The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-10
" THE ISSUE THE MISSION OF THE DEMOC
RACY

THE ISSUE THE MISSION OF THE DEMOC,
RACY.
The Washington Union, until lately, was so
moderate in its discussion of the Slavery Cues
ton. that the Southern Press was constantly
upbraiding it with disoyalty to S!avehOlding
interests As the Presidential campaign drew
near. and the indications became manifest that
the Ant-Slayery section Of the Democratic
Party at the North did not intend to urge its
views to the point Of a disruption Of party rela-
tons, the organ began TO give a more dis
tinct sound. 1t boldly insisted upon the re-ai.
frmation Of the Compromise and Fugitive Law
in their totalty and tiuality as part Of the
Democratic platform. In this course it was
sustained by the tacit acquiescence Of nearly
all the Free-Soil Democratic members of Con-
gress, by the indecisiye tone with single ex-
ception) of the few who at first proclaimed
adverse opinions, and by the Compromise reso-
lutions carried through the House by MAORI
tv Of the Democratic members Then followed
the famous correspondence Of the Eleven, ac-
cepting and ratilying the Totally and Finality
test This elated the Union beyond all bounds
and it, editor tondly trusting that the whole
Party had at last become soundly converted in
the faith Of the peculiar institution, took occa-
sion on the Sabbath after the appearance of
the correspondence, to deliver Il Biblical Lee
ture on Slavery, in which he took the ground
that in the light of Divine truth the Ant-Sla-
very movement was a SIM and Slavery "pa-
triarchal system, sanctioned by Moses and all
the prophets, and also the luminares of the
Christian Dispensation. In his opinion it seems
the platform Of the Democracy should be
theological as we'll as political, that with the
Bible, added to the Compromise the Constitu
ton, the Baltimore Platform, and the resolu-
tons of 90, its foundations must endure for
ever
Having thus defined the religious as well
as political creed of the Party, it proceeded in
subsequent numbers to argue that the main
issue of the coming struggle was, Slavery versS
Anh-Si0usry Here is one specimen of the way
in which ne refers to the subject:
In the absence of all excitement in regard
to the old points of difference between the two
great parties. brief examination of the main
issue before the country, and an inquiry into
the relations which those parties respectively
bear towards it, would not seem at the present
moment inappropriate or i'll timed.
" Anti-Savery agitation is to be continued
continued, too. in defiance of each one and all
of the interests OF the country, in opposition to
sentiments political purely patriotic-carried
on and carried out without regard to conse-
quenceS however mOmentous--Or results, how
ever appalling Mark too, the extent to
which the designs thus announced are made to
reach Anti-Slayery agitation is no longer to
be confined to purposes of excluding the South
from the Territories, ruling out the admission
of more slave States to the Union, and abolish
ing slavery in the District Of Columbia. The
termination of its existence in the country il
the end now aimed at--an end which no sane
man can contemplate without being conscious
that it would be the end Of the Constitution
the end of the Republic.
This, then, is the issue. Shall agitation fol
such an end be permitted-ShGH Ant- SidUerl
agitation an amy shape be any longer tolerated
For to the same result it would lead no matter
what the protested purpose of those who com
that to such question the American people
would find no difficulty in returning a speedy
and decided answer
The end of Slavery, he holds would be " the
end of the Constitution-the end of the Repub-
lie He is entirely too modest Having proved
that the system is "patriarchal- identified with
the Bible rs much as with the Constitution We
Al I,It IL Il, 4
The end of Slavery would be the end of the
Constitution, the end of the Republic nay, the
end of Religion itself!
Now, "Ant-Sla,ery agitation in any shape
would lead to the same result this three
fold result The issue then, is Shall agitation
for such an end be pcrmtted-shall Anti-Sla
very agitation in any shape be any longer tol.
eratedi' No matter what the prolessed pur.
poses of those who commence or continue it nc
matter if it be directed merely against the at
tempts of Pro- lavery propagandists to exte d
the system, or against the introduction of Sla
very into the Free Territories or for the rcpea
of the act Of Congress re-enacting in this Dis
trict the Slave code of Maryland or agains
the payment Of moneys out of the Fedora
Treasury for slaves as property, or against thu
efforts Of Shareholders to put down free discus
sion no matter if it take the form simply o.
well-tempered argument in favor of the substi
tuition of free labor for slave labor, or of eccle
siastical correspondence between churches on
the subject or of abstinence from the use o.
slave-labor products no matter where the agi
tation may be- whether in the free States, Oh
among the citizens of the Slave States desirou,
by legal means to prepare the for ultimate
\ emancipation-the issue, the MUM issue of tn,
N>Qsuing Presidential struggle is Shall Anti
Ivy agitation, in any shape anywhere b'
1o'er"sS The Democratic Party says No
10 "o'y in<Qn, its only mission, is, to guart
'"e Saoieu "r>sf Slavery, and .bast the un
sanctlhed hand re~>laed ont to violate it.
This is precisely the>oeaninp Of the Wash
ington Union. There can>s NO mistake obon
it. Hear it again: ~
Let not the South be deceivee>, az, 10
point The Democratic organization ISL o,,i,
party organization in the North whicfS 49,
10 oppose itself to the Anti-Savery moyemes.
or which can do so without being trample
down at once This battle the Northern De
mOcracy has resolved 10 fight What wa
made clear enough by Democratic action il
State Conventions and Legislatures, and by re
cent Democratic votes in Congress, has beer
put beyond all dispute or peradventure by the
answers recently made by the Democratic lead
ers 10 the questions submitted 10 them. The
Democracy is TO make a stand for the peace Of
the country and the preservation of the Union
This as against further Ant-Slavery aggrcs.
sion, is its chief issue in the coming canvass
Surely it il an issue which more than any