The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-30

ton of a distinct Anti-Slavery political party,
which, 50 long ago as 1877, cast sixty thousand
votes
In the former case, on the contrary, no such
party was formed-political agitation had its
birth with the Controversy which the COmpro-
mise settled and ceased with that settlement, be-
cause it had no objects beyond the disposition OF
that question: and because, too, the friends of
Freedom were under the impression that deiini-
tive limit was set TO the extension Of slavery
And the moral feeling against the institution,
after that event, was rendered inert, as we have
seen, by causes which cannot now produce the
same result.
MIR Clay'S plan of adjustment or compromise
overlooks the real cause of the present agitation
and cOntemplates a settlement, not Of the great
original question, but Of merely incidental qnes-
tions. Settle the Territorial Question, buy out
the Texan claim, increase the penalties for aid
ing fugtives from service or labor, abolish the
slave trade in the District Of Columbia, and
what advance has been made towards allaylng
an agitation which began fifteen years before
Mexican territory was acquired, and, ere the
controversy respecting its disposition had arlsen
had split parties and churches, and decided the
tate OF Preauenua, elcc,lVnon mo r.~r-~-->
Compromise, though it should be acquiesced in
as deciding the Territorial Question, would leave
open all other questions on which Freedom and
Slavery have been arrayed in conflict.
Let us point out more particularly The proba-
BILE effect Of the proposed plan of settlement. IL
carried by Southern majorities, as must be the
case if it succeed at all, it will diminish agita-
ton in the South. Ii will draw off at once the
excitement which has been nourished in the slave
States for the last fifteen years, and at last
reached its head in the scheme of Southern
Convention Nashville Conventions would be
forgotten; propositions Of reprisals upon North
ern property would no longer be made; projects
of Dsunion would be abandoned.
But, would the People of the free States acqui-
-esce in any such adjustment? 1t could not ex-
tinguish the necessary, eternal antagonism of
Liberty and Slavery-of Free Labor and Slave
Labor 1t would leave the Territorial Question
open for, should this Congress refuse to prohibit
slavery in the Territories its delinquency could
not Justify similar refusal by the next. The
People, from the Nct Shaa Shareholders had COM
PEELED the organization of Territorial Govern
ments, prohibited from excluding slavery, would
apprehend more danger than ever of its introduce
ton into the Territories and 80 long as an acre of
the public domain was unsheltercd by the Ordi-
nance of l7S7 they would not cease to insist upon
its reGnactment. The purchase of the claim Of
Texas would furnish new reason with them for
anxiety and importantly, for the shareholders
would urge that the territory purchased, having
belonged to Texas, retained her slavery institu-
tons And the fugitive bill, by its offences
against the humane feelings Of the North, and
by arousing the conscience of the religious com
munity, would give intensity to the general ex
citement Ii would not be long before Congress
would be bcsieged by resolutions from all the
Legislatures of the free States, demanding the
enactment of law prohibiting Territorial Sla-
very
The excitement would enter into and control
the Presidential canvass. One great object of the
proposed plan of settlement is, to get rid of the
"balance of power party" to exempt the old par
ties from the necessity of consulting the anti
barrassed, to act as heretofore under the guidance
of Southern or servie politicians. What infatua-
ton Garry the plan at this session, and the
next will be flooded with petitions and remon-
strances against it Then will come the prelim-
mary movements for Presidential canvass The
800 900 Free Soil voters Of lS4S would be
more active than ever, and their motto would
be, political death to every public man who aid
ed in the overthrow of the Ordinance of 1851"
Not only would this feeling animate them, but, as
freedom in the Territories was suspended on the
decisions of the Courts they would see clearly the
vital Importance Of securing On Executive that
would use its influence in selecting judicial and
ministerial officers who would recognise and en-
force the Mexican laws against slavery.
Other causes will arise to increase agitation,
and keep prominently before the people the ir-
reconcilable opposition between slavery and free
dom Pass the compromise, as it is called; let it
be understood that Territorial Governments may
be formed without the Wmot Proviso; that, in
a contest between shareholders and -slavehold-
ers in regard to the policy of slavery restriction
by positive law, the former have carried their
point--and how long before we should have the
Cuban Question on our hands Already the
plot for revoluiionizing and annexing the island
is disclosed We see throughout the South indi-
cations of the same feeling towards the conspira-
tors, as that which seconded the efforts Of the
adventures in Texas.
The slavery party, whatever the disposition Of
the North, will give it no peace. Northern men
may long for repose, but that party is aggressive,
and will never rest till it provide for its future
supremacy or till it receive its quietus. Pass now
the Wilmot Proviso, establish freedom the uni
versal law in all our Territories, and its power is
broken. Then, We shall have rest, not from the
peaceful agitation of slavery, but, to great ex-
tent, from sectional strife. The question would
still be discussed, but in the slave States as well
as free; not so much as question of sectional or
political power, but as one Of philanthropy and
political economy.