The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-16

friend and have orr been the consistent support
az NJ marty oroanization bat the organization
follow must be one based upon principle, and
having for its object the attainment oil legitimate
ends will not organize to steal nor 70 murder,
nor to extend into territory now free the insntu-
ton Of African slavery.
Sir, the great elements by Which slavery SEEKS
TO extend and perpetuate its power, 10 pear oo~n
freedom in this conflict, are, the organihai1n "a
the Democratic party, the Patrohaso " .ne
eral Government, and abundant and Prohnc prom
Uses of future political preferment. it sednces oy
its promises, corrupts by its patronage ana a.oes
by its use of party organization. Inc TWO nrs'
are emploved upon the leaders-the tatter upon
the rank and file. This driving business mas oeen
tried upon me pretty thoroughly, put WIN
cess, or rather want Of success, Wnien ',u,
not very satisfactory to the operators SNAIL
support no accumulation welded oy men VINO
openly declare their purpose 10 eAtenu sm'e.y'
and who proclaim in advance, that tney wiz sup
port no candidate unless he ayows prihcipies I
vorable to their policy. snail go ihlo no ,"a
with men who tell me upon the tnreshoiu, 80
onnos;t;on to the extension of slavery disquahhes
n man for their support-that "Dtder no political
necsssitu rha,erer.n will they vote for man whose
principles harmonic with my own; and YET
demand of me. that | vote for one OF opposing
views This is a kind Of party organization 10
which | have not been accustomed, and into
which I cannot be driven Sir, | know Of but
one way to put stop to such system of wrong
upon nv rights and the rights of my constitu-
ents-such an outrageous perversion OF the enas
and purposes of.party organization MY only
remedy for such injustice is firm and unoending
resistance. If however, | could be driven to
" null in the traces under an organization thus
constituted and thus perverted, would still OPP
nose the man who had bartered away my prinei-
nles for office would do this, If for no higher
reason as evidence that all self-respect and man
hood had not been extinguished in me. No, sir
the man who sells my principles must not draw
on me for the pay. | shall offer no such premium
for treachery. The South must reward her own
vassals She cannot hold up the offices and high
places of this Government as reward to North
ern men for their treschery to the cause OF free
dom, and then call on me, by my vote, to consum-
mate the bargain
repeat, sir, | am the friend of party organiza-
ton. | have ever been one Of its most steadfast
supporters. value Ii too highly to consent, with
out struggle that an aristocracy shall WELD 1t for
the advancement of its local and sectional objects,
and to the utter prostration Of those principles
which it was designed to uphold and maintain
As Democrat, and one Of the "most straightest
of the sect,n have resisted, and shall continue
to resist, with al, ny feeble powers any and every
attempt on the part of the Shareholders of the
South to WELD the organization OF the Democratic
Ingtg. -c-;1.s ;.s PS;9ctcles end fa- the HRSpese
of the propagation Of human slavery. will battle
while have strength against this effort 10 lead
Democracy to self-destruction by an unscrupu-
lous and unjustifable use Of it's organization.
What are the legitimate objects Of party organi-
zation What are it's uses? AS understand, to
bring together those entertaining common opinions
and sentiments upon political subjects, and uniting
them in concentrated action. The maintenance OF
principle is the end to which all legitimate organi-
zation POINTS Its object is not to bring together
those holding homogeneous and conflicting opinions.
IL may. and indeed often does, serve to reconcile
differences Of opinion upon minor points but 1t
never can and never ought to unite in harmonious
action those holding opposite principles which are
deemed vital and fundamental No one would
think of uniting permanently in the same party
organization the republican and the monarcbist.
They might for time stand together, fighting
common enemy which threatened to overpower
both but the danger once passed, they would inn
mediately separate, and commence warfare upon
each other This alliance of antagonist interests
and principles is not unfrequent 1t always takes
place when threatened by common danger. Even
absolute despotism not unfrequently finds It's ill.,
terest and safety in an alliance with the down.
some degree, the crushing tyranny which over
whelms them 1t is so to-day in Russia, and has
been 80 for centuries The Autocrat Of that EN-
pire has a formidable rival and at times deadly
enemy, in a powerful aristocracy, which holds in
serfdom the great mass Of his subjects IT, by
relieving the scrfs from sJme portion Of the tyrsn-
nv which oppressesthem, he could cripple thepow-
or of this arstocgscy he would tel more secure in
his prerogntivcs, and more safe upon his throne
Should he however, succeed in weakening that
aristocracy (which now is the only check upon
his powerl by a partial enfranchisement of the
serfs, things would be changed and there would
be a corresponding change in his sympathies and
policy :.
The masses relieved in part from the crushing
tyranny which had kept them down, would de-
mand an enlargement of their rights, and the I'M
perial power would ally itself with an enfeebled
aristocracy to resist those demands Governed
by the same great principles of human action but
under circumstances widely different, we have
seen an arstocratic interest at the South drawn
into temporary connection with the democracy OF
the country. Democracy, as principle can have
no sympathy or natural alliance with slavery
Light and darkness are not more opposed They
occupy the extreme points of political antagonism
The one, the friend Of the largest liberty the
other the enemy Of every human right. While
thus opposed to each other from the nature and
constitution of things yet Democracy as an active
and practical element in the workings OF our sys-
| TEN of Government, pays profound respect ana
loyal obedience to the Constitution, and refrains,
as in duty bound, from any interference with sla-
| very in the several States where it exists. AS n
local domestic State institution, whatever may be
its evils and its wrongs il is entitled under the
Constitution to peace and security. But when
slavery steps beyond State boundaries, and III
vokes the power Of the General Government to
extend and perpetuate the systemic strengthen
and uphold the arstocracy which it nourishes and
sustains, Democracy must either be false in its
principles, or it must resist demands so extraor-
binary and dangerous 1t is only as a State insti-
tuition that slavery can claim forbearance and toll
Grafton When it voluntarily lays aside its local
and domestic character, and enters upon the thea
tire of national politcs-when it assumes an atti-
tude towards the Federal Government such as
that in which it now stands, debating law under
the threats of disunion-resistance becomes duty
of the highest obligation. Silence and submission
under such circumstances would be moral treason
| to our free institutions.
Mr.. Chairman, we hear much anxiety expressed
in certain quarters for a speedy and final settle
ment of all the controversial questions growing
out of the subject Of slavery Some Northern
gentlemen are nervously alarmed for the safety of
the Union SO distressing are their fears that they
cannot speak except in terms of the most gloomy
forebodings A solicitude so deep and anxious
presses its weight upon them so as to destroy sleep
and appetite, and physical comfort The sweets
OF long-coveed retirement cannot hold within its
sanctuary the anxious throbbings Of patriot heart
The rest Of quiet retreat is abandoned for pill
grimage to the Capitol TO teach the North submis
sion, and aid the South in the work of preserving
the Unionp Surely such patriotism deserves III
reward oh, sir, how ungrateful in wicked and
uncharitable world, to breathe its suspicious that
selfshness or ambition for Presidential honors had
aupht to do in this labor Of love. Sir, there has
been an industrious and labored effort to create
alarm for the safety of the Union-to get up q
| panic in the country and in this work Northern