The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-15
For the National Era.
THE BASIS OF PA RTY (.

m;tted the error of embracing too many articles
in their platform of principles; the consequence
of which has been that thousands have stood
aloof whose hearts are deeply and warmly in
terested in the cause. 1t is obviously impolitc
to make the party Of Freedom responsible for
all the isms which the different sections of it
entertain. If the friends Of Temperance had
acted on this principle, they would not have
carried the Maine Liquor Law in some eight
or ten States of the Unics--- They require no
conformity of opinion on other matters; and
the consequence is that Catholics and Protest
ants, Wings and Democrats, Free-Soiler and
ProSlavery men, may cordially unite on the
common platform of Temperance.
Why may not the friends of Freedom imi-
tate the prudence of the Temperance reform
erS! Let us4haye National party, with
broad National platform.
We should lay down certain fundamental
principles, which will not be inconsistent with
the adoption Of any rational ism at proper
time but it is the height of folly to undertake
too much at once
The basis of the party should be decara-
ton of the principle that Freedom s National
and Slavery Sectional and it should oppose
the extension of Slavery by the application of
the Wilmot Proviso to all Territories, acquired
or to be acquired.
Every real friend of Freedom will be ready
to stand on this ground but there are other
points of the Free Democratic creed which only
a small portion of the American People are
prepared to sanction.
For instance, the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia is viewed by most Anti
Slavery men as a matter of comparative insig
niicance; and, although they will cOncede per-
haps, that it is abstractly right and proper,
they are unwilling to rritate the minds of the
Southern people, and thereby put back eman-
cipation in the States, for the sake of asserting
an abstract principle. SO of slavery in the
forts and arseuas
The proposition to repeal the Fugitive Slave
Law will startle most men, and comparatively
few will be willing to take such step. The
effect of repeal would be to restore the law of
1893. Then why not distinctly announce the
purpose Of falling back that law? Few
would be startled at the thought of restoring
an old law, passed id the days of Washington,
while most men would hesitate at the idea of
abandoning all legislation on the subject If,
therefore we must have this plank in the plat
form, let US put it in this form of restoring the
law of 1893, with the addition of the jury trial.
We shall have work enough to do upon the
issue of slavery extension. This Administra-
ton, as the creature of the shareholders, will
leave no stone unturned in its efforts TO annex
Cuba, or other regions where slavery exists or
may be introduced. Besides, no man will be
prescribed for advocating his peculiar views,
whether they relate to slavery in this District,
in forts and arsenals or to the Fugitive Slave
Law. The party should take no ground against
these measures, but simply decline to be held
responsible for them.
By pursuing this liberal course, it is possible;
indeed, highly probable, that Missouri would
take prominent stand in the ranks of the
Free Democracy and her great statesman be-
come the nvncible leader of the hosts of Free
dom; whereas different course will entirely
exclude him and his State from all partcipa-
ton in the struggle.
The tariff, the public lands, and all other
questions should in like manner be held in
strict subordnation to the overshadowing in
terests of Freedom and in this way Anti Sla.
very Wings and Democrats may be united in
solid phalanx.
Kentucky too could present a gallant array
under the banners of party thus constituted
and although the gallant leader of the Eman-
cipation party in that State Mr.. Clay would
be willing to take more advanced position,
he could nevertheless bring out q much stronger
vote on the single but vital question of slavery
prohibition, than on any of the other points
contended for by AbolitiOnists
1t is of great Importance to bring out astrong
Southern vote against slavery extension. Its
moral effect, upon the North as well as the
| South, would be incalculable The most I'M
scrupulOus doughfaces will become loud mouth
ed in opposition to slavery and slavery extern
sion, when they see the South divided on the
subject A CARoLINIAN.
We differ from our respected correspondent.
The Temperance reform has little in common
with the Anti-Slavery movement. Primarily,
it does not belong to the sphere of politics. its
connection with it is merely incidental and
transient Nobody proposes the organization
of permanent Temperance Political Party, on
the single ground of the Maine Liquor Law
lticsl as moral question and, as a political
question it involves principles of universal
bearing on politics and sustans reletions to
almost every practical question that can en-
gage the attention of the voter. 1t embraces
great legal and constitutional questions. 1t is
u movement not paroxysmal, not ephemeral,
not the mere offspring of enthusiasm, not de-
pending upon an extraordinary tension of the
moral sentiment 1t is necessarily permanent
and general. 1t aims not only at the repeal of
a code of laws, but at a radical change in the
social system, and at changing the rule and
principle of action in our Federal Government.
1t is not fuctuating, balance. Of power Party
that it needs, but stable, controlling, gov
erning Party, ascendant in State and National
politics. Its central Principle is Democracy,
its aims are the aims of Democracy The
Party demanded is, Party Of Justice not an
Association of Philanthropists The Anti-Sls-
very men tried the one idea policy for years,
till they found that they ceased to make any
Roadway at all. They could not persuade The
American People that it was right to overlook
all questions relating to their own interests,
except the single one of Slavery The subjects
of Tariff of Land Reform, Cheap Postage,
Election Of Officers by the People, Intervention,
Monopoly, &c, had their just claims, as well
as the subject of Slavery Engaged in move-
ment, not for day, but for an era, resting upon
doctrines universal in their application to poll
tics, they felt obliged to constitute themselves
a permanent Party, recognise all the legiti-
mate applications of their doctrines and thus,
announcing general scheme of politics, just
and national, they have made their appeal to
the People. Their object is, to obtain the con-
troll of the State and National Government so
that the benefcent Principles they avow may
be honestly and comprehensively carried into
execution.
The exhortation Of our correspondent is
simply an appeal to them to dsband their
organization, and 20 back to the old policy Of
doing nothing.