The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-28
THE POSITION OF PARTIES.

The Democracy Of Pennsylvania, as represented
by its late State Convention, stands pledged to
sustain the Compromise and the Fugitive Slave
Law, and to resist all attempts in any way to agi-
tate the question of slavery. The position Of the
Wings of that State is that of acquiescence, not
appreciation and heir gnbernatorisl candidate,
Governor Johnston, is understood to maintain
without compromise his Anti. Slavery position.
The Wings Of Ohio, in State Convention as
sembled, resolved that as the Compromise and
Fugitive Slave Law were not Administration
measures, every Wing was at liberty to hold his
own,ooinons. respecting them; so that their posi-
tion in relation to them is non-committal. The
n,e,nOUrats 81 yiessaAAs State, !, waStx 80
some, would be led to endorse the Compromise in
all its features; and such, undoubtedly, was the
desire Of the Cass men, but other Influences pre-
vailed. Their Convention, instead of endorsing
the Slavery measures of the last Congress, re-
affirmed their doctrines respecting Slavery as set
forth in the resolutions of the State Democratic
Conventions Of ls4s and 1850, as follows:
RESOLVED, That the people of Ohio now, as they
always have done, look upon slavery in any part
full development of the spirit and practical hene-
fits Of free institutions and that, entertaining
these sentiments, they will at all times feel it to
be their duty, to use all power clearly given by
the terms Of the national compact, to prevent its
increase, to mitigate, and finally eradicate the
evil But be it further ReSolped, That the De-
mocracy Of Ohio do, at the same time, fully re-
cognise the doctrine held by the early fathers Of
the Republic, aud still maintained by the Demo
cratic party in all the States that to each State
belongs the right to adopt and modify its own
municipal laws; to regulate its own internal af-
fairs to hold and maintain an equal and indie
pendent sovereignty with each and every State !;
and that upon tbese rights the National Legisla-
ture can neither legislate nor encroach.
There is sufficient ambiguity in the pbraseology
to allow representatives. Of the party to oppose
any specific measure against Slavery, without
thereby violating any principle here set forth :;
but, beyond all doubt, the resolutions commit the
Party in Ohio to an Ant-Slavery policy, so far as
it may be authorized by the Constitution. The
Washington Union endeavors by bubble to ex-
tricate its friends from this position. The first
resolution, it says merely asserts the views and
purposes Of the people of Ohio the last defines
that the South can ask 1.-THE Democracy of
Ohio happen to constitute portion Of "the Peo-
plea majority, in their own opinion-and when
they assert that "The People of Ohio " regard
Slavery as an evil, repugnant to the free institu
tions Of the country and will always feel it their
duty to "use" all powers conferred by the ma
tional compact "to prevent its increase, to miti-
gate, and finally eradicate it," they solemnly an
nounce their own position. The peculiar phrase.
Ology, "ths People," is used to show that the
question in Ohio is not Party question, but the
Peoples.
Parties in New York have not yet defnitively
taken their ground. Enough is known, however,
TO authorize the prediction that the platform OF
both the Wings and Democrats OF New York
will fall below that of the Democrats OF Ohio
The committee of the two sections Of the Wing
Party appointed by their respective Conventions
in Syracuse and Utica in 1881, and the Commit
tee appointed by the Wing members Of the New
York Legislature, at its recent session, after con-
ferring freely together, agreed upon joint call
for State Wing Convention at Syracuse, on the
18th Of September. The call announces the prin-
cples on which the two sections may harmonic,
among them the following doctrines in relation to
Slavery:
"That the Wings Of this State, as body are
inAexibly opposed TO the subsection of any terri
tory of the United States now free to laws impos-
ing involuntary servitude, except as a punish
ment for crime and they rejoice that no PROPOSE.
ton to that effect is pending or is likely to be
II xwks In 49, kA t,.,.a tlavx
Hedly acknowledge the right of every sovereign
State to.regulate its own municipal institutions,
in such manner as the people may deem most con-
ducive to their safety and happiness without in
reference, directly or indirectly, by citizens of
other States, or subjects of other countries:
"Thst the laws Of Congress, and of the State
Legislatures pronounced constitutional by the
judicial tribunals must be enforced and implicit
ly obeyed and that while this is cheerfully recog-
missed as the duty Of ALL sue cts Of the laws, yet
that the right Of citizens as voters Is equally un
denisbe to discuss, with full and mutual regard
for the rights and interests of all parts Of the Con-
federacy, (which II Is rs necessary now to main
TAIN as II WAS indispensable to achieve the blessed
Union Of these States,l the expediency of such
laws, and the proprety of any of their provisions,
and to seek, by constitutional means their repeal
or modification
That all who are animated by sincere desire
to preserve the Union unimpaired, and the free
institutions which il sustains and guarantees, by
which alone individual security and national
peace and prosperity can be perpetpated, must
condemn all attempts to resist, defeat, or render
Intellectual any laws passed by constitutional ma
jorities Of legislative bodies in either the Federal
or State Governments and that the Wings Of
New York will ever be found prompt TO render a
patriotic acquiescencc In all such lawsn
In plain words, the Wings of New York are
opposed to the extension of slave territory
not to the conversion Of United States territory
now free into slave territory, provided it be done
without positive law--but simply to I" the subjeo-
ton of any territory Of the United States now
free, to laws imposing servitudeln Beautiful
zeal in behalf Of Liberty! The address truly
says that "no proposition of this kind is now
pending or likely to be presented"-and it might
have added, that no proposition of the kind has
ever been presented. II is false issue raised by
slippery politicians, with view to the announce
mcnt Of declaration which seems to mean some
thing, but means nothing. Until this declara-
ton Was put forth, the position Of the Seward
Wings Of New York, was opposition by Ian to the
extension Of slavery their position now Is, OPP
position to the eJi1noa BY Ian Of slavery. Slave.
holders do not demand this, and never have---so
that the Seward Wings of New York oppose
nothing which they demand
The cali, also, while asserting the right to ex-
anime snd seek to repeal, by constitutional means
OF any Law whatsoever, insists upon the duty Of
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