The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-01
FROM the Columbian.
A FEW PARTING WORDS FROM AN OLD
FRIEND.

FRIENDS OF FREEDOM IN ONO: viii You
take kindly a few words from one that has
served you a. best he could without hope OF
reward, except so far as he receives your kind
affection, and hope Of promoting the great
cause Of human happiness
We have just closed an important State cleo
ton The result, rs every one must have seen.
continues the Old Line Democracy in power.
What may be the details is yet uncertain. We
know, however that the party of Freedom has
very much gained in positive strength Wheth-
or our vote is increased or diminished by the
temperance struggle, is uncertain but in any
view Of our present position, we are advan-
cling, and have probably doubled our vote in
eleven months-a progress unexampled in such
an enterprise.
There has been great difference Of opinion
with some of our friends, as to the best means
OF securing the greatest success. This has led
to some embarrassment. Those Incidents have
all passed and let mo urge you not to revive
any unpleasant remembrances. We have a
common purpose in view, and | trust we are
above selfish aspirations. When We have
paused long enough to count the votes, let us
| Immediately resolve on our future course.
We must make up our mind on the first
question presented, which is--Shell We press
our enterprise forward until our General Gov
crnment shall be administered for Freedom
and Justice until Slavery shall be driven from
the seat of Government the coastwse slave
trade is abolished, our Territories dedicated to
Freedom, the Fugitive Slave Act repealed, Sla-
very driven to take shelter within and under
the power Of such States as may still give it
protection, until our own State shall vndicate
herself from abiect surveillance to the Slave
Power; and the great principles Of exact jus
tice to all men be applied in all Legislative, ju'
dcial and executive proceedings!
This is great work and, if done, must be
done by tOu, FRIENDS OF FREEDOM, and such
as may associate with you. But you are not
the mon to quail at danger, or be hinderei 10y
any obstacles which can be presented. Your
minds are already made up you answer, that
this work must be done, and since Others have
failed, you must do it,
Have you, my friends, counted the cost
You answer again-Why talk OF cost when
human liberty, u pure literature, progress, hu
man happiness and even q pure Christianity
tself, is ut stake! For experience proves that
slaveholding destroys or corrnpts everything
worth pre-. crving.
DO assume too much when assume to an.
swer for you agaip--thdt his icork must be
done cost irha, IL piU, We have no National
or State treasury to lavish its millions to sus
tain our cause; we have, however, true hearts
Jealous to promote the good and true. We
have the spirit of selfsacrifce that will lead
us to adapt ourselves to the work-not here
after merely to see how many votes we can
get and sill expect to DO deteated-no, friends
wo now 90 for electing our next cand dates
State and National; We icould have done II
this year. with little more faith. We can dc
it hereafter, and the hope of the nation il
bound up in our success.
My last wear Of hard services is probably
performed. My health has been providential
ly preserved this year but here such labor
must end
| am not before you candidate for an,
oiicc--probably shall never be again; so yor
must allow me to press this matter upon you
Yes, you must now lay out your work for Sue
cess the country and the public sentiment ex
pcct such result, and everything is ripe Fol
t it. This years battle has prepared the way
= but We must work for it. Great moral ans
political reforms do not grow spontaneously
hard work, and much hard work, must be per
formed but you no longer need labor, with
5 out expecting success.
, From my little farm may appeal to 20,
often, and urge sundry modes OF carrying Tor
ward this cause. | can only refer to one now
fou must sustain our presses hat are devoted 4
Freedom and Reform; his as the rery first step
and failing here, ws can proceed no farther On
! ,sreral county presses stand frS IN importance
) y you are only able TO take one paper, Ihg you
= Ir'ends, take our county paper nearest yo,T resi-
. denes. Bat fer Of our publishers haze mad
l money; several kaw kept up az posture ioss
Ihs rs wrong. Our county papers must be uel
sustained You can MOI only take one yourself
hui ritA proper effort ca. induce some other 1
take Que , and layps p,djoyifu of vou can OF