as any that
lived in them. The susceptibility of the South
ern mind to the interests of slavery, enabled the
Democrats to weaken the Wings in the slave
holding States, and finally to withdraw them
from their influence, while in the North they
combined with the Abolitonists, and succeeded
to power in the States of Ohio, New York and
Massachusetts,. During these operations the
vctors had no difficulty in uniting for the COM
mon purpose. On whatever battle fields they
fought, they were wings of the same army, fight
ing for the same spoils, and when met together
in general convention resolutions of equivocal
import, designed to admit of opposite construc-
ton, were put forth, as the platform of tie par
ty on which either wing could securely stand in
the region where it was to give battle.
It was not the least remarkable feature of this
strange anomaly that successes achieved at the
North by abolition aid were heralded at the
South as Democratic victories, until, at last the
party became jubilant over the election of Mar
Gus Morton to the chief executive office of the
State of Massachusetts.
The new element thus introduced into the
conflict ofpartes, tended necessarily to sectional
antagonisln, and it was easy to see that, how
ever we'll it served the exigency of the moment,
it was likely in the end, to bring discord into
the party on whose behalf it was invoked. As
political issue, it tended to mischief, to excite
passions, to infame prejudices, to sectionalize
parties and imperil slavery. But no consdera-
tions of craftsmanship, no enlightened forecast
of party welfare, no regard for the peace of the
country and the safety of its institutions, no
respect for the integrity of the Union, nothing
availed to restrain the Democracy from the des-
perate resort. Introduced upon the political a.
rena, it soon engrossed the public mind, aud the
success that attended it in the Southern States,
invited to a similar use of it in the Northern
States. Now, all other issues are laid aside, and
opposing parties rely for success in the different
sections upon their ability to excite and exas-
perate the minds of the masses by the laudation
and abuse of slavery.
The claim of legislative power to exclude
slavery from the common territory was a fruit
full source Of agitation. In the ordinance of
1857, providing government for the Northwest.
ern territory, it was declared that involuntary
servitude except for crime should be forever ex-
cluded therefrom. This ordinance was contem.
poraneous with the formation of the federal
constitution. Being adopted by the Congress of
the confederation, it was ratified by express pro
vision of that instrument, and so the unfortunate
policy was inaugurated at the birth of the Gov
ernment. But for long time nothing occurred
to disturb the peaceful relations of the States.-
Under Mr.. Jeffersons administration, Louisiana
was purchased from France and subsequently
Florida was purchased from Spain, and in both
territories slavery was recognized and establislz
ed by law, and in the inhabited parts was actual
ly existing at the time of the purchases. No
effort was made by the federal authority to in.
terfere with it, but when Missouri applied for
admission it was proposed to impose upon her
people the condition of excluding slavery from
the new State. The struggle ended in compro-
mise by which the line of $3.50 was drawn
through the remaining part of the Louisiana
purchase, and the application of the prohibition
of the ordinance of 1887 to the part north of that
ine The country acquiesced in the settlement
and the excitement subsided, but in the division
of parties, the question of slavery was not per-
mtted to enter
The States of Arkansas and Florida, in the
course of events, were duly admitted, without
question as to their system of labor. But, in
1850, another condition prevailed the fathers of
the Republic had passed off from the scene of
their usefulness; the great republican party had
given place to the fierce Democracy, and the
agitation of slavery was the pabulum Of its ex-
istence. Under their conduct of the govern
meut. sectioDalism had erected its horrible head,
and parties already threatened to divide by Ma
son and Dixon's line. When, therefore, Con-
gress came to make disposition of the territory
ceded by Mexico, it furnished no just ground of
surprise that this vicious element should distract
the repose of the country. But fortunately there
were distinguished patriots of both parties then
in the conduct of affairs. These great minds
addressed themselves to the work of pacifcation,
and series of enactments, known as the Com
promise measures of 1850, were placed on the
statute book. By these the law for the rem
dition of fugitives from service was made more
stringent; California was admitted as State
with Constitution prohibiting slavery; gov
ernment was provided for the territory Of New
Mexico, without any provision on that subject !;
the line OF the Missouri Compromise was ex-
tended through the Northern part of Texas ;
and the trade in slaves was prohibited in the
District of Columbia. The purpose OF these acts
was to dispose, at once OF all the subjects touch
ing which the question of slavery was likely to
be agitated, and thenceforward to exclude that
topic as matter of legitimate discussion, from
the halls of Congress. In this spirit Mr.. Fill
more accepted them and, in his message, de-