The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-10

Ii this nomination prove successful, we shall
expect to see California divided, and its south
ern portion erected into Slave State-a ia
vorite scheme of the Slave Power, and for the
cure favorable Administration. Every bar
rier to the introduction of Slavery into the Ter
ritories would be thrown down Freedom there
is in jeopardy, with an Administration in
Washington that regards the Constitution of
the United States as carrying with it the right
to hold slaves in whatever territory may be ac-
quired by the United States This is the doc
trine insistedupon by that great Interest which
dictated the nomination, and by the school OF
politicians to which Mr.. Pierce belongs Nor
must we forget that the policy of the annexa-
ton of Cuba, and of further acquisitions of ter
ritory on our Southwest for the purpose OF ex-
tending Slavery, is yet cherished in the South,
and will be urged whenever circumstances may
seem suspicious. Who doubts that in General
Pierce the advocates of this policy will find
their most efficient instrument?
And then, by the resolves of the Convention,
he and his Party are bound to regard the Ad-
justment measures, in their totally, as final
settlement of the Slavery Question so far as
agitation against Siauery is concerned, and to
resist all attempts to renew this agitation, "in
Congress or out of it," This is proclamation
of war against Free Discussion--it is the old
gag policy once attempted to be enforced by
the Pinckneys and Pattons of other days.
A burden which came near breaking the back
! of the Democracy twelve years ago, is again
fastened upon it. Once more the Democratic
Party of the North is to be dedicated to the
suicidal task Of conquering the Northern
People, and making them the bondmen of the
Slaveholdng Power.
Will the Van Buren, Democrats of 1S4S sub
NIT to such conservation as this Will they
join in this crusade against the peculiar, cher
ished sentiments of the North--ths fragrant
war against the Freedom of Speech andOf the
Press?
But, they will support the nomination, apd
protest against the platform Aye-proclaim
war against the Principles of your candidate,
and then do all you can for his election, so as
to make his Principles operative and CONTROL
ing? Denounce as atrocious the main issue
ON which he demands your votes, and then
stamp that issue as right, or yourselves as the
perpetrators of an atrocious wrong, by acceding
to his demand
Mr. Pierce, in accepting the nomination
of the Convention, is bound by its Declare
ton of Principles, its Pledges, its Issues In
himself he represents all these His election is
sought with view to the establishment Of
these Principles, the fulfment of these Pledges,
the triumph of these Issues. Protest as much
IA you please your vote cast for him, makes
you responsible in all these particulars. If a
candidate and the organization he represents
make the main issue of an election, Anti-Sla-
very agitation or discussion, pledging them
selves, if successful, to its suppression, every
vote given for them is a vote against agitation,
against discussion-a vote to provide means for
their suppression. Your vote is an act--your
protest, riad your cote does SOmething, aye,
that very thing which you protest ought not to
be done
What kind of a position will you hold be-
fore the public! TO promote the success of
the nomination to which you pledge yourself
you must crush all your sympathes for HUI
mainly. How would discussion of the Slavery
Question help candidate pledged against it ,
How would an exposure of the dark plot to
smuggle Slavery into California help a candi-
date who, if elected, would give it aid and
countenanee How would the denunciation of
the inhuman operation of the Fugitive Slave
Law, in some new and startling case, contrib
ute to the election OF a candidate bound to re-
sst all attempts to mitigate the law! The
truth is, you would be constrained at every
step to stop your ears, shut your eyes, gag your
selves, trample down your deepest and hottest
convictions, for the purpose OF securing the
election of candidate sworn to accomplish
what most you abhor; or else, find yourself
constantly working against n candidate whom
you proiessed to support and at last giving a
vote which all your previous acts and words
would stamp as absurd and inconsistent, indie
fensible on the ground Of logic OF ethics.
God deliver you from such position! The
Ballot is the true, manly, consistent effective
way for an American citizen to utter his Pro-
test against the wrong Principles sought to be
established by the election Of a candidate cho-
sen as their representative.
Will the Democratic masses of the free States
think of these things