The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-03

to be removed:
That Congress ought to make due appropria-
lions for improvements demanded by the interests
of commerce with foreign nations, or among the
States, provided they be not purely local in their
benefits, and be not proper subjects for State
or individual enterprise.
And we further maintain, 10 view of recent
events in Europe, that il is the duty of the fed
eral government, in all its relations to foreign
powers. TO be true to the Democratic principle,
and by every peaceful means to throw its infu-
ence in favor of the Democratic cause through
out the world.
Finally, as il regards the principles of the
Era, we cannot present them more clearly than
in the following summary, which we prepared
few months since
We believe
In the unity and common origin of the human
race:
In the doctrine that God made of one blood
all the nations of men, to dwell upon all the
face of the earth:
In the golden rule" Do unto others as We
would that others should do unto you:
In the higher law" IL is better to obey God
than man: :"
In liberty, as the fundamental condition OF
human progress and perfection;
In law, as the defence, not destroyer, of lib
erty:
In order, as the result of liberty established
and protected, not subverted by law:
!. In the American Union, not as an end, but as
a means--a means TO the establishment of lib
erty and justice, worthy of support only 80 long
as it shall answer these great ends.
We hold these truths to be selfevident
"That all men are CREATED equal
rhaf bair TOR
with certain inalienabe rights;
That among these are life, liberty, and the
pursuit OF happiness
"That to secure these rights governments
are established among men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed;
"That whenever any form of government be.
comes destructive of these ends, it is the right
of the people to alter or to abolish it and to in
stitute new government, laying its foundation
on such principles and organizing its powers in
such form as to them shall seem most likely to
effect their safety and happiness"
We hold these truths to be applicable at all
times, to all men, of whatever cline or COM
ptexion, and are therefore the Incorporating
foe of all forms of slavery, personal, political,
spiritual, whether at home or abroad; and the
advocate of all laws and usages having a tenden-
cy to equalize the conditions of all men, to Sc
cure to all equal opportunities for the enjoy
ment of liberty, acquisition of property, and
pursuit of happiness.
These are the principles that have controlled
and will continue to control us in conducting
the National Era, which is responsible for no
party, as no party is responsible for it, owing
allegiance alone to God and humanity"
AS to the independent individual attitude as
sumed by the editor when he says his paper
"was founded by no party" it is at variance with
statement in late address of the Massachusetts
Anti-Savery society, that the Era was founded
by funds originally contributed, and afterwards
repaid by the profits of the establishment
leaving the inference very clear that those funds
were furnished directly or indirectly by that very
society. That, however, is not very material.
The same address informs us that the present
subscription list of the Era is over eighteen
thousand, and all pay in advance. This is fact
OF considerable consequence, which we commend
to the serious consideration of the South. A
paper is established here in a slaveholding Dis
trict to divest the federal government of the sin
of slavery, and to advocate emancipation in the
South, and it is sustained by private subscrip-
tons, paid in advance, in greater numbers than
either or all the great national party organs put
together The control Of the newspaper press
is the control of the federal government sooner
or later, and sooner rather than later.
The National Era advocates the abolition Of
slavery in this District, the prohibition of the
slave trade between the States, and the repeal Of
the Fugitive slave law and in general prohi.
billion Of slavery every where under the federal
governmental dock yards, arsenals, territories,
&c. IL this were done the next step Of course
would be n refusal Of supplies produced by
slave labor, for the army or navy or any branch Of
the public service. We don't suppose the con.
sistent advocates Of abolition would refuse TO
receive taxes or duties from shareholders, al.
though we don't see how the federal govern
ment can be redeemed from the contamination
OF slavery without that is done also But
the dovout and pious Abolitionists have never
suggested such thing. On the contrary they
have always manifested the utmost fortitude, in
voting TO tax and TO rob Shareholders Of as much
of the fruits Of slave labor, a. they could lay
hands on II, however, they preserve grain
Of consistency they will refuse the aid Of federal
troops TO suppress a servile instruction. And
If any foreign nation at war with us we're to ct
out an expedition for The liberation of the South
ern slaves, the Abolitionists could not vote any
federal means 10 repel il.
Another principal object the Era is the abo.
litiou Of slavery in the South. Now, when we
consider that this Era and almost all lis Sub.
scribers are from the North, we cannot but be
deeply impressed with the modesty and nmity
and magnanimity Of this scheme This editor, il
will be seen, Processes great faith in the rights of
he States. If "tbe rights of the States means
my thing we suppose il means that in relation
% their domestic concerns, the States have the
'ame rights as TO each other that they have as
70 foreign States. Nov, what would be thought
{ an Englishmsn were TO come 10 the United