The Daily Union

A Familiar Recollection.

The National Intelligencer is an idolator of the past—clinging not to those sacred memories which make the future broad and bright in a nation's eyes, but recalling obsolete antecedents, like often exposed apparitions, "to fright the souls of fearful adversaries." Nor will our venerable Mentor be instructed by its own half century of failures in seeking to apply objectionable principles to the legislation of the day. Vainly was Texas annexed—vainly California acquired—the prophet, even while confounded by the results, did not cease to lament with all the fervor of Jeremiah of old. One after another have its darling theories of conservatism been tested and deserted—in every instance succeeded by a sound, practical reform, which confers invaluable benefits upon the people at large, but still the Intelligencer grumbles and groans. In Saturday's number of that highly respectable journal we find the usual appeal to by-gone remedies. A long list of expressions in the North against the Nebraska bill, having been collated by one of the New York dailies, is carefully corrected by the sage Intelligencer, and lugubriously introduced to the world as a warning which cannot safely be disregarded. We are forcibly reminded by this incident, of the manner in which, for several years before the compromise measures became laws, the northern mind was captivated by the so-called Wilmot proviso. Not politicians only, but States, spoke in favor of it. Monster meetings were held to support it. Legislatures adopted threatening resolutions. The whigs as a mass went off in a crusade against the South. In that hour, however, a brace of men stood firm, and boldly opposed that element of mischief. At first they were few and far between; but gradually the justice of their cause, the force of their reasoning, the patriotism of their ends and aims, swelled their ranks into a great and imposing organization. Even Mr. Webster went off, in the first impulse of the movement, in favor of the proviso, and with him many other sagacious men. In a short year or two the tide turned. The great argument of the country and the constitution prevailed, and the cause, which at first was scoffed and scorned, rallied to it the true hearts of the nation. The recollection is most familiar—most trite; but now, when the effort is again made to re-enact the same sad farce—only yesterday hissed from the political stage—we feel that a recurrence to a reminiscence so freshly remembered may not be unprofitable. We tell our respected cotemporary, that if, upon every great question, there were not timid tremblers at the start, the sequel would not be so full of instruction to posterity, and so full of gratification to those who remained steadfast and true from the beginning.