The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-03-02

planting for manufacturing this differ
ence, however, that the labor of the South is
absolutely owned blythe capital, and all the
political power it represents absolutely welded
by the capitalists.
See, then, how naturally Slavery becomes
aggressive under this aspect. 1t begets a
domineering spirit, q habit of despotic, ire
sponsible authority, and intensi6es the love of
power inherent in human nature. It relieves
the Planter from the necessity of labor and,
having excluded the Interests of q Free Labor
System, in the cultivation of which 30 much of
the enterprise and intellect of the North is ex-
pended, it leaves him scarcely any resource for
his activities, but Politics. To the art of man
aging and governing free men, he devotes him
self. Politics is his Profession. Slavery has
furnished him with ft training-and he finds
in its existence the source of his power, in it's
necessities the centre and circumference of his
political creed Will he not cherish it as the
apple of his eye, and labor for its growth and
extension, as the enhancement of his own supe-
riority? Can you expect him to favor the ex-
tension of free territory, to regard with COM
placency any policy calculated to augment the
political strength of the free States! Can
you expect him to be Indifferent to the acquisi-
ton of slave territory, and the multiplication
of slave States! Witnessing. the rapid growth
of the free States will he not turn his eyes to
Cuba, TO Hayti, to Mexico, for fresh acqnisi-
tions, enabling him to maintain in Congress and
the Electoral College the power now secured
to him by Slavery?
Thus, whether you consider Slavery an ex-
ceptional Institution, requiring extraordinary
efforts for its preservation, or an exhaustive
system of labor, calling perpetually for new
soil to fatten upon, or as a source of political
power, to be cherished and extended, as the
foundation Of the Shareholders preponderance,
you see that it is necessarily and always an
aggressive element. The instinct of Self Pres.
ervation, the Love of Money, and the Lust of
Supremacy, all combine to render the Slave
holding Class, whatever may be the tempera-
ment of individuals belonging to it, Slavery
Propaganda.
For holding this theory, for acting upon it,
for inculcating it upon their fellow citizens,
"Abolitionists," -" Liberty men, "Free-Soilers,"
Independent Democrats" call them by what
name you will, have been denounced and ostra-
cized, as men of one idea, disturbers of the
peace, agitatOrs, enemies to the Union The
Historian of the Future will pronounce very
different verdict. His pages will show, that
had their views been adopted their counsels
followed, the Union would have fulfilled the
expectations of its founders and the hopes of
mankind that the more prominent aggressions
of Slavery, which from time to time aroused
even the Conservatism of the country were
only the developments Of the Policy of Propa-
gandism, springing from the fundamental ma
ture and relations of the Evil that the discus
sion and agitation of this Evil, and the attempt
toarouse and organize Public Sentiment against
it, were solemn duties, dictated by sound phi
losophy and genuine patriotism; and that the
policy of compromise, evasion, and time-serving
expedients, with q view to arrest controversy
between the opponents and supporters Of the
system, and allay agitation, was absurd, false,
and ruinous.
Just now, the public mind in the Free States
seems inclined to anticipate this judgment
The astounding attempt to repeal q Compro-
mise which the faith of an entire generation,
it was supposed, had consecrated as inviolable,
has aroused multitudes, hitherto Indifferent,
and awakened the inquiry whether, after all,
the Anti -Slavery men have not the truth on
their side. But, go engrOssing are material
interests in the Free States, 80 strong is the
slavery of Party, 30 impaired is the force of
generous sentiments by the sordid love of gain,
30 greatly has the national habit of Compro-
mise between Right and Wrong, weakened and
.obscured the National Conscience, that we con-
fess our distrust. The apostacy of 1850 is so
recent, as still to cast its shadow upon us.
The recollection that thirteen millions Of
People, pledged in the most unqualified terms,
by their State Legislatures, to the Principle
and Policy of positive prohibition of Slavery in
United States Territory, should in less than
twelve months have tamely acquiesoed in the
treacherous abandonment of both, and then
given their sanction to Parties degraded and
unprincipled enough to make such abandon
ment test and bond of Party fellowship,
awakens within us the apprehension that
should this last unlocked for, abominable ag-
erosion succeed the shameful disloyalty may
be repeated. 1t is a lamentable truth, that
this attempted aggression and such apprehen-
sions as we have just expressed, have struck
blow at the love for the Union of many who
have hitherto been answering in their devotion
to it, The paths of the two sections of the
country seem to them to diverge more and
more every day. They fear that their habits,
principles and interests, are continually grow
ing more and more dissimilar.
So domineering and oppressive has become
the slaveholding class, so utterly base the tribe
of "white slaves" at the North, and 30 blinded
and debilitated are the masses of the North
ern People, under the appliances of Pro-Sla-
very Parties and a Pro- Slavery Conservatism,
that they are almost tempted to look forward
to the commissions of Disunion, as necessary
to reclaim the non-slaveholders of the country
from their degradation, and to reinstate Free
dom, Free Labor, and Freemen, in their origi-
nal dignity and influence. Whether snoh
feelings are fully justified or not by the state
of the country, one thing is certain-let the
repeated aggressions of the Slave Power fasten
on the Public Mind of the North the deep,
settled conviction that this Union is to be used
henceforth merely for the aggrandizsment of
Slavery and the degradation of Liberty, and
there are millions there who will demand a
dissolution of the Bond