The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-01
OUR POSITION, RELATIONS, AIMS, AND PRIN.
CIPLES

Several newspapers have recently styled til
National Era the great central organ q
the Abolition;sis-other-. the national orgal
Of the Free-Soilrr, and friend, whom W
highly esteem undertook lately TO remonstrat'
with ms concerning certain point Of policy
on the strength Of supposed party relations,
To correct m-concepton. we may a. well ex
pjajSarohce more our position. relations. aims
and principles
The No'Ioaai Era is not entitled 70 the honor
of being the organ Of the Abolitioni,t, They
are divided into many Glasses and have 10
common organ Few If them would consent
to have the Era understood as their organ
and certainly the Era could consent to occupy
no such position
Nor is it the organ Of tn" Frees Sellers, or
Free Democratic Party They have their
own State organs, through which they speak
authortatiyely and on the sphere Of which we
are unwilling to encrOach.
The Era is not the organ Of any party any
organization any body Of men. 1t has been
founded by no Parry i, sustained by no Party,
does not pretend to speak by authority for any
Party acknowledge, allegiance to no Party.
1t is owned and controlled absolutely by its
editor. and may pursue whatever course it
pleases, without violating any party engage
ments, for il has contracted none.
1t can therefore acknowledge no man right
to call it to account. on the strength Of sup
posed party relations. Anybody may contro-
vert It's doctrines as-ail its position, question
its policy arraign it, consistency. charge it
with disloyalty to the cansc of Human Rights.
but no one eau dcnouncc it for want Of fidelity
to Party, ina,much as no Party has claim
upon Us
The subscribers to the paper are composed
Of Aboliuonist> Free-Soers Auti-Slayery
Wings Anti.Slayery Democrats, those who he
lieve that the Constitution is a covenant with
death and an agreement with hell those who
believe that it Is purcly Anti-Savery in it, pro-
visions Party men and No-Party men. and
merely miScelancou, readers. If they desire
any improvement ia the Era they have Il right
TO suggest it if they think We are IA error
they have Il right to say SO to their hints. Suc-
gestons thoughts arguments, cxpo,tulations,
We shall always pay due respect but if we
see proper t. disregard them. We shall do So.
without questioning their right to do just what
they plcase-either continue their subscriptions
Notwithstanding the difference of opinion. or
withdraw them.
SO much for the position of the Era and
its relations to Parties and Subscribers In
all respects, it l. free and independent.
Ia regard to the AIMS of the Era We trust
that it represents the sentiments of the MAORI
ty Of the American People
Its first aim is 10 relieve the Federal GOV
eminent from all responsibility for the exist.
ence Of slavery by dNorcng it from that sys
tenn, and throwing its influence on the side of
Human Freedom This embraces within its
scope the repeal Of the act Of Congress rc-cn-
acting the slave code Of the District of Column
ba the repeal Of the act regulating the coast
wise slave trade the repeal of the act relating
to tugitivcs from service or labor that subject
being left Wy the Constitution to the several
States and tbr establishment of Personal
Freedom 1t, tho universal, unchangeahle law
within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal
Government
To accomplish this aim, Federal political
action is necessary 1t concerns the People of
the United States and they must act in their
national capacity
Some suppose that, rs Parties are now con.
stituted the proper course is, tor the Ant-Sla
very members of the old political organizations
to continue in them, tailoring faithfully Ia
Undue them with nti.Slavery sentiments but
always submitting when ovcrpowercd Others
assuming that the domination of Slavery over
these organizations is too strong to be broken by
such policy, and feeling the inconsistency OF
supporting by vote what they dcnounce in word
look to Independent, separate political action
which, uniting voice and vote for the Anti-Sla
very Sentiment must command respect for it,
consistency and present II political combna
ton of such power as shall ncutralize at first
partially. at last, completely, the influence o
the Slaveholding Interest.
With this class we more especially sympa
thze. Their policy it seems to us, is smpl,
consistent, truthful and sagacious. Il relieve
them from embaraSsmcnts, from contradic
tons, from temptations to double-dealing, an
evasion it harmonizcs their opinions and act'
la; al tl,,fr
nence to the great object at which they aim
secures them respectful hearing and place
them in Il position whore, il they stand fast
they may eNtort concessions from the old or
CARNATIONS and ccn,train them to approximate
their ground, at the same time that the,
strengthen the hands of those Anti-Slayerl
men who continue with their parties.
Agreeing in general opinions with this elias,
of independent voters, we still respect the mo
tives and sympathize with the Anti-Saycr,
efforts of those who think they can work I,
better purpose in their respective parties Lei
every man be fully persuaded in his own mind
Were the Era II party organ, 1t might de
nounce them: were its chief ambition dIrecte,
to winning adherenis to the Free Soil organi
cation, it might forget the common aim OF al
classes of political Anti-Saycry men, in thu
effort to make them all think and act alike
But while attaching due importance to our ia
vorite course of policy, and ON all proper occa
,ions and by fair methods striving to induce
others to follow il, we shall not fail to commend
md sustain Anti-Slayery sentiment and effort
n whatever organization it may be manifest