The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-08-30

, Ibis farewell address, filed with words Q
proioundest wisdom, deprecated all sec
tionallsm and the creation Of parties upol
sectional issues. Slavery, sectional in
stitution, bpgot sectionalism, aud be
oueathed to succeeding generations ate
lis extinction the blighting legacy Of I
Solid South confronting united ant
equally solid North. 1
The South demanded the repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise that limited slavery
TO the line OF SO degrees and 30minutes
The Democratic party in 1859 had declared
THAT Compromise final settlement, hut II
yielded to the demands OF the slave power
aud repealed 1t, thus opening up all the
new Northwest territory TO slavery. The
South demanded q fugitive Slave law that
should make Of all Northern men ctimi.
mails, subject to fine aud punishment, II
they should refuse to aid In capturing and
returning TO his master any fleeing slave
found upon free Northern soil, no matter
men might be asto the iniquily OF slavery.
A Democratic Congress enacted the law,
and Il was approved by . Democratic
president. The Supreme Court was SO
constituted as to uphold this law, and
similar legislation. Then came the Cele.
brated bred Scott decision, that persons OF
African blood were not included in the
Declaration Of Independence that "all
men are created free and equal, and
entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness" aud that slavery might exist
In the newly acquired territories oil the
Northwest By act Of the slave owner In
moving with bis slave property into those
territories. Incorporation was affirmed
by the party in national conventions in
1856 and 1850, and in effect meant that
slavery was tho normal condition oil all the
territories not yet erected into States.
Upon these propositions the Republican
party sprung into existence, and joined
issue, declaring that freedom and not
slavery was the normal condition OF all the
territories oil the United States.
The Democracy divided in 1850. seces'
sion OF the slave States, aud war, and the
final extinguishment Of slavery followed.
Democracy stood condemned. It's pet
theories and institutions were oVerthrown
by decision from which there is no ap.
peal.
This brief review of the past is simply |
TO show The influences that
slavery exerted upon the great national
party, and now TO be followed by the sug.
gesion that the character, purpose and
policy OF that party are still under the adj
verse influences OF the same Southern
domination.
have said parties are TO bejudged by
Ina thinpa they have accomplished, by the
results OF their administration upon the
prosperity, growth, intelligence, wealth
ind happiness OF the people.
We lind as q fact, however much We
nay regret II, that the great States south
II Mason and Dixon's line have been al
most wholly under the control Of the Dem
,cratic party almost from their creation,
lnd always under control OF the slave
power, while the States north oil that line
lave been for many years under control Of
IDEAS and theories wholly adverse to those
in the South, and for twenty
,ears or more almost wholly under the
political guidance of the Republican party,
,r It's immediate predecessors. The eI.
.epdon OF few States north now and
hen temporarily under the control oil the
Democratic party is only au apparent one,
IS the modifying influences OF powerful
Iud intelligent Republican minorities have
o affected and changed the character oil
northern Democracy that lis wholly dis
imilar 10 the simon.pure article found In
he South.
The words "solid South" as here used,
IRE taken in the same sense as used by
jen. Wade Hampton, Of South Carolina,
when he pledged the 1855 electoral votes
II the Solid South TO Gen. Hancock in the
National Convention Of the Democratic
,arty at Cincinnati, meaning West Viz.
,inia, Virginia, Horh Carolina, South
Jarolina. Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mis-
issippi, Louisiana, TeTas,. Arkansas, Ten.
iessee, Kentucky, Maryland and Dela'
ware.