Secession Era Editorials Project

[Home] [Nebraska] [Sumner] [Dred Scott] [Harper's Ferry] [Search]

The South and the New York Factions.

Charleston, South Carolina, Mercury [Democratic]

(26 January 1854)

As expected, the bickerings between the New York Factions have been transferred to the floors of Congress, and the country has been entertained with some very pretty sparring between the various champions. But the indications are that this controversy, which threatened to result in such injury to the Administration, will pass quietly and harmlessly by, at least on the issues which gave it birth. The nomination of Mr. REDFIELD will be certainly confirmed, and Mr. BRONSON, in spite of all his persecution, and his smart letters, will be named no more.

A question has arisen, however, which will fairly put to the test, the faith of both Hards and Softs, and determine as well the sincerity of their support of the principles of the Compromise of 1850, as the justice of their several claims to be esteemed the friends of the South. Our remarks will be understood as having reference to the question of the establishment of a Territorial Government for Nebraska. We called attention a few days ago to Mr. DOUGLAS' Bill which proposes to extend the principles of the late Compromise to that territory, to the resolution introduced by SUMNER re-asserting the Wilmot proviso, to the action of the Ohio Legislature, and to the call of a public meeting in the city of New York for the object of denouncing Mr. DOUGLAS' Bill.

We regarded these as significant indications of the restiveness of a portion of the North on the oft-asserted finality of the Compromise, and their determination to set at naught its provisions, in every respect, at all favorable to the South. We, in fact, saw that our predictions were being realized, of the Compromise being a hollow truce, by which the South was put to sleep for further robbery. But it so happens that these New York factions have made their past devotion to the Compromise, and their willingness to sustain it in the future, the ground of all their quarrel, and each has charged upon the other the utmost treachery and falsehood in regard to it. An issue is pending which will determine between them, and we shall earnestly watch the progress. They both stand out as the advocates of the principles of the Compromise, and their action will sustain or contradict their past professions. It is perhaps, well for the South that parties at the North stand thus committed, for never before has the test been so fairly presented, of whether there is any party at the North really friendly to her rights, and if there is, who they are.

[Previous] [Next]

This document was produced as part of a document analysis project by Lloyd Benson, Department of History, Furman University. (Proofing info: Entered and proofed by Lloyd Benson.) This electronic version may not be copied, or linked to, or otherwise used for commercial purposes, (including textbook or publication-related websites) without prior written permission. The views expressed in this document are for educational, historical, and scholarly use only, and are not intended to represent the views of the project contributors or Furman University.