The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-30
REMARKABLE COINCIDENCE AND STRANGE
DISSENT.

the duty of the North, appeared the following
paragraph:
There is progress in the South; and, after
all, to whom are we to look for. the emanci pa
ton of the negro race, if not to its citizens
We declare that our only hope for the peaceful
redemption and Improvement Of the sidue popu-
idtion is IN the South itself Congress can do
nothing more than withdraw Federal support
from the system; it has no constitutional pow
er for its abolition The free States cannot
egislate on the subject-their citizens can do
no more than discuss the question, and separate
themselves, politically and enthusiastically, from
all responsibility for it, Farther they haze no
right to go. Where, then, is the hope of the
slave We may talk of the right of resistance,
of rebellion of revolution. Our fathers resist
ed the despOtism of Britain. They would have
been dastards had they submitted; they would
have deserved chains had they not succeeded.
They had intelligence; they had trade; they
had the mechanic arts; they had arms and
soldiery they had Government; they had free
institutions; and the despotism which oppress-
ed them was across an ocean three thousand
miles wide. The slaves have none Of these ad-
vantages, and resistance by them would result
in a war of horrible determination.
Where, then, we again ask, is the hope OF
the slave2 SO far as toe can see, 1t as under
God, IN the free citizens of the South. Peaceful,
successful emancipation must be their work
The public opinion that shall originate the
movement carry it forward, shape it, direct it,
accomplish it, wisely and benefcently, for all
concerned, must be Southern public opinion
The position taken here is that which has
been occupied by the great body of Abolition
sts from the time their Declaration of Senti-
but ii was defined in such form that it seemed
to be quite new to those who had not carefully
studied their principles. The New York Times
was pleased to copy the paragraph, with high
ly complimentary remarks, characterizing the
views presented by it, as rational constitu-
tional, and safe" Other papers, of all parties,
North and South, re- published il, accepting it
as an evidence that Anti Slavery men were be-
coming at last rational and moderate Such
of the Free Soil papers as noticed it, wondered
what there was in it so new-tboy could see no
departure from the old standard And, at last
the Pennsylvania Fireman. one of the principal
organs of what is called, by way of distinction,
Garrison Abolition, took up the subject, and
showed in an elaborate article, that the para
graph quoted so largely and commended so
highly by Northern and Southern, Wing and
Democratic journals, was in accordance with
the Declaration of Sentiments issued at the
formation of the American Anti-Slavery Soci-
ETY., and with the action of that Society and its
auxiliares ever since,' adding-"it includes
our most ultra and radical measures"
We must confess that we began to feel quite
pulled up with the notion that at last we had
framed definition of Ant-Slavery faith and
doctrine, to which Hunkers and Liberals Slave
holders and Shareholders, Frec-Soilers and
Garrison Abolitionists, could unanimously agree;
but, alas our selfcomplacency was suddenly
disturbed by an editorial in the Green Noun
tain Freeman, an excellent Free Soil paper
published at Montpelier, Vermont whose wor-
thy editor was greatly scandazed at the teach
ings of this marvellous paragraph In his
judgment the paragraph was heretcal-full
of false doctrne--he could see no great diff
ference between the tendencies of this preach |
ing and that of the Baltimore platforms
" Others" he said, "can do rs they please, but
De will cry aloud and spare not He was
surprised to see us set our faces against agita-
ton
Now, will our friend be kind enough to point
out what more the free States can do, than |
is stated in the paragraph to which he OBJ
jects. "Their citizens we say, can do no
more than discuss the question, and separate
politically and enthusiastically from
all responsibility for it, Can they do more
Has Mr.. Garrison, Mr. Smith, MIR. Giddings,
Mr.. Hale, ever called upon them to do more!
Did the Buffalo platform, does the Pittsburgh
platform affirm any duty on their part beyond
this
Does our worthy cotemporary ever read the
Era! 1t may not cry aloud so zealously or
spare not SO vigorously, as the Green Noun
tam Freeman, still it tries to make little
noise, according to its capacity If he had
done us the justice to read the whole article,
from which the foregoing is an extract, he
would have seen the following paragraphs,
from which he would have learned that he was
not to be left all alone in his battle against
Oppression
Two duties are especially incumbent on
the North and their faithful fulilmcnt must
powerfully tend to the increase of Anti-Slavery
sentiment in the South 1t should present
clearly fully, and constantly the whole argu-
ment in favor of Freedom and Free Labor
and it should kindly, but firmly, proceed in the
work of relieving itself of all responsibility for
Slavery.
The question, some say, has but one side-it
does not admit of argument-the advocates Of
Slavery do not believe what they say-they are
fit subjects for denunciaton or ridicule, not
sober argument This is great mistake The
Southern advocates of Slavery have presented
their argument with plausibility never before
equaled. During the whole struggle against
Slavery in Britain, we recoilect no logic used
by its supporters there so subtitle and ingenious
rs that by which it is now sought to sustain
American Slavery. 1t does no good to denounce
and deride 1t the thing to be done is to expose
and retute it; the advocates of Slavery must be
met on every ground, natural, moral, politico-
economical, and constitutional and the demon
stration must be made that their whole argu.
ment is Il sophism and all truth is against
them.
The next duty of the North il kindly but
firmly to relieve itself of all responsibility for
Slavery SO long as its political organizations
are subseryient TO its demands, so long rs its
ecclesiastical bodies give it any support or
countenance, so long as its religious or political
press apologies for it, 80 long as it's literature
| nr "a
refuge, it must share in greater or less degree
the responsibility of its existence. Above all,
such responsibility must rest upon it, so long
rs it shall consent to the existence of Slavery
within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal