The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-07
MORE. OF THE WING ABOLITION IN
MASSACHUSETTS


ten for the same hopeless purpose, presents sun
more extreme case Of political ignorance. Here
il is:
,eFbe doctrines of even the liberty party IN Mas
sachusetis are nothing but strictly Jotersonhn doc
times ana stnnd on Just the same premises as trre
trade hard money, charer-breaking, AN Il-htN l.
ISM Dorrism acobinism, and the general rSht 81
the mere number, IN all communities 10 De ths sol.
law al every instant, no matter what inc lhsi'h'
lions the deliberate, fair, and indispensable secuH
ties under which such communities may nave
sought 10 shelter themselves against precisely such
uumuluary movements ofthe mumentary many"
We leave 10 the saysns of the ln'aligeneer The
seIEassumed task of pointing out the connexlon be-
tween a reduction Of the tariff and the schemes Of
the sboiuonis,s. We shall also be gladly informed
Of that chain Of infcrenceB which connects an eN-
tension Of the metallic basis Of our currency or the
reform Of the old royal charter Of Rhode Island
with immediate emancipation. We shall also
read with much interest any passages from the
works of Jefferson, which may be quoted 10 show
that great statesman planting him7elf on the same
premises with the Liberty Party in Massachusetts,
and seeking with them TO overthrow the eons'itn-
tionally guaranteed institutions Of the south. Sub
shutting, therefore, eonstuton-nnking for charter
breaking-a moderate rsUsnuS tariff for free trade,
we are willing to accept these distinctive Princ'
pies of the democratic parity and the ntellIgeneer
NAV, if il chooses, call such doctrines Dornsn, and
jacobinism.
But as to anti. rentism, we must decline, for the
democratic party, any conneXion with IT, We did
not believe, till the fact IN the lntelIigeneers
leading article of this morning, that that Journal
was so very ignorant ofthe prominent political events
now occurring around u.s. as not to know that John
Young, the regularly nominated candidate of the
wing party for the gubernatoria chair Of the EN-
pire State, was much more than suspected Of favor
ing the anti-renters very large potion OF the
Whie press Of the State of New York are at this
nent proclaiming this to be the fact and We do not
find i, earnestly or uuthoritauVely denied. IL has
become known to all men, save the editors OF the
lneligencer, that the wing party, and not the dem
ocratic party of the State Of New York, in ALI
ance, or quasi-aIliance with the anti-renters. *.
norance Of this fact is that very eraSsa ignOrania"
which, in judgment of law, constitutes, in all pro-
fessona persons, editors, we presume included,)
crime SO much for this last and most ludicrous
attempt of the wing organ to connect democracy
the anti-renters and the aboonIsts, let the whigs
make the most Of II.
The Intelligencer evidently con 5ders explanations
to be its forte. We lay before il, therefore,
farther materials for xplanaton. In the New Bed.
ford Mercury, a wing journal of high standing, We
find the following letter from Mr. Charles Sumner,
written to explain his recent course in the wing
vention:
"BosroN, Oct |, 1876.
"To the editor Of the .NstO Bedford Mercury;
"SIR: | hope you will allow me to correct mis-
apprehension into which you have fallen with re.
gard to my remarks at the recent wing convention,
81 am earnestly and conscIentiously opposed to
slavery. | believe it a national sin. and hold it to
be the duty of all persons TO do all that they can,
legally and constutonaly, 10 procure Its abolition.
! ventured therefore, in the convention, to suggest
that Massachusetts, should call for the abolition Of
slavery wherever she is, to any extent, responsible
for it, wherever she is party to it, wherever it may
be reached by her influence, that is everywhere be-
meath the laws and constitution OF the United States
In short, propose to eliminate, to expunge, to Grad
icate slavery from the laws and constitution of the
United States; in other words, TO repeal the sane.
tons which it derives from the federal government,
To which Massachusetts is a party. did not sug-
gest, and never intended to suggest, that an amend
ment of the constitution should be sought, provid.
ing for the abolition Of slavery in the saveholdlng
States. leave that question those States with
in whose local jurisdiction slavery exists. But
would say to them, if you sustain slavery let it be
local; let no longer be parties to it let no long
er be called upon to contribute in any way 10 It's
support. Especially let Massachusetts, ever true
10 the principles Of freedom, declare gently, bat
firmly in the spirit Of her bill Of rights, that every
where, within the sphere of her influence 'all men
are bore free and equal q This she has done al
ready by successive resolutions of her legislature,
which embody, believe, the points which endea
vored to establish before the convention, and which,
] observe, have your sanction. You recognise as
practicable the repeal Of slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia, the repeal Of the domestic slave
trade, the refusal to admit other States into the
Union with saveholding consitutions-aIl Of which
depend upon the legislation Of Congress-and also
the repeal of the provisions of the constitution,
founding representation on alave-property, and
securing to the slave owner the GIT tstsllow his
fugitive slave into the free States. am happy to
believe that my own proposition is in harmony with
your views, as it is in entire harmony with the
resolutions of Mr.. Phillips,
81 am, sir, your obedient servant,
"CHARLES SUMNER"
In reply 10 this letter, the Mercury insists that it
gave the true construction to Mr.. Summers remarks,
and cites the following passages from his speech to
prove its assertion:
nober than to strive merely for repeal of The tariff
which was once mentioned as the tocsin that was to
rally the wings. REPEAL OF SLAVERY UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, is
a more Christian and more potent watchword, be-
cause it embodies higher sentiment and more
commanding duty"
"Nor can it be questioned that the people Of the
United States may, in the manner pointed out by
the constitution; proceed to It's amendment 1t is,
then, by legislation and amendment of the constu
ton, that slavery is to be REPEALED.
"And here the question arises, Are there any com.
promises in the constitution, of such character
to prevent the free States from calling for the RE-
PEAL OF sLAyERYf'
81 assume, then, that it is the duty of the wings,
representing the higher sentiments of the commune
ty and the principles Of their fathers, to express
themselves openly and distinctly and soemnIy
against slavery, mol only against is further erienson
bm AGAINST ITS LONGER CONTINUANCE UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNION. But while
it is their duty 10 enter upon this holy warfare il
should be their aim to temper it with moderation,
with tendernnss towards slnvehold.