The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-05
The SPREAD OF FREE SOIL OPINIONS

lhere are, however, q number of daily
papers extant, which, in everything but the
name, are abolition enough for the most ram
pant fanatic. 1t is probable that these press
ed go closely upon the footsteps of the papers
above mentioned, as to crowd them eff the
track
1t is no doubt true, that the discomfort with
the late legislation of Congress on the subject
of Slavery, which has become general in the
North, and which is freely expressed in the
greater number of journals in the free States,
has made the existence of special organ of
that discomfort unnecessary. The Common
lOeGHk has done good service in its day. but its
mission is fulfilled There has been scarce any
characteristic for the last five or six months
to distinguish it from forty other papers, except
that its discussions had less variety, and were
more particularly engaged by one topic. There
was therefore, no occasion for supporting the
Commonwealth, as tho vehicle of opinions
against which most other journals were closed
We register the suspension or discontinua-
ton Of the Commonwealth, whichever it may
be, as proof Of the general diffusion and pop
ulsrity of Free Soil opinions. Such seems to be
the view of the matter taken by the Journal
| Of Commerce, and we assent to it with all our
hearts.-Nel0 York EUening Post.
The political Anti-Slayery mon of the coun-
| try see the use that is made of the falling off
in the patronage of their papers. The Journal
Of Commerce accepts it as an evidence Of their
decreasing power, and exults; the Post infers
from it, greater diffusion of Ant-Slavery SEN
timent, and its practical conclusion is, that the
agitation of the Slavery question no longer re-
quires newspapers specifically devoted to that
object. If the Anti-SlaEery party concur with
it it will dispense with the rest of its papers,
and benceforth bestow its patronage on the
Post, the Tribune, the Boston Atias, and other
papers Of the kind. 1t will abandon its dis
tinctive principles, policy, and organization, re-
solve itself into its original elements, Wing and
Democratic, and, under the counsels of its new
leaders, find itself yoked by and by with Sill
ver Grsyism or Hunkerism, supporting plat
forms and tickets in which Conservatism and
Radicalism meet together, Slavery and Anti
Slavery kiss each other.
The Post does not make direct application
of its remarks to the Era, but it is clearly en-
braced in the same category with the Common
loeaIth. Now, there are few facts which our
contemporaries have entirely overlooked. The
Ddiiy National Era, itwas distinctly announced
in the Prospectus, would be Issued for eight
months or during the session of Congress.
It 1raS Issued during the session, and then
closed in accordance with the announcement;
whereupOn the PrO-Slavery press raiees
shout of triumph over the waning power of
the AntiSlavery Party! Just as if the enc
mics of the Smithsonian Institute should clap
their hands over the closing of it's usual series
of lectures, as an evidence that the Institution
was going down!
The Daily National Era was not intended
to be gossipping readable paper" as the
phrase is. We have no gifts in that way. 1t
was not intended to be a commercial newspa-
per-the Commercial Interest has plenty of
organs which it can buy and sell at pleasure.
Is did not aspire TO rival New York Daily in
the variety Of its departments and the minute
ness Of its news-its editor had not the reoui-
site capital 1t had definite political pur-
pose and o predetermined life 1t accomplished
it's purpose, and lived ell the days of its ap-
pointed time It's diecontnuance proves moth
ing as to the strength or weakness of the Anti
Slavery Cause. Should the ezigencies of the
Cause at any time hereafter demand, and the
EDITORS means warrant, very likely he might
do the same thing over again, although it
would be at his own cost; for, if it will do the
JOurnG! Of Commerce and It's tribe of services
any good to know it, they may rejoice over the
fact that a Daily paper, devoted specially to
The enforcement of real Northern Sentiment on
the subject of Slavery, cannot be supported in
the Capital city of the Republic, unless there
be an Administration honest enough to give it
the Executive advertising to which its subscrip-
ton may legally entitle it. We have been here
nearly eight years, and there has been no such
Administration and if such influences as those
emanatng from the Journal of Commerce con-
tinue 70 prevail at the North, there never will
be such an Administration.
Now, as to the Commons Ceahh That paper
has always labored under difficulties State
street is not Anti-Slavery: Mammon and Abo-
lition are rarely allied the commercial and
advertising community in Boston is not apt to
patronize the Anti Slavery press. There may
be q very strong Anti-Slsvery Party in Massa-
chusetts, and yet an Anti Slavery Daily in
Boston languish for want of sufficient patron
age. There is such Party there, in numbers
scarcely the third Party in talent and moral
worth at least equal to any Party in the Com
monwealth; and this independent Party has
lately received large accessions; but is daily
organ is discontinued! We are not surprised;
we have long known that it was losing con-
Germ; that it has almost constantly drawn upon
tho private resources of individuals; and that
in these "hard times" this support should fail,
is just what might have been expected. The
fact Is no evidence of a decrease of power in
the political Anti-Slavery Movement or such
a diffusion of Anti-Slayery Sentiment through
the press generally as to preclude the necessity
of press primarily devoted 10 that Movement,
If there be need of distinctiyely Anti Sla
very press, there is no need OF q distinct PARTY
against Slavery and the Slave Power. If the
Wing and Democratic newspapers are all sufi-
Gent for the management of the discussion of
the Slavery Question, the Wing and Democrat
ic Parties are all-suficient for the management
Of the Anti-Slsvery movement. That is. the
Parties which gave us Texas with Slavery, war
with Mexico, Polk and Pierce, Tyler and Fill
more, the Gag, the Fugitive AcS the Baltimore
platforms, with pledges of resistance against
the agitation of the Slavery Question, and
which in their National Conventions have uni
formly submitted to the demands of Slavery,
are to be relied upon as all-suffcient instru-
mentalities against Slavery and lis aggressions! !