The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-02
OUR FIFTH VOLUME,

In entering on our fifth volume, we must re-
turn our heartfelt thanks to our friends, through
whose devoted zeal the Era has been so widely
circulated and well established. We commence
the fifth volume with larger list than we have
had since the paper was started, and with more
cordial expressions of confidence and appreciation
from its numerous patrons than we have ever re-
ceived before
Judging from the tone of our business CORES
pOndence, there is great increase Of anti-slavery
sentiment throughout the country. Almost every
one of our letters abounds in fervent denuncia-
ton of the Fugitive act of the last session and its
authors.
A correspondent in Wisconsin, sending US a
list Of twenty-fOur new subscribers whom, with
the assistance a friend, he had obtained in the
ceS=-aas cfa few hours, says
"The People in this section beginning to
wake up, and are anxious to knew how the prin-
ciples of liberty progress, and how their servants
at Washington conduct themselves Should
Congress pass one more act like the odious Fugi-
tive bill, instead Of sending you a score of sub
scribers, we should be able 10 send you hundred
We shall probably soon be able to forward you
another list, as many more are anxious to send
for your paper, but are not now in funds"
We confess we feel proud at having so many
warm-hearted friends all over the country. We
take the following extracts at random from few
Of the business letters under our eye:
al am laboring man, continually shifting from
place to place, and cannot take the paper without
difficulty Still, do as well, if not better, than
if subscribed. make it point to have the Era
to read. Wherever am, try to raise clubs of
subscribers by giving them the benefit Of the COM
mission, and also something myself In this way
manage it 80 as to help you, add have the paper
readD
This man is fair specimen of Free Labor In
situations. We have another illustration of the
working of these institutions On seventy five
letters received by US at one mail, all but three
containing remittanoes for new and old subscri-
bers the larger proportion forwarded by voluntary
agents, we had to pay only one dollar and ten
cents postage Our subscribers understand all
about postage and they all go for 2 cents uniform
rate, and prepayment.
Another of our friends, IA postmaster acting
as a voluntary agent, to prevent two subscribers
from being cut off, renewed their subscriptions,
let them have the benefit of the commission, and
advanced the pay for both, agreeing to wait till
they could repay him. This, we learn from our
letters, is a common thing among the friends OF
the paper. We accept such acts, as evidences
ofdeep devotion to the Cause of Freedom, of which
the Era is an humble advocate.
Other friends have sent on and procured full
lists of subscribers at their respective post offices
with the numbers at which their subscriptions
expire, and then gone to work, not only tc
renew them ALL but TO add new subscriptions, in
ducing all to pay up to the close of 4th the volume
and also for the new volume, so that their terms
might always end with the close of the year.
A friend in Massachusetts, says
"Last week took horse and carriage auc
called on the subscribers to the National Err
living in different parts Of my parish, to obtain
renewal of their subscriptions Though foun'
them inclined to DO without the paper, on tn
ground of economy, yet found they liked
very much, and succeeded in persuading then
to subscribe another year, and have obtained al
additional subscriber. Ifit had not been for thi
little exertion of mine, our list would have faliel
through SO much for personal effort | men
ton it, not to exalt my own services, but to Civ
you hint about the way subscription lists ar
kept up and increased"
We are under great obligation to this friend
aud to the many who have acted in a similar wa,
We hope some such friend may be found at ever
post Office where subscribers are apt to delay o
neglect the renewing of their subscriptions No
one Of our list would we part with willingly. W.
like old friends.
To postmastCrs generally We are greatly in
debted for friendly Offices, which we shall b
willing to reciprocate to the extent Of our ability
Accompanying our Business Letters we hsv
received very many excellent communications fo
publication. II they do not appear Immediately
their authors must not be disappointed. AT thi
season, the amount Of our correspondence il s.
great, and the demands upon our time are 30 ex
acting, that We cannot find leisure to arrange al
our materials for publication. We shall, at thu
earliest moment possible lay before our reader
the best thoughts Of our many correspondents.
A word more. Subscribers, in renewing theii
papers, occasionally avail themselves Of the oppor
tunity to express their views Of our editoria