The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-01
THE NATIONAL ERA, WASHINGTON D. c. SEPTEMBER l. 1853

8. That they are in favor of separating the
Federal Government from all connection with
slavery, so far as IL can be done constitution
ally
T. That they are in favor OF the freedom of
the public lands to actual settlers
s. That they are in favor of equal taxation
6. That they are for the suppression of the
evils Of intemperance.
This avowal of principles is in no degree OBJ
scure or doubtful. They are distinctly set
forth, and every reader must understand them.
IL comprehends the entire substance of a free
mans creed, repudiating slavery and the slave
trade in the District of Columbia. on the South.
ern coast, and in the Territories. IL strikes at
all efforts of the Executive in favor of sustain
ing slavery in Cuba or in our slave States. and
condemns the employment Of the army in as
sisting of numbering fugitive slaves as was late
ly done in Texas; and of using the @home
squadron" or the revenue cutters. TO protect
the slave trade according to the practice of
past years. In short can see no reason wbv
any ANTI Slavery man should object 10 the
movement. | do not, however, suppose YOU will
meet with any difficulty from that quarter. It
is one of the distinguishing virtues Of the adyo-
Gates OF liberty, that they will not contend for
party names provided they can maintain the
great basis of all human rights
The friends of equal taxation and of the
Maine Law, are in the same situation. The
platform embraces all these they will, have
no doubt, stand shoulder TO shoulder in the
coming conflict; but apprehend that the real
obstacles to your success will be found to exist
in that attachment which men have to marty
names, and party pride, and party preiudices !:
to that feeling of personal hostility which has
been engendered between individuals who have
heretofore politically opposed each other.
have myself often been asked whether would
consent to act with persons who had heretofore
assailed me with great personal bitterness
uniformly answer "yes,p and thank God that
he has giDen them grace TO support the truth. 1t
is this support of principle for which we labor
and if either the Wings or the Democrats would
embrace the truth, and maintain the inalien-
able rights of all men to liberty | would at
once say, "Let the Free Democracy disbandD
for our work would then be consummated.
Neither of the Hunker papers in your city
attack any doctrine or principle set forth in
your call They never will do that No indi-
vldual Of character will come before the public
OF your county and avow his hostility to either
of the doctrines on which your union is based
The call is for those who would maintain the
doctrines set forth in it, There could be no
stronger pledge than that contained in the call
itself; yet~the Herald Of your city, evidently
regards the movement as piece of political
egerdemain got up to effect some object not
expressed--to carry out some hidden design
He, therefore, goes into an inquiry as to the
latent of the cause implying that they are dis
honest and insncere He speaks of the "pri-
mary design of the movement of putting
Jud,ei0uS ticket ia nomination this fa!i; and
uniting the progressives Of all parties on the
Free Soil, or Abolition platform" He appears
to think of almost every other object than that
of maintaining the doctrines auoiced
Now, will say most empbaticaliy, if the OBJ
ject of the movement be any other than that
expressed; if those men are attempting to play
off trick upon the public; if the union be
merely to put down the Hunker Democrats in
stead Of maintaining principle, as the Herald
intimates then let every honest man get out of
it at once, or else drive from you every such
political knaye, and let the honest portion of
the signers stand firmly in the maintenance of
the truths to which they are publicly pledged.
II the signers he honest and come forth boldly
to the defence of themselves and doctrines, meet
their assalants in the full assurance of con-
scious integrity, their triumph will be certain
The Pidfn Dealer tacitly admits the justice
and propriety of your doctrines, and that it is
right for individuals to cherish them, but de-
nounces any united effort to carry them in
to practice. If such arguments deter the peo-
pie of your county from carrying out this en-
terprise, shall have misapprehended their in
telligence and their Independence.
No ono doubts that nine-tenths of the cleo
tors of Cuyahoga county, including all political
parties are really in favor Of the doctrines on
which your proposed union is founded VIII
they speak their own thoughtst will they do
their own voting? have too much knowl-
edge of them to doubt on that point. No, my
dear sir, if you fail, it will not he through the
fault of the people, but of those more promi-
nent individuals, whose duty it is to be active
and vgilant in carrying forward this enterprise.
If they hesitate and falter while standing upon
the vantage ground, they will prove unfaithful
to themselves, as well as to their country and
to mankind
| need not say that the call in this county is
substantially The same yours, although the
Free Democracy have heretofore carried the
elections over both the other parties united
and will do it again whenever they shall unite
Very respectfully, J. X. GrDDINGs.