The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-13
WHOLE NO. 219.

nor is IL their fault that it is 80 but that such il
the fact the history Of the past abundanty proves
And by uniting with either Of these parties we
could not avoid giving them influence for harm,
either directly or indirectly in the State as well
as in the National Administration.
We said the object Of Wing and Democratic
parties in free States was success in their party
elections; in slave States their Inject is the per
petuation of slavery. Take the New York tn
bHRe and Boston dtlas two of the most anti
slavery Of the Wing papers. They rejoice at the
defeat Of Benton, on account of his color Of an
idea in favor of freedom, and in the election Of
a Wing, who is out and out pro-slavery They
cry "good" at the defeat Of Sumner, a Free
Soiler, though from the Wing ranks, and would
risk the election Of prc-slavery man Of either
party in preference to one who is equal to Web
ster in talent, and far his superior in integrity.
1--we take Corwin and Seward, the hest sam
pies Of Whigery, We have the same picture. They
used their mighty powers to persuade the lovers
of Freedom 20 vote for Taylor and Fillmore as a
means Of sustaining Freedom aud Free Soil. One
Of the arguments was, that Fillmore being Free
Soil Wing, would secure Freedom if Taylor should
follow Harrison 10 the grave. Well, they sue
ceeded, and where are they now After all the
fattery from Free-Soilers of Corwin's noble free
rapVlSes, a member Of Congress is authorized to
say that Corwin goes the whole for the sacrifices,
Fugitive law and ALL And well he might, after
sitting sir long months witness to the desperate
attacks Of Clay and others on the liberty and in
situations Of his country, without opening his
mouth TO defend or warn her; while Seward,
though occasionally advocating Freedom, nowhere
intimates that he will ever oppose Wing nomins-
tions, or any Wing Administration that may be
elected. He was potent in his influence TO put
pro-slavery Administration in power, and be and
they may we'll laugh At his impotent struggle TO
hinder their wicked influence.
There sir, are your very best specimens Of
Wing Statesmen and editors, while the great ms
jority Of both are committed to the support Of all
thesacri6ce measures, Fugitive law aud all Could
you expect men who Se Nnings in this light, ss@
honestly the advocates of liberty TO act in con-
cert with such Wing party, for the sake Of get
ting a score or so Of their men into Office, where
their influence is not half great for good ~
when they mngle aud labor for the right among
the people2
But we turn TO the Democratic party, aud al
low you TO select two prominent men, and two
leading papers from those who acknowledge them
selves members of the party Go into their con-
ventions and aid in nominations, you cannot find
specimens more favorable to liberty than the
Wing examples ] have given. II either were a
particle better, they would be turned out Of their
parties while the proper samples Of both parties
are to be found in Webster and Cass the Intelli-
gencer, Republic and Union and We again ask,
can we appeal TO the honesty of lberty-loying
freemen, and urge them to support either of those
parties
have heard of a lady who married rake TO
reform him and Of another, who married q per-
sisting sutton TO get rid Of him; but would not
advise female friend to follow such an example.
Nor would | advise Free-Soilers to unite with
Wings or Democrats, +" as more likely to (reform)
impress either, regenerating or absorbing it,"
getting clear Of it, 1t would be poor school
TO learn In; for whenever those parties hold
other issues In allegiance and treat Slavery as a
paramount question" it will be, ss it ever has
been, for the propagation, and not for the sup
preston, of Slavery. Such q result follows, from
the very nature OF things, while those exist, be-
cause that portion Of each that has governed and
will govern each, cannot act with any party that
refuses to nationalize Slavery and The party 30
refusing to natoualize II would to be either
the Wing or Democratic party, according TO the
general acceptation Of those names and 1t Is Of
no use to show them by the dictionary what these
terms meant in other days They mean now the
two great National parties, whose great object is
to retain power by Matchmaking Slavery and ex-
tending it.
~ But, you say, the question Of the next Presi-
dency must come up soon and then positions and
principles must be defined With Difference al
low me to say, that such periods have hitherto
been the most noted for obscuraton of position
and principle and | see nothing warranting the
hope of improvement in this particular But
before that time, say the spring Of 1852, Congress
will have sat long enough to admit any number
Of slave States, and double the rank and file of
our army, keeping it all in motion to enforce the
Fugitive law, catch fugitive slaves, and stop the
great free pulse that is sending its throbbings for
liberty all over this land. And mark, sir, this
warning unless there is some great movement TO
operate its restraining influence upon your next
Congress- it's measures will be more marked with
subservience to the Slave Powers demands than
any Of its predecessors.
But can you tell us how we can bring about
union of the friends of Liberty in favor Of
President of the right stamp, unless we have
some pretty considerable National movement, that
the People may confer together2 1t is not pre-
suned that any plan is TO be concoced by any
small number, and the People called upon to re-
gister IL. You and have long struggled for the
same great end, human hbsrty; and shall not
probably tire you again with long letter. But
we here land | speak the sentiment Of all with
whom converse) want such action as will pro-
mote union and zeal among the friends Of Liber-
ty We believe the large majority Of the People
are right on this question but they are scattered,
do not know each other or their own strength,
and the influences against discussion are 30 pow
cTlul anu numefOub, tnW uttle nus Deeu bAlu anu
men are In danger Of becoming used TO despot-
ism. We insist on early measures to warn the
people against the tendency of both Wing and
Democratic measures, and the Importance Of
prompt and energetic action In the right direc-
ton. Nor need you be surprised If you hear
that a few people without leaders shall have en-
tered the field at an early day, to keep the field
until every vestge Of National legislation In favor
of Slavery is repealed.
There Ia great free heart beating In the bo-
SONS Of million freemen in our country, that
cannot be hushed by all the traitors who have
sold themselves TO shareholders and popular ia
vor and long after this feeble hand shall DO
cold In death, you will live TO rejoice that mil
lions refuse TO wear the uniform of either OF the
pro-slavery parties, even for a time We will not
act in disguise We are in the right, and will
either succeed with our principles inscribed on
our banner or we will fall, with that banner and
those principles floating over us.
Wecannot have Wings or Democrats pledged TO
Free Soil by words stronger than were Corwin and
many other leading men Of both parties previous to
the last election But for such pledges, the Free
Soil nominee would have been elected. And yet We
see that In every instance Freedom has been be-
trayed by those parties and those most relied on,
and who gave the strongest pledges for Liberty
have been the most treacberous, and their treach-
cry has been the most fatal This mixing with
the old parties in certain cases is the old game Of
questioning candidates, which you and aban-
doned long since; and surely the lessons of the
past eight years have not proved that we have so
long been in error and ought to take the back
track.
write plain, with the kindest feelings, and
here leave the subject, for writing Is not my de-
partment but beg you to ponder well this sub
jeot Suppose yourself back in a good old-fash-
toned Anti-Slsvery meeting in Ohio, how, think
you, would they receive the proposition to
unite with the Democratic or Wing parties, In
hope Of impressng them, or swallowing them up
ADti-Slsvery Free-Soisrs can yield our Whigery