The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-31
THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

Agitation is dead ~ So say the Hunker
Whgs-so say the Hunker Democrats. The
wish is probably father to the thought. The
new Administration is inaugurated. The new
President endorses the Compromise acts, and
declares that the Fugitive Slave Law must be
carried into effect and all his supporters say,
Amen Conservative Wings vie with Hunker
Democrats in singing praises to the new divinity
who presides in the White House. The incense
of fattery ascendJ from thousand jealous
patriots anxious to serve their country and
to be fed with the crumbs of patronage which
fall from the rich mans table. The edicts of
the Baltimore Convention have been obeyed-
agitation has ceased The Free Democracy
may be represented just now as the Lazarus
lying at the rich mans gate, but mono Of the
crumbs fall to the share of this Lazarus. The
expectants of crumbs hope to gain favor by
sneering at the beggar.
In view Of recent facts however, it may be
new President has chosen two Southern Seces-
sionists for seats in his Cabinet. The vacant
seat on the Bench Of the Supreme Court il
given to another Secessionist. Efforts are
making to ignore Freedom in the free States,
and to naugurate Slavery in its stead and
laws tending to produce this result are intro
duced into the Legislatures of New York and
Pennsylvania. The effort to annul Freedom in
Illinois has been successful, at least SO far as
the Legislature of that State could effect it
and the following paragraphs indicate what
are the designs of the shareholders in regard tt
California. One thing is neutrality-suspicious.
for Slavery has not ceased, whatever may bt
said of agitation against it
"The division of California into three States
distinct and separate, is now contemplated ant
pressed there. A majority of the Legislature
It is said, will order a State Convention, anc
upon that Convention will depend the mode
manner, and boundaries of division.
"The three States are to be named Sierra,
the mountain division, which has about $4,000
inhabitants by the last census; California,
which has 207, 1888 and 'Tulare the Southern
| State, including Los Angeles and San Diego
which has "a, SO inhabitants, and about sever
and half millions of taxable property Thi'
Southern State of Tulare, in the division, it il
contemplated by many of the occupants t,
mako a slave State of, and one OF the object
of pressing the division is to establish slavery
| there.
"The State debt of California is about thre,
millions of dollars and this debt, divided
among the new States, would give California
S2333,333; Tulare 100000; and Sierra
S266667"
Here then, we have it, Years ago, the Err
called attention to the designs Of the Slavery
extcnsionists in California Their scheme
: were masked and the above is the first opeI
} announcement of their purposes. The publ
sentiment of this now State can hardly be sal
to be awake to the importance Of the subject
proposed in the above paragraphs The projec
to erect new slave State on the Pacific coas
, is talked of as coolly rs men would talk of tn
! purchase of horse and seems to excite no "a
constituent Selfshness makes its demands
and the rights, the interests. and the happines
: of untold generations have no weight in tn
I scale Will this scheme be successful w
fear it may be. Trading politicians from tn
Atlantic States have gone to California to &C
vance their schemes of interest or ambition
, and some of them with the specific purpose {
8 extending the institution of Slavery Tn
class, 80 far as we can learn, control the T.,
ecutvc and Legislative departments Of III
State Their efforts are unremitting TO gai
, foothold for Slavery on the Pacific coast tn
above announcement indicates tina, their pm
!, poses are ripe for execution.
In view Of this state OF thing, Il il poss.bl
f to check the agitation Of the Slavery question
5 viii not the mandates Of political Nations
Conventions and Congressional resolves
make final settlement Of it by eozapru@iss
f be alike disregarded! Like the ghost
Banquo, Agitation will not down at tAeir bi'
ding
One aspect Of things is discouraging-al
other is hopeful. While politicians are acti'
to introduce q reign Of barbarism, and 10 eI
a throne serfdom in States and on soil consecr
). ted to Freedom, the world is awaking TO Il
5 enormities of Slavery The enthusiastic rece
u ton Of Uncle Toms Cabin has paved Il
= way for the inculcation of Ant.Slavery trut
q and the friends Of Freedom are called on
h the condition Of things around them not to :
d lax. their efforts, but to rcdouble and exter
' them Let them do this in all practical ways
i, by spreading broadcast the issues Of tn
N mighty engine, the public press-by appeals
10 the judgment and consciences Of their tello