The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-29

Avain we were told that the annexation OF
Texas with the election of Mr.. Polk, had final
" disposed of the question. But those events
only gave greater prominence to the subject
and the Mexican war, which brought large
accessions of territory, gave it a political i'm
portance which it never had before, in the set
Element of the boundaries Of Slavery. The
Wilmot Proyiso was more than once adopted
by the House of Representatives and if its
friends failed finally to engraft it on the Terri
torial bills, they have at least the satisfaction
Of believing that that provision is unnecessary
to keep Slavery out of them. "The COmpro-
mise" which was the basis of this settle
ment of the Slavery question" enjoyed the re-
putation of putting Abolitionism to silence for
a brief space; but the appearance of Uncle
Toms Cabin, and other simultaneous lndlca-
tons of advancing opinion, soon called for an
other settlement" and hence the credit now
accorded to General Pierce's election There
is no doubt that if General Scott had been
elected, the same merit would have been
claimed for him by his friends, and with as
good reason.
Abolitionism, Anti-Slavery Emancipation,
or whatever it may be called, is great prln-
ciple, great truth, which neither the vio-
lence of mobs, nor the presumption of time
serving Presidents, can put down. Majorties
cannot vote its destruction for like Anteus,
it rises with renewed strength from every over
throw. The old parties have time and again
vowed its destruction but they have only de-
stroyed, or fatally wounded themselves, while
the cause of Freedom is continually on the in
crease 1t never was so strong as at the pres
ent moment There was never before so much
Anti-Savery in the country as now, after hav-
ing been repeatedly "put down. by Wings
and Democrats.
The only effect of Baltimore Platforms and
other finality" measures, is to silence the
politicians, Office seekers aud holders, while the
mass of the People remain uncorrupt and I'M
bought by the tempting bats which are held
out to mercenary partisans. In fact such
measures, by disgusting honest and independ-
emit men, tend to the dissolution of the parties
which support them, and to drive their men,
bers into the ranks of the Abolitionists. The
Free Soil party, or Free Democracy, owes its
strength and vitality to the intolerant measures
IF its opponents in Church and State. The
twenty.frst rule made its tens of thousands of
men but the Compromise meas
ures, and, above all, the Fugitive Slave Law,
has made, and is making them, by hundreds
of thousands Providence is thus using the
enemies of Freedom as the chief instruments
N the advancement of the cause of truth and |
light, by the folly of their counses.
legitimate fruit of the Fugitive Slave Law
as formed a new era in the history of the
mes. 1t "holds the mirror up to nature :"
nd, somehow, contrary to all former expert
nee, has equal fascination for the enemies as
Or the friends of the great truth it teaches
he cause of this anomaly is perhaps trace
bic, in great part, to the fact, that it is the
rst instance in which Southern life and man
ers have been delineated by the hand of ge-
ius. The People are amazed and delighted
nth picture of themselves, in many respects
leasing, and in all respects faithful, though
q main design is to exhibit to them their
reatest deiormity. The sensation is new to
hem; and they are affected, as wo may ina
ne an Indian, in his native wilds, whose ideal
f perfection in art is bow and arrow, would
Nc by the sight of Catlin's Gallery. But the
warm sympathos which the book is calculated
o awaken in every human breast have doubt
ess had much to do in giving it popularity in
he South as elsewhere. The human heart as
naturally sympathizes with suffering as the
parks fly upward; and it as naturally visits
.he oppressor and wrong doer with the righte
ou. indignation, which is the voice of God
within us.
II is true, that Uncle Tom has excited much
bitter and angry denuncation of its author
and her cause but the Southern People have
read it. and have attempted numerous replies |
10 it in the way Of counter fctions, as well as
by critical essays. This isa great point gain
ed and we incline to believe that the replies |
will be productive of as much practical good |
as the work of Mrs. Stowe itself All the re. |
plies whether fictitious or critical, attempt to
show not only that the allegations of Adolf.
tloniss as to the abuses of the system are false,
but that in reality is practically much better,
more humane, and more regardful of the |
rights and welfare of the slaves than the laws |
on their statute books make it, Now, there
are no people in the world so well qualified to
Judge of the truth of these defensive state
nents as the Southern people themselves. If
hey are true-if families are not separated, or
)ut rarely-if husbands and wives parents
md children, are not habitually separated by
'ale to the traders, by emigration, and by the
operation of law which requires the sale at
auction of negroes, as of other property-if
The laws against education are not practically
by which men called Christian arc
ienied the privilege of reading the Bible-if
'hesc and many other gross enormities are not
Dractced, why are they sanctioned! Wby
IRE not the laws tolcrating them repealed?
why Is not marriage instituted by law among
'aves : Why do Legislative bodies assuming
o represent Christian people, outlaw, forbid,
lnnul matrmony, and thereby give rise to a
Universal system of concubinage' Why is it
made lawful to separate forever, men and
women who have, as far as in them lies,
agreed to live together after Gods holy ordi.
lance and why may their offspring be torn
rom them, even in infancy, by the ruthless
land of ayarico Why is not education en-
,ouraged, instead Of being prohibited Are
he Southern People ambitious of maintaining
! barbarous code, which they are too civilized
10 enforce
But no class of readers understand half 80
well as those OF the South that the whitewash-