The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-09
pennsylvania AND HER REPRESENTATIVES.

OF all the free States, Pennsylvania is perhaps
the least enlightened on the question Of Slavery
and the most amenable to the acquisitions OF the
South. In the early stages of the Free Soil agi-
tation before the Shareholders had organized their
system of intimidation, the Wing and Demo-
cratic parties of that State, obeying the popular
impulse took strong ground in favor of the policy
of Slavery Restriction. The candidates OF both
parties for the office of Canal Commissioner,
pledged themselves to it, and the Legislature
without distinction Of party, passed resolutions
affirming it.
But a series of reactonary movements affect
ing the Democratic party was soon instituted,
under the auspices of Mr.. Buchanan. With the
Democratic press Of the State and the leading
politicians under his control, it was no difficult
task to convince the masses of the party, ignorant
as they are Of the aggressions and demands Of
Slavery, and Of its power in the National Coun-
ellis, that they had been deluded by the Federal
lists into a mere sectional struggle, which could
have no other effects if persisted in, than to de-
stroy the union of the Democracy and the union
of the States.
the party by these movements, shows how much
mastery one mind may acquire over many, that
choose to give up the right to think for them
selves Public meetings of the Democracy in
various parts of the State revealed the triumph
of Buchanansm, and the votes of the Democratic
members of the Legislature, repudiating the VIII
mot Proviso, prove that the revolution is now
nearly complete.
"Issachar," said the old patriarch, is strong
ass, COUGHING down between two burdens,
and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a
servant unto tributen-a true type of the Land
of Penn, only it couches under one burden, in
stead of two. But it is always bowling its shout
der to bear and becoming a servant to tribute.
Held to service or labor" is a phrase descrb
ing its normal condition and if by any sudden
impulse it break away and become fugitive, it
scarcely needs pursuer to bring it baok-it re-
turns voluntarily to the yoke None of the States
of the North is under such subordination to the
Slave Power; and this is owing chiefly to the
excellent discipline of Mr. Overseer Buchanan
We were unreasonable enough to hope when
Messrs. Brown and lngersoll of Philadelphia were
left at home by their constituents, that Pennsyl-
vania was about to send Representatives to Con-
gress bearing the stamp and attributes of man
hood; but she is worse off in this respect than
ever Compared with the treachery of Gilmore,
the weakness of Irving, his predecessor is virtue
itself and the position of Charles Jared Inger.
soil was respectable, compared with that of Thomas
Ross. The speech of this member was destitute
of a single decent sentiment. He denounced the
People of the free States in unmeasured terms
for their aggressions on the rights Of slayehold-
ers, and denied most vehemently that the latter
had ever done more than stand upon the defen-
sive. He even went so far as to denounce Cali
fornia and avow unqualified hostility to her ad-
mission as State, although he said in obedience
to his constituents he should be compelled to vote
for it-unless they should change their minds
Some of his sayings were as false as his senti-
ments were abhorrent. For example; speaking
of the publication of incendiary papers and docu-
ments at the North, he said
"Sir, if this be not aggression. then do not
| know what constitutes aggression. Restrained
by no principle, moral religious, by no feelings
| Of humanity for their ftliow man, and By no mercy
for iir intended uicms, these Abolitonists pressed
forward to consummate Their mieksd desigHs, MN
the torch of the ncendlary hand and me bloek
flag of negro emancipation IN The other And, sir,
in the very front rank Of that fanatic throng stood
Hypocrisy,
| Soft smiling and demurey looking down,
| But hid the dagger underneath the gown
Mr. Chairman, was all this no aggression? Sir,
If the Democratic party had not taken bold, but
perhaps doubtful constitutional ground, it would
have been something more than aggression-it
would have been cold-blooded massacre. The South
moud hare been lighted up nth the cogfagr0oa Of
her cites and toWns and The air moud haze resomded
nth The dying shrisks Of her helpless woDisn and el
dren blood mould haze Toned IN torrents, and the
pGr of determination mouid hare ben, carried on until
half Of the States of this Consdraey had been DESC
ia,sd, If not entirely depopulated But the Demo-
cratic party saved the country from 80 dreful
calamity. The peril TO the South was imminent,
and required prompt and decided action. Il hH
mas passed, empowering posmasters IN the Southern
States 10 oper iAe mai-Lags, and take out The incea-
dary publications, shich the Aboiuionists pere Sc
eraiy circulating throughout The Southern country
II mds only by these mans thai serriie instruction
was preuemed, and the domestic tranquility Of The
South IN some measure secured"
This is pretty illustration Of the intelligence
OF a genuine Democrat from Pennsylvania Of the
Buchanan school Torrents Of blood and oceans Of
FIRE have been prevented from rolling over the
South by-jua nothing at all! The BILL which he
says was passed, originated in the Senate, but was
killed on the third reading. That is not all. 1t
Was never expected that IL would pass The de-
sign Of 1t was to place Mr. Van Buren,, at that
time In the chair, and Q candidate for the Presi.
| dapcv In such n uoait;on az IN eomnel him IN rsk