The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-25
KEEPING THE QUESTION OPEN.

"The Free-Soiers, the Wilmot-P rovisoists-
call them by whatever name you please-are OPP
posed to any scheme Of compromise which Is cal
culsted to settle the agitang question of the day
They know that in this event, Othelo's occu-
pations gone'-thst the means Of riding into
power upon this hobby would be denied to politi-
cal asprsnts-and that the Abolitionists would
cease to be the make-weight in political contests
in some of the Northern States. 1t is no wonder,
therefore that these factious fanatics are opposed
to all compromises. They want the question
kept open for future agitation. Hence, their OPP
position to acting upon the case of California, in
conjunction with the Territories Of Utah, New
Mexico, &C. &c. Hence, too, the denunciations
Of the Abolition print in this city of the scheme
of the compromise committee. Washington
Ujnoa
The Union greatly mistakes the policy and
purposes of what it is pleased to term, "the Abo-
lition print of this city"
We do net wish the Territorial Question kept
open. Let it be settled at once, we say, provided
it can be done on right principles Nor are we
anxious to separate the question of the admission
of California from that of Governments for the
Territories unless for the very reason for which
the Union is anxious to conjoin them-that such
conjunction will enable the Slavery-Party to
defeat the Wilmot Proviso. Insert this provision
III any bill, proposing to organize Territorial
Governments, while it admits California, and we
shall be satisfied
The word compromise as used in American
politics, we detest for it always means, the con-
cession of some vital principle, the sacrifice of
some right, to the demands of Slavery We have
always held, that the only way to stop the agita-
ton about Slavery is, to oppose uniform, IN.
yielding resistance to all its pretensions
We can tell the Union and the Shareholders
whom it represents, how to put an end to the po-
ltical anti-slavery agitation at the North. Let
them consent that the Federal Government shall
relieve itself of all responsibility for the existence
of slavery within its exclusive jurisdiction. The
People of the Free States who are partners in
political support of slavery, and the subject will
cease to enter as element in their politics or to
disturb the deliberations of Congress The ques-
ton will be reduced to local one for the action
of the States having exclusive jurisdiction it,
and whatever interest philanthropists in the free
States might take in the matter, it would be out
of the sphere of their politics. For one, when
we recollect what a corrupt use has been made of
sne sispery. asr.cSstiea by psrsA . :, -.
what hollow promises have been made by heart
less candidates for Office, how little real sympa-
thy is felt by party politicians with the cause of
human rights, how deplorably its interests have
been mismanaged, how constantly the People are
liable to be deceived by them, we deeply la
ment the necessity which has removed the sub
ject from the sphere of philanthropy, and forced
it as question into Federal politics.
But, SO long as the shareholders shall make the
question one of political power and consideration,
they must expect an opposition as active and I'M
reenting as their own selfish ambition.