The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-16
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON D. c., DECEMBER Is, 1862

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the I'd of November represented the Anti-Sla.
very section of the Wing party 1t asks now
barely liberation for its individual opinions
should Wing State Convention pass resolu-
tions in favor of the Baltimore platform, II
will not consider itself accommodated if il
pass resolves to recognise none as Wings who
do not subscribe to these doctrines, 1t Will con-
slider itself accommodated, and act accord
ipgly; but still it may be found supporting its
excommun cators--in other words the very men
who have just killed off General Scott be-
cause Governor Seward and his friends ardent
ly favored his nomination !"
And has Freedom sunk so low, that its only
demand now is, for life--so low, that for this
boon it is willing to lick the heel that grinds
it in the dust! We appeal to our Anti-Sla-
very friends among those Wings who feel that
Hunkerism wields the sceptre, and who are
vet uncertain as to their future course. Is it
by such policy that you expect to advance
the interests of the cause of Freedom, or Sc
cure for yourselves proper weight in the po-
litcal scale? We ask every candid ANTI la-
very man. who knows that Slavery has an I'M
constitutional existence in the District of Co.
lumbia, and that the laws of Congress sus-
tanning it here involve the free as well as slave
States in the responsibility of maintaining it
who knows that the coastwise slave trade is
carried on under regulation of Congress that
the Fugitive Slave Law, with its denial of ha-
beas corpus and jury trial and its fragrant
disregard Of all the ordinary safeguards Of per-
sonal rights, was the act of Congress; that the
area of Slavery has been continually extended
by Congressional legislation that Congress
has been and is constantly prevented from
using its constitutional power to protect the
Territories of the United States against its
inroads; that movement has been organized
to divide California and convert its Southern
half into slaveholdng State; that projects
are now on foot for the formation of new slave
States in Texas that the Southern propaganda
lists, keeping in view the natural and inevitable
wants Of Slavery, are continually plotting for
the colonization of Hayti, the annexation OF
Cuba, and the seizure of Mexican territory,
rejecting all schemes of Northern annexation
and that the organization of both Houses OF
Congress Is now, as, it is more than probable
the incoming Administration will be, under
the control of Slavery, so that manly opposi-
tion to its unreasonable demands, constitutes
and will constitute, sufficient ground for politi.
cal, if not social proscription-we ask, can
any Anti-Slavery Democrat or Wing, who re-
members all this who comprehends all the
evil that Slavery has done, is doing, and pur-
poses to do, admit for moment that the qui-
essence Of Mr.. Dix or Mr.. Seward is the ground
which truly American party ought to occu-
pyt No; he must see that the only safe,
righteous and national ground is active and COM
piete sntdgonism to Savery as the eternal foe
to Liberty, the great National Interest and In
stituton. This is the ground of the Free De-
mocracy They do not crave toleraton-they
acquiesce in no claim of Slavery-they COM
promise no claim of Freedom. Their fupda-
mental principles are that Freedom is right
and good, Slavery wrong and evil that they
are eternal oppoatesj that they cannot CO.
exist in one political system, without WORKING
against each other; that every advantage
gained by one is q loss to the other; and that
the price OF Freedom ia eternal vigilance and
effort. They demand for Freedom prompt re-
cogniton and absolute supremacy in tho Ma
tional Councils. They propose no improper or
illegal interference with Slavery uuder State
authority, recognising the principle of State
Sovereignty as necessary safeguard of Lib
erty. they contemplate no prescription of
our Southern fellow citizens but they do pro
pose TO overthrow the domination of Slavery
in the Federal Government, and to regard and
treat it as merely sectional system, for which
neither the Free States nor the General Gov.
ernment to which they are parties, shall be in
any way responsible
Their purpose Is :. definite constitutional,
national behefcent one; and as duiesoenae
will not execute it, they will agitate, agitate,
agitate, till it be accomplished, in defiance of
all Baltimore platforms, and In scorn of all
skulking and temporizing policy.