The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-11
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.
rorhs Editor ofthe National Era !:

see by the Era OF this week, that the Irlenus
Of freedom contemplate holding Convention at
Cleveland the coning fall, to organize for action
in the next Presidential campaign 1t surprises
me that it has occurred to no one that the place
where this C0pyention shall be held is Of very
great importSote for the success of its measures.
The two greaf&Artes that divide the country de-
rive their streith from making the people beiiepe
that they are naenal and that the party Of freedom
is sectional The party Of freedom cannot act
with any tolerable success on the politics Of the
country, unless It takes national position, and
shows hy its spirit and measures that 1t compre-
bends t6e best interests Of the entire Union IL
must not be q faction. Ii must not be sectional
IL must ignore geographical lines. Now, the
question viii not fail to come home TO the American
people, What means it, that this party takes
its position on the extreme northern boundary Of
the Union, and makes that the centre OF its opera
lions % Apparently, its very standpoint Is one
of aptagonism towards the other section Of the
country The Buffalo Convention made the same
mistake and took the aspect at least Of represent
ing local, not a national, party-thus subjecting
itself to the same kind of opposition as awaited
the Hartford or Nashville Conventions. What
would be the Influence on the success of the w hig
or Democratic party, should it hold its Conven-
tions uniformly-say at Mobile or Charleston, or
on the other hand, at Detroit or Montpelier
reeuOW u INC uhtiOnni T0oe-enV fhsSsSos W
majority of the people Of Georgia, the Carroll
mas, and Of Virginia, not less than the peopae
! " Npz yars end M..aAchpsekt srAs nan -slsvs
invited to q place in your Convention, ant
whether they are represented or not, its place o
meeting ought to he more central Philadelphia
Pittsburg, Meadville, would be preferable t.
Cleveland and Washin gton perhaps more TO b,
preferred than either. pray you, Mr.. Editor
to ponder this matter aud am persuaded that tn
more it is pondered the more will it's importance
be deeply felt Ii is little influence that an anony
nous pen can excite But you, sir, can speak
word that shall command attention. | hope it i
not yet too late, for am Thoroughly persuaded tina
the geographical position which this Convention
shall take as the theatre Of operations, will Civ
you the aspect before the people of National part
or a local faction.
A VoIcE From MASSACHUSETTS,
august 80, 1851.
We commend the suggestion of our correspond
ent to the friends of freedom They are worthy
of all consideration. II is doubtless too late nov
to change the place of meeting for the Nationa
Convention, but it must be remembered that tina,
Convention, according to the terms of the call is
sued by Freedom Convention held at Rsvenna
(Ohio and agreed to on all hands is to be simply
Mass Meeting of the liberal men Of all parties op
posed to slavery, and not delegated Convention
of the Free Soil or Free Democratic Party. The
editor of the american Aduertiser, (Ohio,) says:
"Havipg had the honor Of being one of the
committee on resolutions, which drafted the cal
for the Convention, say from positive personal
knowledge, that the proposed Convention was in
tended to be wholly independent of party, with a
view Of rallying the friends Of freedom Of all par
~. g. orI f~:o
the great question which controls or at least par.
alyzes all other questions Of national policy
This should be borne in mind OF course no
party, Free Soil, Wing, or Democratic, will be
committed by the action of that Convention.
The Free Democratic party, we presume, will
hold National Nominating Convention next
spring or summer. As no one has any authority
to call such Convention, we suppose some State
Convention will take the initiative, by issuing a
call subject to the approval of the Free Soil men
of other States But we trust, that, in whatsoever
way the Nominating Convention may be called
the suggestion of our correspondent may be consid
cred Pennsylvania is a central State, and We see
no reason why Pittsburg, Harrisburg, or Philsdel-
phia, may not be selected as the place Of meet
ing.
Mr.. Chase writes from Cincinnati that il Is
the intention of Csssuis M. Clay to be present
at the Freedom Convention at Cleveland. His
presence will add greatly to the interest of the
meeting.
The COMPROMISE AND THE DEMocRAcY.-The
editor Of the Washington Union says:
I" IL is for the leaders OF such Wing conser-
vatism to show, IL they can that their maintenance
OF the Compromise is not an aposfacy, and an
efeuouh-hom dpoNacy Ii is for those OF the rank
and file Of such party who really would main
tain the Compromise to rally under the flag and
guidance of that national democracy upon whose
principles and in whose policy that great measure
of pacifcstion was framed. Since the Compro-
mise passed, more signaly than ever, has 1t been
made to appear that this national Democratic
party is the only true Union party Of the coun-
tryn
This is cool The National Democratic Party
has yet to be organized before IL can be ascertain
ed whether it be in favor Of the Union or not
Now, all that can be said is, that Northern Demo-
Gratis, Wings, and Free-Soilers, and Southern
Wings generally, with a considerable portion Of
Southern Democrats, are all in favor Of the
Union-while large proportion Of those most
active in the Disunion measures Is made up Of
Democrats.
Southern Wings and Northern Democrats
aided by a few Southern Democrats and Northern
Wings, passed the Compromise MEASURE and,
since Its passage the relations Of parties to 1t have
undergone little change. Southern Democrats
and Northern Wings oppose il or reluctantly 80
quiesce, while Southern Wings endorse II, and