Washington City, Dec. 5, 1851.
My Dear Sir, I have just
sent that letter to you to the Post Office as there was but just time to save
the mail. Fearing you may not come on, I have thought it best to write you a
little more at large in explanation of my views.
It was supposed,
before the session, commenced that the Democratic Caucuses of the Senate and
the House might be induced to adopt the Compromises as parts of the Democratic
Platform and thus exclude the Antislavery men. It was the anxious wish of
Foote, Cobb & Co, including the Whigs of the South, that they should do so,
and thus open the door for the admission of the Constitutional Union Party into
the bosom of the democracy. But when Congress assembled and the Antislavery
Representatives (Democrats) such as King, Cleveland & Rantoul went into Caucus
declaring that if any such test as adherence to the Compromises was imposed
they must withdraw, light suddenly shone into the understandings of the Hunkers
and they became suddenly convinced that Resolutions endorsing the Compromises
were inexpedient. The rationale of the matter was that they feared the
loss of the Progressive Democrats more than they desired the gain of the
Constitutional Union Men. So the resolution was laid on the table in the House
Caucus and the idea of introducing it into the Senate Caucus was abandoned.
Foote has brought into the Senate, on his own responsibility, the resolution
which was rejected in the House Caucus. It may pass, but I think it doubtful. I
know its introduction is condemned by the most prominent democrats. If it
passes it must be by a combined vote of whigs & democrats. It cannot
receive democratic votes enough to pass it.
Under these
circumstances I feel pretty sure that there will be no attempts to engraft any
approval of the Compromise measures upon the Baltimore Platform. On the
contrary, I think it more probable—though I do not think it absolutely
probable—that the Pro Slavery Resolution now constituting part of that
Platform may be dropped.
It seems to me,
then, that there never was so fair an opportunity for Antislavery democrats to
work as now. It is certain that they have the convictions of a majority of the
people with them, and they are now virtually admitted to be too strong to be
proscribed.
We need in Ohio and
especially at Cincinnati a liberal democratic press. The Nonpareil is
substantially that now, but it is edited upon no fixed plan and is without a
chart. Give it an Editor, who would make it a readable paper, maintaining
substantially the same position as now, until the Presidential Election shall
come on and then giving a hearty support to the candidates of the Democracy or,
if the Democracy shall be divided then to the candidates of the Progressive
Wing, and I do not see how it can fail to be a profitable concern. If I had
charge of it, I would not perceptibly change its present position; but would,
very gradually, give it an Independent Democratic character, without distinctly
avowing any party bias. I believe in this way it could be made acceptable to
its present readers while gaining increased circulation and influence among the
democrats. Another consideration, in favor of the paper is that it has the city
printing worth about $1000 per annum.
Now if you can raise
the means to pay for the paper— say 1800 cash to meet immediate payments, I will
provide in 6 month, or less time if necessary, $1000 to complete the purchase.
Then means could be raised to carry on the paper, until the subscription &
advertising should furnish, themselves, the means. I believe you could
make the paper profitable and useful and I shall be extremely glad if you see
your way clear to take hold of it.
I do not abandon the
hope of seeing you here, but I thought it safest to write at all events.
SOURCE: Diary
and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual Report of the
American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p.
238-40
No comments:
Post a Comment