The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-07

with either of the great political parties provided
they could gain something thereby. They will
vote for half dozen Wing or Locofoco candidates,
provided the Wings the Locoiocos will vote for
one Of their candidates. That such should
expect persons of ordinary sagacity to consider
them honest when they denounce the Compromise
measures Of the last session of Congress because
they are compromises, and therefore violations OF
principle, is certainly very strange. No other
party ever entered into many compromises as
the compromise hating Froe-soilers have done.
The southern secessonists have not hitherto been
known political party in our Confederacy. We
confidently expect that hereafter we shall hear Of
them as We have heard of the Free socrs po-
lical party They will also cndcavor to advance
their interests by affecting coalitions with either of
the other political parties which may any time be
willing to combine with them. We hope, however,
that the conduct OF the Free soilcrs will tho
roughly disgust all men, in all sections, as forever
to render coalitions of factions with any political
party disgraceful in the estimation of all honorable
men.
AS we have said, the men of extreme opinions in
both sections of the Union straining every nerve
to foment sectional discord by rcvivng the slavery
agitation. These factions know that with the resto
ration of the "era Of good feeling they will be
overlooked and scorned. They succeed only
in times of excitement. Agitation is the only Gle
ment in which they can live. tranquility will be
fatal to them and to their hopes They therefore
very sincere in their efforts to keep up the feelings
Of hate and dscord for without such feelings they
will sink into utter obscurity.
The secessionists of the South have on various
occasions submitted their "platform" to the con-
sidcration Of the public. His ex-excellency, A.
G.. Brown, of Mississippi recently made speech,
Il
announces the ultimatum of the disunionists.
They now contend that the laws of Texas shall be
s'restored" and rendered effective over New Next
co--the establishment by law of the institution of
slavery in New Mexico and Utah--the abstinence
on the part of the Government from all interior
cnce with slavery ON the high seas-a continuance
of the Fugitive Slave law-and the admission of
States hereafter with slave clauses in their cons
buttons.
Now this is certainly beautiful platform for
party to rally Its propagators and defenders
modestly require that Congress and Texas shall
undo the arrangement into which they entered go
much to the satisfaction Of the Texans generally,
as well as of tho people in other States, by which
Texas relinquished all her claims real pretended,
to the Territory Of New Mexico. How is this ar
rangemcnt to be undone? How Congress and
Texas to crawfish out of their bargain? Is it not
pretty certain that man in his would
take the ground this subject which the secession
lists have taken? Would or could any person, who
does not ardenty desire disruption of all the bonds
of Union, support any proposition utterly imprac
ticable and SO utterly absurd?
The second "principlc'' OF the seccssonist "plat-
FORM requires that Congress shall by express law
legislate slavery into existence in New Mexico and
Utah. The territorial governments instituted in
these Territories by Congress to be SO modified
as todecarc slavery sa exist in both Territories.
Now, these governments are Silent the subject of
slavery, and his cx-excclcncy Brown, bis excel
| lency Quitman, any other traitor go to
either of these Territories and take with him just
| as many "chattes" in the shape of negro slaves
| he peases, subject only to the chances which the
future action of the people in those Territories may
bring about. Let ten thousand shareholders go
with their negroes into these Territories, and can
they not become influential in future political
contests as to cause the people to establish pro-
slavery constitutions when they establish State
governments?
Is it not rather strange that the seccssionists of
the South should the doctrine that Congress
has the power to establish slavery by express law
otherwise? Certainly, If Congress can ordain the
existence of slavery, Congress can also extinguish
slavery where it now exists outside of States. The
right to extingush must necessarily be associated
with tho right to establish If Congress can cstab-
lish slavery by law in New Mexico, it likewise
cxtinguish slavery in the District of Columbia.
The doctrine is suicidal to the men who contend
for it, for the majority in Congress comes from
saveholding Satcs and is therefore far like
ly to such power to limit than to extend the
institution of slavery.
This doctrine is contendcd for by the Freos oilcrs
with considerable ychemcnce. They contend that
Congress has power the institution of slavery
in all territories and therefore further contend that
the Wilmot proviso is both expedent and consti-
tutonal. They also as vehemently in favor of
Congress undertaking to repeal the Compromise
measures of the last session their coadutors the
disunonists of the South, They for insert
ing the Wimot proviso into each of the territorial
governments established last year; and they are
also in favor of undoing the "iniqutous'' bargain
entered into with Texas,
Thus the extremes meet. Frcesoiler and seccs-
sionst northern traitor and southern traitor,
daily cooperate. We submit whether it is not
time for all honest men to combine and view both
factions with feelings Of undisguised contempt