The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-21
SHALL WE ACCEPT HALF A. LOAF (?

To the Editor Of the National Era
SIR The signs In the political horizon of the
North are such as should awaken the serious co
lioitude of every true frue friend Of his country
IL seems, alas too probable, that both the great
political parties will again bend the knee to the
Baal of slavery, and trample, in their strife for
power upon the great issues of freedom. II is
also greatly to be feared that under the specious
plea Of apaiioJiayn or that a half loaf is bet
ter than none, !" many q well-meaning friend Of
freedom will be seduced into giving his vote and
influence to candidates who will prove but broken
reeds to all our leaning hopes. II is anxiously
suspected that the politicians exposition Of the
maxim is, "a half loaf for ourselves, even though
there should be none for the poor slave"
But, sir, what does this plausible plea Of the
half loaf amount to, when thus urged in advance
of the trial Is it not virtual abandonment of
the post Of duty and Of right? an offered encour-
agement to the South TO stand sify to her preten-
sons, and permission to our political leaders to
make the best bargain they can in bartering free
dom for votes The votes must be had at any
cost the only question is, how much Of freedom
and principle must there be sacrificed to obtain
them.
But the principle of the half loaf is evidently
out of place in this connection. A half right
is wrong What parent would think Of accept
| ing half obedience TO his reasonable command
| or what Christian would urge half repentance
upon the sinner Ii is perfectly palpable that
half loaf is better than none to a starving beggar
whose wants are to be satisfied but the lawyer
who should, voluntarily and without trial, accept
the half loaf for client whose rghtful claim was
for a whole one, would scarcely be thought to
have done his duty either to his client or the
cause Of Justice. He who aims at less than the
whole right aims not at right at ALL and there is
not only pernicious fallacy in ourselves but a
practical fslsehood TO the South, in permitting
them for a moment to believe that we intend
anything short Of the final and total extinction Of
slavery so far and fast as we can coustitutionaly
accomplish it.
II should be remembered that the anti slavery
man who votes with either Of the great political
~~-sifs supporting the CnVooromtse Measures Of
the Last Congress, in the iona oenertnst suen
party is more friendly to freedom than the oppo-
site party, not only sacrifices his ayowed princi-
$ASA-s - ss- sessk :e;s+s.,AsSr l.. s~3--,
ing them to believe that the freemen Of the North
can compromise with perpetual slavery, and
encourages Southern politicians to prosecute their
plans for the perpetuty and extension of the
system.
Political parties PROFOUND their principles, not
merely as present and temporary views but as
established and permanent truths, and She South
is shut up to the conclusion that the creed of the
of the great majority of the North the slavery
question. But.Tho does not know that the ava
kened conscience and humanity of the North will |
never again sleep till the last chain is stricken |
from the last slavel Is there not then criminal |
and cowardly concealment involved in this plan |
of getting the half loaf when we know that our |
determination is never to rest nor pause till we |
have grasped the last crumb2
Honor and justice, both to the South and to |
ourselves, demand that we frankly reject such de-
cetful and dishonest compromises.
We cherish no unkindness towards the South |
It's people are our brethren the children of our
common country, the inheritors of common
fame; and we firmly believe, that in laboring for |
the emancipation of the poor degraded and de- |
grading slave, we labor equally for the highest |
interests aud wel-beng of the master, and the per-
petuity through all time of our glorious and be-
loved Union of States And here let us assure |
our Southern brethren in all kindness, but also
in all painness, if the Union can be bound per-
manently together only by the sinews Of slaves,
there are millions at the North who will shout,
''then let il perish IL its strong cords are bat
the muscles of bondmen, then must it SILVER in
the shock of truth
That we are bound to adopt the most practical
BILE, honest means, for attaining right end is not
denied but such means must not involve false
hood nor concealment 1t will ever be found 40
far from good policy as from good morals to do
evil that good may come" II, in the prosecution
of our noble enterprise by honorable means, we
fall after fair endeavor, then, and not till then,
we may rightfully take up with the " half loafn
or even with "nonen 81 had rather be right
than be President" was the noble utteranoe of
the defeated Clay. We may at least initiate his
magnanimity, and say in defeat if defeat shall
come awe had rather be true than be sue
cessfulo
have never yet acted at the ballot box with
the Aboltionists or Free-Soilers; but henoeforth
and forever my voice and vote shall be given to
men who will sink or swim with the cause of hu-
man freedom My conscience demands no more,
my duty to God, my country, and my kind, will
permit no less J. M. GREGORY.
Akron, Ohio.