Newbern weekly progress., 1860-02-21
His AppoIOgIsfs.

One of the most unfortunate signs OF the times
seems to be- in our ud dgment, the fact that South
ern papers are attempting to bolster up the pres
ent Speaker of the House of Representatives.
That Pennington is Black Republican IN all es
sential particulars as bad Sherman, there can
be no doubt, and still the pride and selfrespect
of Southern are being wounded and insult
ed by efforts by Southern papers to bolster up
his antecedents and make him very respectable
old line acAig. A State paper says:
NOtwthst landing of Democratic cotem-
p0raries endeavoring to create the impression
that Mr. Pennington is Abolitionist and an enemy
to the south vet we are quite sure til fair and
impartial survey of his past political life, will justify
NJ such conclusions That he voted tor Mr.. Sher-
man for Speaker, who is a sectional man, and who
admit; but that he regarded Mr.. Sherman in the
light in which he is viewed by Southern men, we do
not for moment believe. 70 believe this would be
say that Mr. PenningtOns political views have sud
DENY undergone very great change, or that he is
very Inconsistent politician.
Mr. Pennington has all his life been warm and
Jealous advocate of the principles OF the Wing
party. AS long as that party maintained distinct
organic alton i'll New jersey, ne was found fighting
under its banner Since its dissolution he has acted
with the Opposition of his State for the purpose of
defeating the Democratic party Upon the subject
of slavery he holds the views that are held by
the moderate and conservative men all over the
North. H is favor of the execution of the Fug
tive Slave Law and opposed to its repeal. He con
tends that slavery is not wrong in itself, and is not
opposed to its extension where 1t can be made avail
abe profitable
Now we consider the fact of his being the
Gus nominee of the Abolition party for Speaker
enough Uf itself to damn him in the eyes Of all
patriotic southern But not SO, for here
have defending him. But how the
lection of such men as Sherman and Hickman,
the most rampant sectonalists in the House, 10
preside over the most important committees be
accounted for? Why did he not select for these
posts men favorable to the enforcement of the
fugitive slave law, it is urged he is All, here
we have it. A Virginia exchange (opposition)
tj,Is us
If ever deserved horsewlpping, for any
ing, that i surely Mr. Hickman, for the rs
lent. bEtu and cowarGly outrage on S S'uthern feel
in ned in sp tech lis il response to tn
Sc rate the night OF tie election of speake .
iIr Pennington certain did mo- his own voiion
when he appointed tbs Reckless and gIacel ss PARTY
hack to the high and re:pon-ibte position Of C. air
n:an Of the Judiciary Comntee.
So so. Did not exercise his own 90 volition."
Whose, then! We car answer: He listened to
ami was governed by the counsels Of the sixty
III traitors who cordially endorsed and approv-
el - Helpers reasonable publication. g Holds
the same views that held by the mode
rae aud conservative men all over the North.'-
IFun1bug. If to affiliate, associate and act with
Seward, Sherman, Iiickm man, Helper s. Co. be to
tive men all over the North,' then indeed is lie
like them.
Of all things keep dough-face1 men from high
places. We want men in power who will take
decided positions, ana prefer an open frank,
bold enemy, any time, to a mk-andwater mon
strosty, who is neither friend nor enemy, of him
SELF but " no is weak enough and knave enough
to lend himself TO the execution of the purposes
of corrupt cliques. We are decidedly of the opin-
ion that the election of Sherman would have
been better for the country and better for the
South, than that of Pennington. the present
Speaker. Then we should have had an open
envy and should have known how to meet him,
and might, at least, been spared the modification
of hearing him praised by portion of the South
ern press. The most alarming feature in our pre-
sent political condition is the want of irmness
exhibited by southern men, and symptoms of
disposition the part of some to submit quietly
to all the indignities which Abolition fanaticism
may heap upon