The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-11-17

free States to the snail-pace movements of the
States on whose energies it squats like an in
cubus.
ABOLlTIONISM ABOLISHED THE DIFFERENCE
" Aboiitionism AboiIshed,' is the title of
recent editorial in the Washington Union in
which the "organ" says that political Free
Soilism, or Abolitionism in 1913 had made
such inroads upon both the great parties, that
they were in imminent danger Of becoming
denatiOnalized-that this fact alarmed mode
rate men at the North, and so aroused the
South, rs to lead to the adoption of the Com
promise, which, being agreed to by the masses
of both sections relieved the Union from peril
Many Wings and some Democrats opposed
this great measure of pacifcation, depriying
it of mere party character, and further eff
| forts became necessary to secure it unanimous
support In this work the Democratic party
took the lead, and by its resolves at Baltimore
and its election of Franklin Pierce it COM
pletely nationalised itself, purgng itself from
sectional faint, and abolshing political Free
Soilism. To confirm this signal triumph, has
been and is the mission of the Administration
Let us understand the full import and bear
ings of this claim The question before the
country in iSiS, lsi9, 1850, was, Shall the
Territories acquired from Mexico exempt by
| their local law from Slavery, be preserved free,
by positive enactment of Congress? The at.
firmatiyc of this was the "Wilmot Proviso"
which, in declaring it to be the duty Of Con-
gress to prohibit Slavery in those Territories,
asserted the right and expediency Of such an
exercise of power. This was " Political Free
Sosm," and it was the ground taken by nine
tenths of the People of the Northern States.
This Wilmot Proviso policy was solemnly af-
firmed by the Legislatures of fourteen non
slaveholding States, and one slaveholding: the
Legislature OF Iowa was the single exception
among the free State Legislatures.
This was the aspect presented by Political
Free Soilism at the period named-and such
was the array of the non-slaveholding State
in it's support Shareholders united against it
Some denied the constitutionality Of the Pro
yiso some, waving this point, condemned i
on grounds of policy some maintained that
by tho single act of acquiring the Territories
, the Constitution of the United States was ex
5 tended over them, setting aside the local law
> which prohibited Slavery some insisted tina
to put the right Of the STAKEHOLDER to carry
0 his slaves into them beyond doubt, Congress
ought, by positive enactment, to abrogatc sucl
0 law alI united to put down Frec-Sosm.
We recollect the result of the conflict, Tit
a settlers in California, that portion of our new
n acquisition most inviting to Shareholders de
e cided the question, 80 far as they were con
= cerned, by organizing a State Government eI
. Guiding Slavery and demanding admission
v into the Union. Compromise was sool
l. manufactured by which the question was ad
3 usted, without the definitive settlement of an
. principle at issue Nothing was affirmed il
regard to the constitutionality or expedienc
@ of the Wlmot Proviso; nothing, in regard {
II the validity of -hc Anti-Slavery er LOCI, or tn
l. rights of the Shareholders under the Constitu
y mittcd on the ground Of precedent, and, be
4. cause it had never been denied, that the Pee
% pie of Territory organizing State Govern
7, ment had a right to decide the question of Sla
. very for themselves. The Territories of Ne,
70 Mexico and Utah were organized without an
;. reference to the question at all and prov
o sion was adopted, that thereafter State ap
- plying for admission into the Union, should b
~ admitted with or without Slavery, as it Nigh
Id elect
p The conflict on the Territorial question ha'
D. ing been thus arranged, without the settl,
a ment of any principle, there was lull of el
ID element, not because Of q change Of views
10 the parties to the controversy, but simply b
r cause the immediate issues between them WEI
&c decided, and no expectation remained of a re
. consideration
,e Then followed the attempts OF party mana
As gers, to heal divisions, to allay anmositi'
10 generated by the late conflict and to effect nj
=, o. tional reorganization. Hence the resolves
AZ the two Conventions Mt Baltimore, athrmin
r. aequiewenee in the Compromise As final SO
Element of the questions which had been in col
o' troyersy. Here again We see no declaratio
- = in regard to the constitutonality or policy
n. the Wilmo. Proviso, none respecting the Ant
Slavery Ter loci, or rights Of Shareholders undo
n the Federal Constitution in the Territorie
10 These questions were not settled by the Com
~ promise, nor did the Conventions of tho tw
20 old parties undertake to settle them Politics