The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-14
EDITORIAL CHANGE IN THE NEW YORK
OBSERVER.

week, that the Rev. Dr. Alden for the last fifteen
years Professor of Rhetoric, Political Philosophy
and History, in Williams College, is hencefsrth one
OF the associate editors and proprietors of that
journal. We heartily welcome this much respected
brother to his new field of labor. He may be
much missed at Williams College, but the public
will be the gamer. The venerable Observer we
trust, is destined to renew its youth, and to make
itself felt more and more as a champion for the
Right in the ever thickening conflict between
good and evil
We observe that one of the secular journals,
in noticing this change, takes oc casion to nfici
on the Observer a very unenviable compliment
which we think is not fairly deserved "The
Observer" says the journal referred to, is al
most the only religious paper at the North whisS
saw through the Territorial question at the outset
and had the independence to declare its views IN
the midst of prevailing opposition. Two years
have passed, and it now finds its position popu-
lar in this very particular and becoming more so
every day" What that editor means by seeing
through the Territorial question, is easily under
stood. He means TO impute to the Observer the
same absolute deafness of moral sense on the
subject of slavery by which his own journal is
hSeOiAOuoAg anu WHICH Hldktb Lildl
broad and otherwise most respectable sheet little
less than a loathing to multitudes of readers who
feel themselves compelled to purchase it for its
high qualities as a commercial newspaper. To
see through the Territorial question in the dia-
lect OF that Journal is neither more nor less than
to favor the setting up of slavery by the author
l;y or by the eonnivance of Congress, in terrific
rles where slavery was long ago abolished by
Mexican legislation. We are not aware that the
NeU York Observer, even under The Old School
Presbyterian influence which at one time control
led It's columns, ever descended to that pitch of
baseness. Our neighbors of the Observer, we
have no doubt, agree with us in the belief that
to open a new market for slaves in the territories
recently acquired would be crime the guilt of
which would lie upon all who, having any sort
of authority over the decision of the question:
fail to exert that authority on the side of free
DOM They agree with us in believing that the
sovereignty over the territories resides in the
people of the United States and is to be exercised
in acts of legislation by Congress. They agree
with us in believing that in the absence of any
legislation by Congress- providing for the terrific.
ries laws and magistrates, the inhabitants of each
territory have right under the law of nature TO
organize a government for themselves. They
believe with us that the slave trade by which
thousands of the natives Of the more northern
slave States are every year torn from their native
soil, and transported by sea or driven in chains
across the land to the plantations of the far south
west is an outrage against human nature parallel
to that foreign trade which the laws of the United
States and of other civilized countries have brand
ed as piracy. They agree with us that no sena-
tor or representative in Congress can give a vote,
either directly or indirectly for the extension OF
that trade in human blood, and not be guilty be-
fore God. They agree with us in the belief that
any man who in the light of the nineteenth GEN.
fury, sees no harm, no injustice, no atrocity OF
wlckedness in the slave trade, or at the most no
such wickedness as makes it the duty of the legt-
innate government to suppress ii at all hazards
simply convicts himself of having no moral
sense. We are not aware that in regard to sla-
very as an institution-that is, in regard to the
slavery-laws and the slavery-lawessness which
the propagandists are striving to extend over all
our new acquisitions of territory-they have
| ever taken any position Immediately inconsistent
with the opinions which we ascribe TO them.
1t is TO be acknowledged, indeed, that the
| course OF the Observer in regard TO some of the
questions connected with slavery, has not always
commended itself TO our appreciation. Some
| times in its zeal against Garrisonsm and such
ike extravagances of opinion, it has seemed
| to forget that the opposite of wrong is not OF
course right. Sometimes it has seemed 10 us
much more bold in denouncing the madness of
men whom the contemplation Of oppression has
made mad, than in testfying against the oppres-
sion itself. Sometimes it has seemed to err pos
lively by saying what ought not to be said /; but
much more often, it has erred negatively by
keeping silence when it ought to have uttered a
voice Of honest indignation. II we were mali
| cious enough to wish the Observer harm, and
reckless enough to disregard the truth, we should
be strongly tempted to endorse the imputation
that II favOrs the extension of slavery.
The secular journal from which we have quoted
seems to think that Its own sordid views in re-
gard to the extension OF slavery are becoming
popular at the North. We rejoice in different
conviction. That journal may be able to main
tain its circulation, and may therefore think that
Its dishonorable subservency to those who are
plotting against liberty and justice and threaten
ing TO commit treason for the sake OF spreading
slavery over regions unpolluted as yet by the
presence of a slave, does not offend the sensibil-
tiles OF honest men. But the inference is a mis-
taken one. That journal owes its continued
prosperity to the general soundness OF its views
IN political economy, TO its visible independence
of party organizations, to its wise and steady ad-
vocacy of commercial interests and to its respect
able and dignifed tone in regard TO all democrat
iZing public amusemehts. For the sake of these
qualities many endure its heartless disregard of
the stupendous wickedness which makes up the
system of American slavery; just as the multitu-
dinous readers of another leading secular journal
endure its tedious socialism, some for the sake of
its jealous adherence to the wing party, some for
the sake of its constant defense Of the protective
system, and some for its genial and generous hu-
manity. The people of the North are not farther
from socialism than they are from any disposition
under the control of Congress. II may be that the
party leaders, of one great party OF of both, are
about TO consummate some great crime against
liberty; but let them beware If they fear not
God who hears the cry of the oppressed, and
whose ear is open TO every groan of the mana
ced and tortured slave, lei them fear at least the
indignation OF betrayed and insulted people.