The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-01

Free-Soilers are concerned and only Scott IS
left. What of him? He seems as yet to STAND
In doubtful position; or rather hls friends |
wish TO make that position appear doubtful
We think. however, 80 far as the COMPROMISE
measures are concerned, there Is but niue
doubt Southern politicians almost universally |
conccde that he was and is favorable to those |
measures but they claim more of him-they |
claim that before they will give him their sup |
port he must come out openly and ayowedly |
On their side This he will probably refuse to |
do, and consequently will receive their united
opposition But will he show his hand 30 that
the friends Of liberty at the North can have |
confidence in him! This is not at all likely, |
for two reasons first, because, so far rs we
have the means of Judging, his inclinations are
all the other way and second, because IT he
should, it would kill the last lingering prospect
he may have in the Wing party for nomina-
ton
We conclude, then, that neither of the two
leading parties will present candidate that
real Free-Solers can support What shall
they dOt This is an important question We
are glad to know that the Free Soil party is
not disbanded-that it has National Commit
a Convention to nominate candidates if neces-
sary We rejoice at this, because we expect
that thousands, and perhaps hundreds of thou
sands of voters will have no party candidates
that they can conscentiously vote for, unless
the Free Soil party presents such candidates.
We think then, that the duty of those who
place conscience above party organization is
plain. IL is to be governed by high moral
principles in their political actiOn-to vote for
no man who will not give his personal and
Official influence 10 advance those public meas
ures which they consider paramount to all
others; and if no party presents such candidates
then to vote for candidates Of their own nomi-
nation. There are probably hundreds of thou
sands of voters who make the slavery issues
paramount to all others Shall they vote for
men who will 90 Numerically opposite to their
principles on this question? We are not of
those who believe the voter should require his
candidate to agree with him on all questions
but he certainly should require such agreement
on the main question and especially 50 if the
main question is more important than all 9TH
ers put together Whatever course parties
may take, we are confident there is a great
work for the voters TO do who are governed /
BY high and immutable principle in then !
political conduct Let them be true to their /
trus2 D. @.".
From the Green Mountain (It) Freeman.
APATHY OF FREE-sOILERs.
Many leading men of the old parties have
with an air of triumph asserted within our +
hearing during the last six months, that 81 the
Free Soil party was now dead concern that
4" the spirit which once animated it in Opposi-
ton to slavery and its aggressions was obvious
ly gone, and that a great majority of its MEM
bers were evidently sick of the subject, and only
waiting for decent opportunity to abandon
the cause altogether Free-SOilers and Anti
slavery men, what say you to such charges!
Do you deny the impeachment? Certainly
we do will doubtless be your response; ave
are as firm in our principles as ever As
general thing we believe you but are you not.
by your apathy these days giving your oppo-
nents too much cause for these disparagng i'm
putatOnst We greatly fear so; but from what
cause can such apathy proceed Are the great
principles of freedom and right less important
now than iormerly2 Is the declaration of In
dependence, alike the foundation of our truly
national platform, and the Government under
which we live less sacred and obligatory? Are
Its principles less violated and the rights it Sc
cures less endangered Is the Proviso or JEFF
terson Ordinance less loudly demanded Is the
slave power weaker, or its aggrcssiOns less
alarming Is our Government less perverted
by It's influence Is the commercial capital of
the country less snbservient to its designs and
less used IN It's widely extended Vaccinations
. No, no; Il thousand times no! The great
principles Of freedom and right are the same
because founded on the rock of eternal Justice
ana their splendors are every day made more
glorious and striking in the vile fogs by which
the lninons of slavery hope to eclipse them.
The Declaration of Independence still stands
the admitted creed Of the nation, and it's prn-
ciples guaranteed by the Constitution are still
as obligatory as the solemn oaths we have taken
to support it can make them; while the great
principles OF both those instruments have been |
violated during the two past years with bold |
ness and extent that marks the period IA an |
era OF national corruption and disgrace If the |
adoption of the Jefferson Ordinance was called /
for in l848 as the great masses of the North |
almost universally conceded it is II hundred |
fold more demanded now when nearly every
square mile Of all the territory acquired from
Mexico is being peoped with slaves If the
slave power was then deemed strong. and its
aggresslOns alarming what should be thought
of it now. when what was comparatively but
rlvulet has swellcd to dark and turbid
river, threatening to inundate the whole land.
and overthrow the very citadel itself of Ameri-
can freedom If our Government was then
thought too subScrvient to the slave power, how
should it be looked upon now when it's almost
undivided energies are seen employed in
strengthening that power, and helping it to e.
tabIlsh its complete ascendency over both our
National and State Institutions Nor is this
oil; the slave power and the Governmental
power have conspired to enlist q thrd-the
commercial or money power Of the North
which, neutral then. is fast becoming more
dfhcult to contend with successfully than either
the others. or perhaps both combined
II all tins be so, have Free-SOilcrs nothing to
90 Is not what might once perhaps he pri-
Vate moral sentiment become n duty involving
public action now! Have their oaths To sun
port the Constitution no connection with their
duty ofpublic action under such circumstances
Ponder 1t, treemen of the North-make it a
subject Of your pillow reflections, and decide |
for yourselves whether apathy and indifference
can he longer INDUCED in, even to say nothing |
OF the wrongs OF slavery, consistent with your
love Of free Government, and your sworn duty
to maintain it; and whether. finally, YOU can he |
longer inactive and be held guiltless Mt the
par oil conscience, or escape the curses of your
poSterlty for what may be forever lost through
your Suplncness and lack of exertion.
CALL FOR AN ANTI-sLAvERY CHRISTIAN CON.
vENTION
Christianity is the remedy provided by God
for all the wants of the world-poltical. social.
and Sniritual The church of Jasus Christ 10