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COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.
FRIDAY MORN INC, APRIL 15, 1853.
_• _
Cor. Cobb’s letter.
We publish to-day the letter of Governor Cobb de
fining bis poeition, and commend it to the attention of
our readers. We are gratified to find that His Excel
lency cherishes a conciliatory spirit towards the Southern
Rights Democracy, is willing to forget the past, and
co-operate cheerfully in the advancement of the princi
ples which we hold in common. Much of our opposi
tion to him resulted from the mistaken opinion that he
sanctioned the wild ravings of the Tugalo Faction,
whioh can find no gentler epithet than “traitor” to de
signate the members of the great majority of the re
organised Democracy, The letters of Messrs. Hull and
Jackson have fully satisfied us that these disorganisers
found neither a friend nor sympathiser in Gov. Cobb,
and though we think he did wrong in keeping silence
during the canvass, we comprehend the motives which
governed him, and are not disposed to make this a
ground of quarrel. If, therefore, Gov. Cobb can freely
00-operate with the Southern Rights men of Georgia in
support of Gen. Pierce’s administration, we will not shut
the door against him. He is in a position to do much for
the common cause in his district by putting down a faction
whioh, to gratify, as it seems to us, personal hatred to
particular individuals in the party, would gladly pulldown
upon their own heads the pillars upon which the tem
ple rests ; and we are not without hope, that an inti
mate association with the pure and conservative states
men who are now at the head of the government will
commend to his favorable nctice the great principles of
State Rights and State remedies, upon which the pat ty
in Georgia so unfortunately divided.
We will, we presume, be permitted in all kindness to
point out what we conceive to be one or two radical
errors in His Excellency’s review of the history of the
Democratic party and of the present position of its chief.
Gov. Cobb does not assert positively, but intimates
strongly, that the course of the Union party at the
south was endorsed by the Baltimore convention. We
do not think so. When the convention met, the com
promise was not an open question. It was the law of
the land. All organised opposition to it had ceased in
the south. There were mobs at the north which occa
sionally resisted that part of it embraced in the Fugitive
slave law. In view of this opposition to the only re
maining feature which was open to violation, the con
vention declared that it would “adhere to and abide by
the compromise,” thereby placing the seal of its disap
probation upon the treasonable praotioes of the abolition
ists, and giving a guarantee to the south of the future
enforcement of their right*, without expressing any
opinion as to the odious features of the compromise which
were fixed facts, and had stirred up resistance at the
south. General Pierce in his Inaugural went beyond
the Baltimore Platform and declared the compromise
“constitutional,’’ a position not by any means universally
denied by the Southern Rights party, but did not sanction
it as “fair, liberal, and just;” and his mind was evi
dently directed to the Fugitive slave law, as the whole
context clearly proves. He makes no allusion to any
other feature of it but this, and in a preceding para
graph he evidently intends to relieve the South from all
blame for the results of the agitation which grew out of
it, and to fix it home upon the northern fanatics by as
serting unequivocally that “if the federal government
will confine itself to the exercise of powers clearly !
granted by the constitution, it can hardly happen that its
action upon any question should endanger the institu
tions of the States, or interfere with their rights to man
age matters strictly domestio according to the will of
their own people.” And in confirmation of this view, j
we proudly refer to the facts that Jefferson Davis is a ‘
leading member of his Cabinet, and that the most deli
cate mission in his gift was conferred upon Pierre Soule,
and that nono of the prominent headers of the Union
party at the south have reoeived high office at his hands.
We are also compelled reluctantly to differ with his
Excellency as to the doctrine of “Secession.” We can
not regard it as an open q lestion. It is known that
the Southern Rights Democracy insisted upon the adop- ;
tion of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of the
Baltimore convention *'in their plain meaning and im
port,” as a sine qua non of 00-operation on their
part with the National Democracy. This was done, and
thereby the fullest and most unequivocal sanction given
to the proposition that in all conflicts with the federal
government—“the State shall judge of the mode and
measure of redress, and nullification is the rightful reme- !
dy”—the ever memorable words of the Kentucky Re- !
solutions. It is idle, therefore, for Gov. Cobb to set up
in opposition to this plain declaration, the federal here
sies of the Proclamation, which its author found it ne
oessary to explain, and the great body of the party re
pudiated, along with Father Ritchie.
We have not opened these subjects of oontroversy
in any captious spirit, but to preserve the truth of his- j
tory, and keep before the people the cardinal principles
of the Democratic Party, without whioh it would be a
dead mass, without life or power, exoept to elevate its
devotees to honors and office. The State Rights ele
ment we regard as its distinguishing characteristic. It
is the very corner stone of the edifice, upon which the
whole superstructure of southern rights rests ; and rath
er than remove it from the temple, we would gladly i
see the whole fabrio totter to its overthrow.
.
The Spirit of the South and Capt. Abercrombie
The Spirit of the South announoes the willingness of
the Souihern Rights Democracy of the Distriot to sup
port the gallant Captain Abercrombie for Congress, at
the next election. The Spirit says :
“It is fresh in the recollection of us all that when the
Northern anti-compromise wing of the Whig party,
achieved in the National Convention, a signal triumph
in the nomination of General Scott, Capt. Abercrombie
was among the foremost in repudiating their action, and
denouncing their nominee as unworthy of southern sup
port, and that throughout the canvass he maintained
this ground in opposition to the entire Union press in this :
district, as well ns of a large proportion of the voters to l
whom he owed his election. It is an appropriate sequel
to this manly and independent course that he now spurns
the dictation of that rotten clique of disappointed Scott
politicians who, seeking to ostracise him because of this
act of fidelity to his section, vainly hoped through thema
chinery of a oonvention to fasten upon the district a man
of their own stripe—some less scrupulous politician by
trade for whom no abandonment of principle would be
too shameless and for whom even Scwardism itself has
no terrors if its lurid glare serves but to light the way
to the spoils'^office. Foiled in this prime object, they
next endeavored to preserve at least an apparent ascen
dency by promising him a nomination, if he would but
thus recognize their supremacy and lend his name and
influence to their political schemes, but each new effort
has only served to render his rejection of their foul
embraoe, the more emphatic and decided.’*
Kail Road Junctions.
Under this caption the Journal and Messenger con
cludes an article as follows:
“In this connection, we w ould inquire if nothing is to he
done to signalize the completion of the line of Railway be
tween Savannah and Columbus. The Muscogee and
South-Western Roads will be connected, we understand,
by the Ist May. Will Savannah go to Columbus, or Col
umbus to Savannah, or both come to fraternize at Macon,
or all stay at home ? We do not know.”
We are sure the citizens of Savannah and Macon will
receive than one shsut. if they will honor us with
a visit on the first of May. We beg leave to remind
the Mayor of what is expected of him on the occasion.
But if the mountain will not come to Mahomet, Ma
homet will go to the mountain. A trip to Savannah
would be exceedingly pleasant at that season of the year ;
and as compromises aro the order of the day, we pro
pose that each city visit the other by turns, and that
the nuptials of the Chattahoochee and the sea be cele
brated by three parties instead of one. W T hat say our
; cotemporaries ?
Statistics of Crime.
We find much food for thought in the following eta- |
tistics of crime among white and free colored persons in j
the several States of the Union. The contrast is any j
thing but favorable to the African race, and gives no !
encouragement to the wild fancies of fanatics who sup
pose the negro is capable of attaining a position equal to
; that of the white man.
The following is the ratio of convicts received in
Penitentiaries for 10 years ending 30th Sept. 1850 :
States. White population. Free Colored.
! Virginia. 1 to 23,003 1 to 3,001
j Massachusetts Ito 7,584 1 to 727
Maryland 1 to 9,285 1 to 1,452
Pennsylvania *. 1 to 11,408.. 1 to 2,158 -
New York Ito 5,304. Ito 772
From these statistics it will be seen that in Virginia
free negroes are nearly 8 times as vicious as white
people, in Massachusetts about 10 times, in Maryland 7
times, in Pennsylvania 10 times, and in New York?
times. Nor need the South blush at this exhibition.
In Virginia both whites and blacks are more moral by
three times than they are in Massachusetts; and by
four times than the people of New York. This is not
the first instance, however, where the poor publican has
been preferred to the canting hypocrite.
Whig Meeting in Tuskegee.
“We refer our Alabama readers to an article from ;
the Alabama Journal, in which they will find a notice
of a whig meeting in Macon county, at which delegates
were appointed to a district convention, the object of
which is to nominate a candidate for Congress—not
withstanding the fact that Captain Abercrombie is
already in the field. This looks like we shall have
whig opposition to the Captain. We presume, howev
er, that he will hardly regard it. The Journal , the
leading whig paper, announces that “while matters re- !
main in their present relations, there will be no effort j
on the part of the whigs of this (Montgomery) county
to join in any convention for the nomination of a district j
candidate,’’ and the Spirit of the South , a Southern |
Rights Democratic journal of great influence, has j
pledged the Southern Rights party to his support. It
will, we imagine, be very easy to whip out the disaf
fected squad in Macon county, even though they may
be led by “a distinguished and most estimable citizen j
of that county,” who, it seems, has been quietly itching j
for Federal office for the two years last past.
—_____ - !
The New York Collectorship.
The Herald of the 9th inst., says : “According to ;
our telegraphic advices from Washington, his (Dickin- j
son’s) letter of declination reached the President yester- j
day morning, and, forthwith, Greene C. Bronson, ex-
Chief Justice of our Court of Appeals, was nominated ; !
and satisfactory evidence having been communicated to j
the Senate that he was among the very hardest of the
hard shells, a firm believer in the justice of the Fugitive
Slave law, and dead against the free soilers, he was
straightway ratified nem. con.”
Cabinet Changes.
Charleston, April 11.
The President has recalled the Senate, part of whom j
bad left the city. The Sergeant at Arms had dsipatch- j
led for them. They meet at 12 o’clock to-day. It is j
rumored that there will be a re-organization of the Cabi- :
net. Mr. Maroy has resigned. Mr. Cushing takes the 1
office of Secretary of State. Mr. Dobbin Attorney
General aud Mr. Stockton Secretary of the Navy.
The following among other appointments by the !
President were officially announced, in Washington, on j
the sth inst. I
G. G. Davenport, Chief Justice of New Mexioo.
ICerby Benedict, Associate Judge of New Mexico.
Charles E. Ramsay, Marshal of New’ Mexico.
I. C. Haines, Postmaster at Bangor, Maine.
John Elvis Warren, Secretary of Legation to Cen- J
tral America.
Connecticut. —The result of the election held in
Connecticut, on Monday the 4tli, is entirely Democratic.
For Governor, Thomas H. Seymour.
“ Lieut. Governor, Charles H. Pond.
w Secretary of State, John P. C. Mather.
“ Comptroller, Rufus G. Pinney.
For Congress —lst District, James T. Pratt, of Hart
ford Co.-, 2d district, Colin M. Ingersoll, New Haven
Cos.; Id district, Nathan Belcher, New London Cos.;
4th district, Origen S. Seymour, Litchfield.
The Printers in New York city have struck for an
increase of pay, equivalent to about 18 percent.
Gen. Marshall Killed. —We perceive from the
Louisville (Kentucky) Times, of the 3lst, that it was ;
General Thomas Marshall, of Lewis county, and not j
the Hon. Thomas F. Marshall, that was killed in an
affray with one of his tenants. General Marshall was
highly popular in the region of the State where he re
sided and was frequently elected to represent his coun
ty in the State Legislature. He served his country in
the war of 1812, and was a Brigadier General in the (
war with Mexico.
Alabama Democracy. —The party waters are be
ginning to move. On the 29th ult., the democrats of
“Old Clarke” met and appointed delegates to attend a
meeting, which is to be held at Montgomety, on the Ist
Monday of next month, to nominate a candidate for Gov
ernor.
The delegates appointed to attend the State conven
tion were also empowered to attend the District Con
vention to nominate a candidate for Congress.
The democrats of Marengo have held a convention
for similar purposes. They have expressed a preference
for Bragg for Congress.
The Wilkes county Railroad, it is believed, will be
finished by the 4th of J uly next.
Col. B. F. Hardeman, of Oglethorpe county, is re
commended for Judge of the Northern Circuit.
The License Petition.—Thh petition, which was
proposed by the Atlanta Convention, is in circulation in
this county. We notice that it is receiving the name
of almost every voter living in the village ; but few to
whom it has been presented, have declined signing.
Among the petitioners we sec the names of the only j
two Retailers in the village. This speaks well for them, I
and shows that they are not afraid to test their busi
ness by public opinion.— Cen. Georgian .
Judge Stark. — We perceive by the last Jeffersonian .
that Judge Stark offers his name for re-election to the j
.Judgeship of the Flint Circuit. He does not wait for .
a party nomination, as he has known no party in the |
distribution of justice, aud in expounding the law. j
Judge Stark has given great satisfaction to the people
of his district, and we doubt not they will, by a large
majority, re-elect him —such, at least, would be but
justice to his merits. — Fed. Lnion.
The Next Governor. — A correspondent of the Sa
i vannah Georgian warmly urges the name ol Judge
j E. Starnes, of Augusta, as a suitable candidate for Gov
! ernor. The Georgian s correspondent pays the Judge
I some very high, yet deserved compliment?.— Central
j Georgian.
I
Senator Chapman. —The most furious man in Wash
ington—always excepting Mr. Senator John Pettit,
who flies into a momentary rage every time a fly alights
on his nose—is Mr. Chapman, of Indiana, the “crow,
! Chapman, crow,” man. Something between him and
; the administration has gone wrong, and it is all grotcl,
Chapman , growl , with him at the present writing.
[Delta j
Arkansas Railroad. —Memphis is moving in the j
great work of Internal Improvement. The citizens aro I
about to decide by ballot upon subscribing $350,000 to
the Arkansas Central Railroad, which will connect ;
Little Rock with Memphis.
The Steamship Philadelphia, from Aspinwall, with
U. S. mails and 131 passengers, has arrived at New
Orleans. She reports that the steamship Illinois left ;
Aspinwall on tho Ist inst., for New York, with 600 i
passengers and $2,500,000 in gold dust. The stemn
! ship Independence, with 600 passengers, for Panama,
| not having been heard from for thirty-two days, is sup
| posed to have foundered at sea.
The citizens of Nashville and Davidson county,
Tenn., have voted by a large majority to subscribe one
million of dollars stock to the following projected rail
roads, and in the following amounts, to be paid in
county bonds, viz : Northwestern Railroad $300,000,
Tennessee and Alabama $200,000, Edgefield and Ken
tucky $200,000.
John D. Field, jr., has been appointed assayer of the
| branch mint at Dhalonega, Georgia, in place of M. F.
1 Stephenson, removed.
Miniature Portraits.
| We are indebted to Mr. D’Knszliny for a beautifully :
painted and strikingly accurate miniature portrait, on
ivory, of ourself. We take great pleasure in commend
ing him as an accomplished Artist, to our community.
Juvenile Concert.
Weevil the attention of our'"readere to Mr. Kc-H
| merer’s advertisement, of his Juvenile Conceit, to take j
! place at Temperance Hall, on Friday night.
Mobile, April 13.—C01. King’s health continues
to fail.
Whig Meeting in Macon County Alabama.
We learn that a meeting of the whigs of Macon
county, was held at Tuskegee on Monday, and
delegates appointed to attend a District Conven
tion at Troy, for the purpose of nominating a
whig candidate for Congress, according to im
memorial usage.
The whigs of Macon are of true met'le, intel
ligent, faithful and firm in all times of emergen
cy and disaster to the party—they have always
come from the fiery crucible of trial pure and
undiminished gold, and have been stamped ster
ling by the experience of every party contest
since the county has been formed. We, of course
do not affect or assume to advise such men.—
We notice their action for the purpose of men
tioning that there will, while matters remain in
their present relations, be no effort on the part
of the whigs of this county, as far as we have
ascertained opinion, to join in any Convention
for the nomination of a District candidate. They
deem it impossible, under the circumstances,
and that the effect will only be to array friends
and comrades against each other for the benefit
of the common enemy. We are aware that
there is much feeling among our Macon friends,
from the impression that there was an implied
understanding in the last canvass, that a dis-
! tinguished and most estimable citizen of that
; county was to represent the District in the next
! Congress. Ilow fair that impression was found
! ed in any definite understanding, we have no
j personal knowledge’ We learn from reliable
authority, that Capt. Abercrombie is actually
in the field and has no intention to await the ac
tion of his friends in a Whig Convention. This
|of course, will prevent auy whig nomination,
! and the election wilt go by default, as many will
not mix up in it.— Alabama Journal.
[From the True Delta.]
Intense Excitement !—Lola Moutez Again !
J The eccentric and fascinating Lola Montez is
I back among us. Let the lovers of excitement
I and novelty rejoice ! In very pity for the low
state of the item market she condescended to
enter the green room of the Varieties Friday
night, and while the play was going on, pitched
into the worthy prompter, called him strange
and somewhat Billingsgatish names, and with
feet and fingers made a wild-cat attack to which
in fury, the attack of the famous grizzly bear.
General Jackson, on the Attakapas bull, Santa
Anna, was not a circumstance. The excite
ment in the Theatre became immense—the play
for a time was stopped, and the noise of the
green room heroine awakened the echoes of all
the adjacent streets. “And then and there was
hurrying to and fro,” for Lola had to he turned
out, and those who assisted in the performance j
of the feat confidentially assert that the natural
perfume of her breath was [lightened and ether- j
eaiized spirituous odors. The police then went j
in search of Lola, but she escaped them. We j
learn that a warrant has since been issued for j
the arrest of her ladyship.
Since writing the above, the fair Countess of
Lansfeldt, with her agent S. H. Henning, have
been arrested and arraigned before acting Re
corder Summers. They gave bail for their ap
pearance for examination on the 14ih inst.,
The affidavit in the case was made by George
T. Rowe, prompter at the Varieties. He deposes j
that on Friday night, in the “Varieties 1 heatre, in i
the First District, City of New Orleans, I.uish ;
jof Orleans, one Lola Montez and 8. H. Hen- |
| nitig,unprovokedly assaulted and batteicd de
ponent against the peace and dignity <d the
State, &c. „
. The Countess declared that “Lola Montez
! was not lier legal name, and that felt disinclined
‘to plead, save under her legal title ot Countess
jof Landsfeldt; but. as she considered herself the
j aggrieved part} 7 , she would not insist her light.
| She then was permitted to make a counter at
fidavit, in which she entirely reverses the charge,
‘as made by Mr. Rowe. Those who heard her
i pass through the Alley way and Common street,
into Carondelet, after she made her exit from
the Theatre, declare that in a certain style ot
| elocution, she beats ail the armies that ever cele
j brated themselves in Flanders.
Letter oi'Governor Cobb.
Milledgeville, 21st March, 1853.
Dear Sir:—As Union Democrats, we are
i called upon to choose between the re-union of
I the Democratic party, and the re-organization
jof the Union party. Having fully expressed my
| self favorable to the first proposition, I will give
i the reasons which have influenced my own de
! cision, and which I think should control the
course of every Union man who intends to iden
! tify himself with the National Democratic par
! t 3 T *
| The Democratic party ot Georgia was disor
! ganized by the divisions in its ranks on the Com*
: promise measures of 1850. That portion of the
I party with which we acted regarded those
j measures as conformable to the principles of
the National of no consti
tutional right of the South, and an infliction of
iio grevious wrong, The other wing of the
5 party holding a different opinion, tire party was
j dissolved, and new organizations sprung up in
| the place of the Democratic and Whig par
| ties of the State. The issue was made, and
■ submitted to the people of Georgia, and by them
decided, and that decision solemnly-affirmed,—
The same issue was presented to the Democracy
of the Union, and when assembled at Baltimore
to nominate their candidates for President and
Vice President, the position of the National
Democracy upon the compromise was clearly,
distinctly, and unequivocally announced. With
that declaration all Union men were perfectly
satisfied—in truth itvvas all that they could desire
The Presidential canvass was conducted upon
| it. General Pierce did not hesitate to respond
1 in the most cordial terms of approval to this pa
j triotic declaration of the National Democracy,
lie was elected by an overwhelming majority
of the electoral votes, and upon entering upon
his responsible duties, has paid another tribute
to the “wisdom and patriotism” which carried
the country safely through tiiat “perilous crisis”
which gave birth to the compromise measures.
U^inuiJWdietraTou n(f liini a cabinet of able and
I patriotic men, who stand as a unit in his conn- !
; sels, and to whom, as I am informed, his inau
! gural address was submitted for approval prior j
i to their acceptance of seats in his cabinet.
Under these circumstances, ought any Union
Democrat—indeed, any Union man, whether
I Whig or Democrat—to hesitate in giving to the
| present administration his confidence and sup
! port ? To proceed one step further—ought any
i such man to hesitate in .cordially} affiliating
! with the National Democratic party l I think
not. Both the President and the party who
! elected him, have commended themselves to
our confidence and regard, by the course of
policy which they have adopted upon this im
portant question, and 1 hold that it is not only
our privilege *but our duty to give to both our
cordial and unconditional support. Should either
prove unworthy of it, of which I have no fears,
it will be time enough then to consider “of the
mode and measure of redress.’’ The question
then presents itself—how is this support to be
given most efficiently to the administration and
the Democratic party ? It seems to me that
there can be but one answer to the inquiry. It i
is bv a cordial co-operation, in the Democratic
party, of all who are prepared to stand upon
the platform of principles announced by llie
Balti more Convention, endorsed by the people
in the recent election, and re-affirmed by Gen.
Pie ree, with the concurrence of his Cabinet, in
his Inaugural Address. Upon this basis it is 1
proposed to re-unite the Democratic party. As
at Union Democrat, it meets my cordial appro-
S val, and shall receive mv warm support. I have
I not reviewed the position of the other wiug of
the party: On the contrary, i shall avoid it,
having no disposition to re-open the points of
! division which led to our separation. My ob
ject is simply to state our own present and past
I course, to show that in the policy now proposed
j we are acting in conformity to the requirements
of duty and principle. It is sufficient for me to
i know that the Democratic party of the State can
now he re-united upon the terms which i have
suggested, anti I shall not stop to inquire by
; what route others have traveled to arrive at the
same point with myself. However much we
i have differed in the past, we are now agreed
upon the essential points of our political faith,
| and being so agreed, we should strive to effect a
thorough and'cordial co-operation iri the sup
port and maintenance of our common princi
| pies.
To this line of polic\ T I have heard hut two
objections, which have been urged with any
i earnestness; and I avail myself of the oppor-
I tunity to offer a brief reply to each of them.
The first is that there exists a radical difference
of opinion between the two wings of the party,
on tire doctrine of “secession.” 1 admit that
such is the fact, in reference to the individual
| members, but I doubt much as to the extent of
this difference with the great body of the party ; j
but let the fact stand admitted in its broadest j
sense, for the sake of argument. I would en- j
quire of those who make this objection, if the j
same thing has not been true of the party for ‘
the last twenty years, at least? Is it not a fa- j
miliar fact, that, whilst the Jackson Democrats I
held the doctrines laid down by that venerated
patriot in his message to Congress, and his
proclamation to South Carolina, the Calhoun
Democrats at the same time contended for the
right of secession, as advocated by their distin- ’
guiShed leaders? The followers 1’ ,
maintained the faith of theirren ~° ac Hay I
nd will in .11 probability ■
; Tins difference of opinion, however , So
j abstract question, did not prevent the’. ■ ari I
co-operation of both sections, i n a ll I
i tial doctrines of the Democratic essen - I
i which there existed no diversity 5 U P° n I
| With a full knowledge of these diV' 1 " 1 ' 0 ' 1, I
I they continued to act together in the s e^ I
ty, leaving the abstract question of S
| to the judgment of the individual nieff' S1 ° n ’
the party, neither making theaffirmanceTV 1
j nial otthat doctrine a test of party faith j ** I
no reason for departing from the rule th m , I
! ted upon. It will be time enough to ma |[ e „ ac * I
cession” a cause for division, when it j s ?
| to make the recognition of it a test of panv'r
1 alty, or when there shall arise a n arf * ?’*
may threaten its practical enforcement* ’in° J
first of these contingencies is not at preset l ’ ,
[>osed from any quarter, and whenever 1’ °
arrive, which shall demand the latter, in -
judgement of the people, Ido not
that we shall stop, to discuss the abstract
tiou, if w© are agreed upon the more
point of the necessity and propriety of Jt s e ,
forcement. If, however, we would not be th
agreed, as was the case in our recent con, 1
there will be no more difficulty in the f u .,, r
than there has been in the past, in meeting ai j
successfully resisting its recognition and en
forcement. The objection, therefore,
to my mind no serious impediment in the w,-
of the re-union of the Democratic party of onr
; State.
The only remaining objection which seems
to demand attention, is founded upon the ide,
that there exiois, among southern rights
| men, such deep personal hostility to Union dem
ocrats, as to preclude the probability of our re.
ceiving justice at their hands. It is urged that
their opposition being of a personal and malig.4
nant character will not cease with the reunion
i but will be continued and felt in the future ope’
rations of the party. It is a sufficient reply to
their objection to say that it is an argument ad
! dressed to our fears, and not to our judgment ;
as such it shall be discarded without further
thought; but itisalso founded in error to our sup.
j posed weakness in the party. Ifnootherconside
j ration should cause our rights to be respected, we
may safely calculate upon the homage always
j paid to power, carrying as we do into the re
united party all the elements of strength, which
make up in the aggregate the power and influ
; enc-e of a party. In looking, however, to the
re-union of the party, I do not apprehend such
a state of things as this objection foreshadows,
and perhaps I shall have as much personal cause
of apprehension upon this point as any other
j U nion democrat.
It is true that the angry ar.d violent contests
of the last two years have embittered the feel
ings and aroused the passions of many towards ;
each other, who will now be thrown again into
the same party association ; but time and reflec
tionwill prove successful restoratives of good
feeling where intei policy failed to
accomplish it. With weak minds and bad
hearts, the process will be less rapid, hut in the
end, not l*es certain. It will be found that
those who indulge in this spirit of personal hos
tility are few in numbers, and powerless in in
fluence. The good sense and good feeling of
the great body of the party will invoke the
better spirit, and lead to wiser and purer coun
sels. The danger to the future union and har
mony of the party from that quarter, 1 feel as
| sured is overestimated by those who regard it as
an insuperable obstacle in the way of a cordial
re-union oi'ihe Democratic party.
I am opposed to the re-organization of the
Union party, because it is unnecessary. An im
portant crisis in our national affairs called that
party into existence. I participated in its
organizations and during its existance, took
an active interest in all its operations, and
can now look back with pleasure and sat
isfaction to its successful career, it was, in
my judgment, a patriotic organization, demand
ed by a peculiar state of our political affairs,
and having faithfully discharged its office, has
passed away with the causes which led to its
formation. It lived to see the triumph of-its
principles, and ceased to exist when its longer
continuance was equally impracticable and un
necessary.
To revive and maintain the Union party as a
sectional organization, would be violative ofthe
great principle of nationality 7 upon which it was
founded. On the other hand, to attempt its
1 continuance as a national organization, is de
; lusive, as it would stand isolated from all na
tional party association. In the history of the
dissolution of the Tnion party, we find con
clusive evidence that it cannot maintain a na
tional organization. It will be remembers;!,
i that the Democratic Convention at Baltimore
j had nominated candidates and adopted a plat
| form entirely acceptable to the Union party;
our own State Convention assembled and deter
mined to support the democratic nominees, and
put forward an electoral ticket for that purpose.
A large and respectable portion of the whig
wing of the party, who admitted that the demo
cratic nominees and platform were satisfactory,
| and at the same time, repudiated the whig
; nominee as unsound and unworthy of their sup
port, withdrew from the party, preferring to
throw away their votes on a nominal candidate,
! to affiliating with the National Democratic par
ty, notv ithstanding that party had presented
them with a platform of principles, and nonii
| nees, pledged to the maintenance of their Union
i doctrines, f allude to this action in no spirit ot
! complaint, recognizing as 1 do, the perfect
right of those gentlemen to pursue the line ot
policy which they adopted; my object is sim
• ply to show that the elements composing the
Union {organization of Georgia, are incapa
; ble of being moulded into one and the
| same National organization. The democratic
| portion of the party is not only prepared for,
but determined upon affiliation with the Nation
al Democracy, whilst a large portion of the
whig vviug is equally determined against such
affiliation, as is clearly exhibited by the course
pursued by their respective portions in the late
Presidential election. President Pierce and the
democratic party, have no stronger claims up
on whig support now, than during the canvass;
for all that has been done since the election,