The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-01

ministration OF affairs Are we not Christian
people Yet what impediment did our morality
and religion oppose 10 the annexation OF reAas
and the assumption Of her crimes, to the Mexi
can war. 10 the Compromise measures Of the last
Congress- These things have all happened
within the last seven years Seven years before
the first Of them, they all felt incredible and i'm
possible; but they are facts now, not intolerable
but quietly familiar. A moral sentiment claims
controlling authority In Government! Why, one
hero of that war has been elected President of
candidate upon its merits, and all the promi-
nent aspirsnts for public favor are building their
hopes upon one or other Of the enormities Of this
bloody week Of years!
moral sentiment insugurated in the system
Of politics! American Repubicanism separates
Church and State, divorces religion from politics
upon system, and our churches surrender to the
Government supremacy in all points of morals
which it chooses to usurpl Is it worth while to
talk Of carrying principle Of piety, Christian
duty, and brotherly love, into the Administration
whleit is discountenanced by the churches to which
the officers belong2
conclude that slavery, considered as a sin, an
immortality, or wrong inflicted upon our neighbor,
offers no complete basis for political party and
no nucleus for a political organization. We have
seen the higher law Knocked and scorned when II
was arrayed point-blank against the lower
Where it could not be evaded it was defed, and
the Chief Priests have Joined with Herod and
Pontius PLATE in its cruci6xion. From which We
learn that the Christianity Of to-day will not sub
NIT TO that of the millennium nay that it will moi
tolerate it, but joins with patriotism in calling
upon PLATE to cruelty it as he il friend to Cse
sar. But it is not the business of philosophy te
rail at facts, but to learn by them.
This is not said in doubt or condemnation o.
our organized movements in the past. Whatever
expectations they have disappointed, they YET
have answered their proper ends. They have in
formed public opinion and awakened public sen
timent by means of oral discussion, and newspape,
and periodical publications; and they have car
ried their system of propagsndism into the halls
Of Congress, and perhaps every free State Legis
lature in the Union sll means have been employe ed
that could give earnestness and interest to the
discussion, until every interest and enterprise Of
the times, in both Church and State, has been
reached by it, until aboltionism has become an
institution with all the apparatus and relations Of
religious, moral, and political reform. 1t has
had its special representatives in most Of the
Legislatures Of the North, as well as In both
branches of the National Congress, though it has
not, believe, carried any measure Of policy by
| its own proper organic force-its success having
been achieved, generally, through coalitions with
minority parties, where, in conjunction, they hap
pened to have the required strength.
In saying that the Liberty party could not &c,
established in the Government, am not saying
that its existence was a mistake, for it may have
been proper and necessary means Of forwarding
the cause in that sphere and direction and think
it was and | think, for this reason, that 1t wa.
worth all the labor and money which it cost TIL,
disappointment of an ostensible aim is nothing il
right effort, if its proper effect is nevertheless
secured
In ls4s the Liberty party was merged in new
organization, with creed intended to cover al
the issues then available as rallying points ant
deserving Of such support. This fact, itself il
evidence that the former movement had becom
incapable Of the expected service. In other words
the party felt that it would no longer avail to b
only preachers of a supplementary gospel of poll
tics, to stand still in the attitude Of watchin,
and critcising the great parties who were fight
ing within reach of the victory, but that it mus
bring itself into the front Of the battle with all tn
means of success, and all the capacities to admin
lister the power contended for
When the Liberty party was formed, it wa
right; talent and zeal are good for nothing il tn
amount invested in that movement could not Sc
cure against q total bunder While it lived i
was right, and when it died it was because it ha,
fulfilled its office and lost its capacity for use b,
change Of the conditions which had called it int
being. New method was made necessary b,
the very success Of the old.
These notions of party, formed upon singh
idea, or specially less than whole government
tai system, are corroborated, think by extend
ing them to the case of the anti-slavery represent
atives elected to both Houses Of Congress that
is, by looking at the actual successes Of the scheme
as well as inferring It's working capacities from
general considerations.
The subject will be resumed next week.