The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-23
A GENERAL SURVEY TUE.DUTY OK THE
FRIENDS OF FREEDOM.

iuation-not division of the States, but divid-
ing and confounding ofparties, so that they might
obtain their control, and shape their policy 70
their own ends The progress of events shows
how adroitly they have played their game. While
the North has been distracted and Its old parties
arrayed against the Free Soil Movement, the
South has been rapidly organizing for the next
Presidential canvass, and agreeing upon the terms
upon which it will go into the election. These
are, the maintenance of the Compromise measures
of the last session, and especially the enforcement
of the Fugitive act, which are laid down as ab'
solutely indispensable conditions to its coopera-
ton with either of the old political parties.
Its union and boldness have overawed the
North. Opposed as we all know the great ma
jority of Northern People were to the measures
referred to, their opposition has been rendered
so far unavailing by the patronage Of an Ad-
ministration in league with the South by the old
political leaders trained to look to the South for
direction, and by corrupt cliques in Washington,
New York, and other cities, which, intriguing
and laboring night and day, are endeavoring to
enlist the Press and the Pulpit, all over the coun-
try, in support of measures which, because de-
manded by the shareholders, they declare to be es-
sential to the preservation Of the Union.
Beyond all doubt, the friends of Liberty have
the numerical force-but, their enemies are or
gained, are concentrated under Southern lead
ership, have the money power, the weight OF
great names, the Government patronage, the old
party machinery on their side.
! The truth is, Liberty is IN DANGER Of IUsing
the little it was supposed by many of its friends
to have gained during the last Congress. Will
they never learn that the "price Of Liberty is
eternal vigilance THAT "power is constantly
stealing from the many to the fewn-that for
midable privileged caste, concentrating within
itself the capital and labor of one half country,
and identified with an institution repugnant to
the spirit of progress and the moral sense Of the
age, is necessarily daring and aggressive, not to
be foiled by feeble resistance or daunted by q
single check? Never sleeping or slumbering,
it feels that its security depends upon mopopoliz-
ing the power of the Government within whose
| limits it exists.
Let us glance at its operations. 1t has enlisted
the Mammon of the East in its defence 1t has
established Safety Committee in the CONNER.
cial Metropolis of the country, which under the
garb of a holy devotion to the Union is laboring
to suppress anti-slavery agitation 1t has pur-
chased some of the daily presses in New York.
which with malignant ingenuity are striving to
debauch the Northern mind and reconcile it TO
the most shameless demands of slavery. 1t has
touched the fear or ambition Of the Pulpit ex-
torting from it sermons against the " Fanatcismn
that claims that the Union was formed to estsb-
lish justice and extend the blessings of Liberty
1t has enrolled among its allies the President -ef
the United States, Daniel Wssssstssrr ,f Wood
bury, and Judges Generals, and Commodores in
numeraole,>~1t has got up Union meetings Of
the Tinker politicians AT the North, end c"liAd
-Juc deserving letters from distinguished men
supposed to have influence among the People. 1t
has sent out missiles to the Legislatures Of Ohio,
Massachusetts,, Missouri, and California urging
Hunker members of both parties to reject ali
projects of union with men or for men opposed to
its pretensions Members of Congress here, ex-
pecting to hold office under General Cas- should
he become President, and other members looking
for office at the hands of President Fillmore, have
spared no pains to induce pledges on the part Of
Wing and Democratic members in the Legisla-
tuae of Ohio to 60 to the death against candidates
for any office not known to be in favor of the Flu
gitiye act.
In Massachusetts,, it has attempted the most
insolent interference The Democrats and Free
Sellers of the Legislature having formed an open
] for ha 10 ~ fha off fba
Free-Soilers, confding little too much in the
hones.y of their temporary allies, aided them in
eecting q Governor, and six out Of nine members
of the Council AS an equivalent, the Democrats
pledged themselves to elect Free Soil United
States Senator. Charles Sumner was selected
by the Free Soil members, and the Democratic
members in caucus ratified his nomination He
became the regular candidate, according to regu-
lar party usage of the Free Soil and of the
! Democratic parties.
But instructions had emanated from headquar-
ters at Washington, to nullify the agreement
letters against il were sent from the Democratic
leaders at Washington, and the Wing leaders
issued concurrent orders. True, Boutwell, was
elected Governor; and Sumner had been nomi-
mated by the Democratce caucus. For the Dem
ocrats to refuse him their support would be q
violation of party usages, an act Of bad faith, q
miserable swindle, no better in principle than the
crime of obtaining money on false pretenses. But
what is party usage, what, good faith, what, CON-
mon honesty, where the interests Of slavery are at
stake7 The Boston Post, the organ of Hunker-
ism, openly recommends treschery to its brethren.
The Republic, Mr. Fillmore's organ, "cannot too
highly commend it's manly aud honorable course !"
and the Union exclaims in paroxysm Of fury
"may dishonor and infamy cling to the name Of
every Democrat who ratihes the base bargain p
! The Free-Soiers ought to have demanded
bonds and security Of their allies, before they
yielded them any aid; they ought to have insisted
upon open voting they ought never 10 have post
poped the election for Senator one day after that
for Governor. In all these respects, they erred
giving Hunkerism a chance to plot, and trea-
son, an opportunity to work with impunity.
Treason so far has triumphed. Sumner lacks
eight votes Of an election and after the last ballot
the business was postponed one week, till to-
day) with less prospect Of his success than ever.
The game Of Hunkerism was, to secure the State
Government by the aid Of the Free-Soilers, and
then to crush demonstrating Itself in power
by the hands of Free Soil men, then stabbing
to the heart those whom il had cheated!
Pausing in this rapid review, may we not nsk
the Free-Soiers, whether it be too late to pre-
vent the consumma,ion Of this internal treachery
Is there virtue, is there strength enough OF the
An,i-Webster Wings to set up Mann or Mills
for the office which Hunkerism is seeking to fill
| Mill tvsh ~ raj