The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-17
NORTHERN MARTYRDOM.

Some time ago we directed attention to the
ingratitudc with which Mr.. Webster WAS treat
ed by the Slaveholding Interest. He had done
aud sacrificed more 10 secure it against dis
turbance than any other Northern man. He
had thrown himself into the Imminent dead
ly breach" and there breasted the tide of
Public Opinion, which, rushing EDWARDS gath
erng volume and strength ~ it Surged threat
ened to everwhclm its supporters, In the dark
hour they looked to him for safcty-they were
full of admiration for his heroic patriotism
his great services could never be forgotten
But the hour passed away, and with it. the man.
The man who had helped them out of danger
had done so at the cost OF his availability, and
to other quarters they looked for aid in future
struggles Gratitude il very amiable in it's
place; but among politicians, it is n sentiment
not principle If acii0n Mr. Webster, in Civ
ing strength to the South, had lost strength in
the North; and in losing strength in the
North had lost availability to the South
The case of MIR Webster is not an exccp-
ton it illustrates general rule What WAS
the history Of Mr., Van Buren, C'"y an An
ti-Slavery politician, an opponent Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, AN advocate Of Justice tn the
colored man, in an evil hour, forgetting all his
antecedents he became IN ally If the Slave
holding Interest, pledged himself 10 its extre-
NEST demands, and used all his power for their
enforcement The supporters Of that Interest
had ,,nt ,at laurnnJ l,u tho lnsS of
Influence entailed upon Il Northern man by
conspicuous services in it's behalf and nOmi-
mated him for II second term; but his over
whelmng defeat opened their eyes, and in
lSli, grateful, of course, for his devotion, hut
not inclined To sacrifice themselves with him,
his claims We're disregarded and more avail
able leader was chosen.
In IS4S, their choice was General Cass not
for what lac had suffered, bnt for what he had
done, and, in their Judgment was qualified to
do II was believed that the effect upon North
ern mind of his opposition to the Wimot Pro
visO would DO counteracted 10y his doctrine
the right of the people of II Territory to deter
mine their own institutions-and by the use
his friends assuming that the Mexican law
prohibiting Slavery was in force, could make
of that doctrine The result showed that this
was mistake, and that the General, in his
attempts 10 conciliate the Slaveholding Inter
est had reduced his Northern strength. Had
he been purely selfish in his policy, and clear
sighted, he would at once have sought 10
strengthen himself in his own section; but,
pursuing IN opposite course, no manifested in
creased devotion To the Sla,eholding Interest
and laborcd 10 secure om,,lance with ts most
rigorous demands, And no less jealous was
Mr.. Buchanan, AN old ally OF that Interest
and an aspirant, like General Cass to Prcsi-
dental hOnors on the strength of services ron.
dered and 10 be rendered in its behalf It's sup
porters were delighted with their labors, en-
larged upon their sacrifices, remembered them
always in their speeches and resolutions but
both had gone too far They had committed
the fatal blunder--torfeifed availability al the
NORTH By eI1eSs Of loyalty 10 the Souh--and
the South cannot afford 10 sacrifice its M
fered TO @nhmeaL In the late Convention
at Baltimore, had the Southern delegates ut
any moment united upon Buchanan or Cas-,
On the saith ballot Cas- received la0 y0tos, S3 Of
them from tho FREQ Stalos III at this moment all tho
slave States had voted for him. they would have In
creased his vote to 1884, two than the requisite
majority