Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-02


in our columns delivered ON the passage OF the
Nebraska Bill in tho Senate. The Senator
has this advantage over many othcrs-that his
reputation Of itself secures consideration tor
what he utters.
WHAT is TO BE DORE g-"IHE NEED OF THE
TIME"
In another column the reader will find ON
article from very intelligent correspondent,
on the Need Of tho Time.o 1t deserves con-
sideration. The writer would interposc no OBJ
stace in the way Of those who are seeking to
bring about general union Of the friends OF
Freedom, but his object evidently Is, TO
guard against an inadequate and inefficient
organization Of their fol ces.
The perpeination Of the Wing Party neces-
sarily involves the maintenance OF tho present
Democratic Party-and the continuance OF
both, leaves to Free-S0ilers, or Independent
Democrats, no alternative but the preservation
Of their organization.
The nucleus Of the Independent Democratic
Party was formed in l83s-'4O, and was then
known as athe Liberty Party" From that
time down to the last Presidential election, the
most determined efforts were made to secure
to the Wing Party the adhesion of its mem
bcrs Its separate action was condemned as
blunder Its leaders were charged with play
ing into the hands Of the "Locofocos." 1t
was asserted that the Wings were more favor
ably disposed to the Cause Of Freedom than
the Democrats; and, therefore, although not
coming quite up to the standard OF the Liber-
ty men, they had just claim upon their sup
port "A half loaf was better than no bread"
The true policy was :" to choose between
evils the right way was to vote for the
men, least opposed to their opinions, who had a
chance of being elected 1t was folly to throw
away their votes, without the slightest prospect
Of success; it was wicked, by withholding them
from the Wing Party, to subject it to defeat.
OF course, men who piled them with argu-
ments Of this kind held them responsible for
the defeat Of Henry Clay and what was
charged as necessary consequence, the annex
alton of Texas and the Mexican war; and
responsible, too for the election of General
Pierce, and whatever consequences resulted
from that event.
Steadily the friends Of direct political action
against the Slave Power, mainta;ned their
ground, through evil and good report, adding
to their numbers, never changing their princi-
plies or policy, although, in obedience to cir
cumstances they accepted q new name, and in
l84S became known as the Free or Independ-
emit Democracy. They admitted frankly that
in tho Free States, there were moro Wings
than Democrats literally disposed towards their
views, and inclined to opposition to Slavery
but, they pointed to the facts, that the Party
which is in the ascendant 10 the Federal Gov
ernment having secured its place by alliance
with the Slave Power, in obedience to that
Power, is peculiarly intoleren. towards Anti
Slavery movements; that, from 1886 to 1852,
the Democrats were thus in the e1cenda7t,
with the exception of q few months Of power
under General Harrison, and a four years term
from Is4s to 1852 that the Anti-Slavery poll
cy of the Wings in the frce States, when out of
power, was to be attributed largely to their
necessities, which constrain an opposition to
ave. itself Of every element Of hostility to the
Administration Party that similar necessities
developed similar Anti-Slavery proc'iyitics in
the Democratic Party, when it was thrown
out of power and into the opposition, in ls4s /;
and that the Wings organised nationally and
in possession OF the Government from Is4S to
1882, were practically as pro-slavery as their
predecessors-th surrender of the Wilmot Pro-
viso, and the imposition Of the Fugitive Slave
Act, being the most signal achievements Of tho
Fillmore Administration.
And they now point TO those additional facts,
that, in the Wing National Convention of 1852,
a majority of delegates passed resolutions in ia.
vor Of tho pro-slavery legislation of 1850, affirm
cd its fnality, avowed opposition to further
agitation Of the Slavery question, and put in
nomination a Presidential candidate who ac-
copied emphatically the po'cy thus proclaim
cd; and that, subsequently, the Wings general
ly, in their State Conventions and through their
leading journals, declared acquiesccncc in what
had boon done, and manifested strong repug-
nance to any kind Of movement on the subject
Of Slavery.
We reproduce these facts, not for the pur-
pose Of reproaching any Party, not for the pur-
pose Of placing Wings or Democrats on their
defence, not TO provoke recrimination or stir
up anew tho elements Of discord, but to Justify
the policy OF the Independent Democrats, and
demonstrate to all politicians that q union Of
the friends Of Freedom in The free STATES on The
basis of either The Wig or Democratic organi.
sation, as at present eristing, is utterly out Of
Tie question. Maintain these Parties and tho
Same reasons which have constrained the In
dependent Democracy to keep up its separate
organization, will force the same policy upon
it. We never will assent to the compromising
tactics Of either, or sustain them.
The fundamental vice Of both is clearly sta
ted by our correspondent