The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-27
= These are removed to Alexandria.
Ono, May IA, 1852.

To the Editor of the National Era,
1t appears to us, at distance from your
city, us if those men who were elected by the
people to legislate in accordance with the pub
lie will, have mistaken their mission, and I'M
dertaken to forestall public sentiment in the
selection Of men who are in future to admins
ter our laws
Will you allow a plain farmer in a rough
way, to say word in your paper!
1t is clear that both the Wing and Demo-
cratic parties seek to play over their old game
of deception and dOuble-dealing You remem-
Der how the friends of Cass urged everywhere
in the free States that according to his doc
trine, the Wilmot Provis0 was useless, for
under the laws Of Mexico slavery could not
exist in the Territories; that those laws were
in force until laws were passed admitting sla-
very there and that Congress would not pass
such laws; and thus proved to thousands that
the election Of Cas- would virtually exclude
slavery from the Territories.
The Wings led on by Seward Greeley Cor
win, and such men, insisted that Congress
would pass the Proviso that Taylor though
stakeholder was pledged not to veto it. and
that Fillmore, an anti-slavery man, as Vice
President, would give casting vote for it, and
in case of Taylor's death would become Presi-
dent, and throw his influence in favor of the
Proviso and Liberty. Each party in the North
charged the other with being pro-slavery, and
claimed for itself ant-slavery tendencies; while
in the South each party took the direct oppO
site principles, and charged its opponents nc
cordingly; 10 that each party presented
double aspect-one for the North and one 70
the South-while members of both parties
claiming to be honorable men, took part in sucl
gross deceptions.
We saw the result Slavery has actually bee
introduced into the Territories under Fillmore
Administration, and is now the predominant
influence there, while the last vestige of De
mocracy is stricken down in the passage of tn
Fugitive Law and in every department of tn
Government slavery remains unmolested, an
the two parties are in perfect harmony in tn
work of extending and perpctuating this moo
ern reign of terror.
And now shareholders claim pledge fror
their National Conventions that all future AID
ministratons shall, like the present emplo
every influence and energy of the Government
for the same foul purpose; while the Northern
wings OF the two parties are on their knees
begging to be saved from such pledge il
writing; they both appeal to their former de
votion to the cause of Despotism, as eydenc
that they may be trusted to do their utmos
against Liberty and in favor of Slavery, with
out wearing the collar of the stakeholder oul
SIDE inscribed with their pledge
Thus we Western farmers see those professe
Free-Solers at Washington, who came from
Whiggery, prepared to follow Seward an
Greeley in their deceptious game of supporting
Scott without pledge, and ready to claim 70
the North victory in his nomination, whe
they kno,p and 40 does every unprecedented ma
know that Scott is ~ virtually pledged to su,
tain the Fugitive Law as Fillmore or Webster
and, being new man, would probably be re
CURED to make some addition to this work G
pro-slavery iniamy, to prove himself above su,
picion
From Seward, Greeley, Wade, and such mer
] should expect no better but from Mann, an
such as him, (who denounce the Fugitive La,
as unconstitutional,) to support man who
known to have aided in its passage, and wou
be elected and sworn to execute it, because h
believes it to be constitutional, ] did expec
better things and hope yet that there may b
some mistake.
Turn we again to protested Democrats, an
we lind the same game played, perhaps wit
more cunning, but still it is the same game
and II nomination can be got through tn
Convention without q new written pledge
the South, then we are advised that Chase
Iownshend, p King and those Free-Soiler
whose afhnitics are Democratic are to 90 fort
as apostles of slaveholding Democracy, I
urge the election of Cass or some man, upo
the old baltimore platform which Chase an
those with him denounced 40 unsparngly i
l84S.
Under such leaders the Northern Democrac
VIII be pressed to 70 for the party because
~ anti-slavery, and at the South to 20 for tn
party because it in pro-slavery.
Now, in this deep game of hypocrisy let
DO known that the South humbugs but is neus
hmnbugged ) the South always wins, becaus
she always plays with false dice and she Ia
very little choice between the parties, sine
they both agree on the only question that oh
takes an interest in, which is supporting Via
| very.
These views are such as present themselye
to plain man. IL they are wrong, please cor
rect them. To you, Of all the editors Mt Wash
ington, we turn, as Waterman upon the wall,
to give notice of approaching evil Do not
beseech you, cover up the deep dark designs O
those who are plotting against Liberty.
there man in Washington who believes tina
Scott or Cass would repudiate the Fugitiv
Law, = in any way favor liberal principles
You know there is no such a man.
Shall We, then, Of the field and the work
shop be misled and betrayed by the sam,
means that have 80 often succeeded heretofore
This question we must answer at the ballot
box; and If the friends Of freedom allow them
selves 10 DO absorbed into the old parties thi
year. they are eaectually paralysed for tn,
next twenty years; and long dark night O