The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-06

| associated Win blr. Dlrney, OF hentucKy' Wa
the sole exponent Of Auti-Slavery principles il
the West The Slave Interest held in subjec
ton not only the South, but the North its ex
actions had been unresisted its pretensons un
questioned The right TO discuss it's nature it
evil, its tyranny, was boldly denied Throughout
the Union in the slaveholding States free dis
cussion had ceased TO exist in the free States the
legislative power was invoked to suppress 1t
and while hestating, mob violence was every
where instigated. 1t was found that before
the subject of Slavery could be discussed the
question must be settled whether there wa
such thing in America as liberty OF speech
and of the press. The conflict was a severe
one. Meetings were broken up by violence
| churches were sacked, halls dedicated to Tree
discussion were set on fire, presses were pulieo
down. editors were assaulted with deadly weap-
ons. in one case with a fatal result, lecturers
were stoned and whipped prominent advocates
of freedom had price set upon their heads
political parties, churches, society capital and
respectabiltv. were enlisted on the side of Des-
potism: the Anti-Savery men had no Repre-
sentative in the State Legislature or in Con-
gress; and the man who, while non-concurring
in their views, undertook generously to vindi-
cate their rights as American citizens fell I'M
der the ban of the Ruling Power, and despite
his venerable years and illuStrious services,
came near being expelled from the House OF
| Representatives.
The thousands who have joined our ranks
| within the last few years can form but faint
conception of those dark and troubled days
of the hard and apparently hopeless struggle
IN which the advocates of freedom were involv-
ed. Looking aroundnow upon the combination
of political influences against them-sustalned
and directed as it is by the patronage of an
Executive under the control of the Slave Inter-
est-and upon the shameful regeneration or
apostacy of many, who few years since were
openly committed to Anti Slavery principles,
they are tempted to doubt whether after all
Freedom has gained anything substantial in
its conflict with Slavery We who were in the
beginning of the struggle take a wider view,
and arrive at very different conclusion.
Comparing the beginnings of our movement
with its present condition, we find that through
out the free States Liberty Of Speech and of the
Press has been trumphantly established, and
even in an important section Of the sayeholding
region the question Of Slavery is now freely dis
cuSsed. Twelve years ago, Dr. Crandall, an
American citizen, was thrust into the Jail Of this
against him simply because an Anti Slavery
newspaper was found in his possession. In 1853,
the National Era, in the same District, discuss
ing the question of Slavery in all its length and
BREADTH sends out weekly an edition of twenty
eight thousand sheets The half dozen papers
of 1885 have been reinforced by twenty times
the number; and now there is not free State
which is without several influential journals
arrayed on the side of Freedom
The opponents of Slavery, prescribed univer-
sally by Church and State, have since then
compelled every large denomination to consid-
er its relations to Slavery, and in several of
them wrought fundamental changes adverse to
the evil and indirectly, by action upon the old
political parties and directly through an indie
pendent organization, defeated the policy of Sla
very extension, and established free institutions
on the shores of the Pacific, placed three dis
tinguished representatives of their principles in
the United States Senate, and ten in the House
of Representatives besides securing the balance
Of power in several of the State Legislatures.
Oar first task was to establish the right of
free discussion in the free States, We have ac-
complished it, Our next was, to counterfeit the
influences of Slavery in these States 50 as to
create in them a thorough Ant. Slavery public
sentiment, and to induce ecclesiastical and po-
litcal organizations to absolvc themselves from
all responsibility for the support of Slavery.
This task has been partially accomplished
No one can doubt that there has been a steady
growth of Anti-Slavery sentiment among the
People of the free States. This was demon
strated in a practical form in lslS, when the
question arose, Shall Slavery be extended into
the vast territories acquired from Mexico
The response from every free State Legislature,
and from the Legislature of Delaware, was a
decided negdtiCe +. and this answer remained
on record till the question was practically de-
cided against Slavery, in the Judgment of the
majority of the American People No one can
doubt that the great ecclesiastical organizations
of the free States have come more and more
under the Anti-Slavery sentiment. The divis.
ions of the Methodist Episcopal and Baptist
Churches prove this, as well as the course of
proceedings from year to year in the New School
Presbyterian Church. The growing power of
the same sentiment over political organizations,
was shown by the disruption of the Democratic
party in lSlS, and the utter overthrow of the
Wing party in 1852, and is further proved by
the efficiency of the Independent Democratic or,
ganizstion, which has just secured the balance
| ofpower in the Legislature Of Vermont, increas
cd its vote in Maine, and is preparing to &c
| complish important results in Ohio and Massa
| chusetts.
| Need we say that in the present position
| and power Of the Administration we see moth
ing to discourage us in the task of delivering
| the free States from thraldom to Slavery, anc
in imbuing public sentiment in them with tn,
Anti.Slavery idea. True, the President shrink,
from any conflict with the Slave Interest Hi,
patronage is distributed on the sole condition
of acquicscence in the Compromise Measures
and the Fugitive Slave Law. The Radica
Democrats in New York and some other States
from whom better things were expected, hav
bent the knee and confessed acquiescence Blu
let us not forget that the great majority Of tn,
people who, for the sake of party and the advan
tages it brings, are passing resolutions of acqui
escence in what has been done, hold that the set
/ tnnnanf hu the Enrnn of 400 "a ns nnro.