The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-26
THE TRIcKsTERs AND THE DUPEs

will please notice or publish our Prospectus a,
they may SEQ proper.
THE TRICKsTERs AND The DUPEs.
The passage of the Compromise Measures Of
1850 naturally allaycd the general agitation
that prevailed on questions of Slavery. The
great majority of the People, who had been
arrayed in support Of Free Soil and Free
Labor seeing that the practical issues which
had engaged their attention were disposed of
| felt as if nothing more remained to be accom-.
plished what had been done they could not
undo. Nobody proposed to repeal the Texas
Boundary Bill the acts for the formation Of
Territorial Governments in Utah and New
Mexico, for the admission of California, or for
the prohibition of Slave Importation in the Dis
trict of Columbia. All these were considered
settled measures, so that the whole Territorial
Question, which had produced the excitement,
was withdrawn from politics. AS to the declara-
ton in relation TO the admission of future
States, it was well understood that that could
be tested whenever the application should be
made. Only one measure disturbed the gene
raj effect of the rest-the Fugitive Slave Law.
This was an agitatiDg measure--it continued
to irritste the masses, although not deemed a
sufficient cause for organized resistance, but
ct last consoling themselves with the idea that
after all it would soon be regarded as little
better than dead Litter, they became COM
paratively tranquil. Other interests took hold
of their attention. Their feelings and thoughts
began to flow in their accustomed channels
an indsposition grew up among them to recur
to past controversies; they reacted now against
excitement.
Taking advantage of this state Of the public
mind, the politicians in their National Conven-
tons, few months afterwards, at Baltimore,
by cunningly contrived resolutions of acqui-
escence in what had been done, and pledges to
resist all attempts to disturb it, committed the
two old parties not only to inaction and mat
tention in all things pertaining to Slavery, but
to positive antagonism to all movements de-
signed to keep the public mind awake, and
sensitive to it's true nature and policy.
The Free or Independent Democracy, whose
opposition to Slavery depends upon Principle,
not Accident, is founded upon clear and
thorough understanding of the inherent and
necessary dggressiueness of that Evil, not upon
mere paroxysmal excitement provoked by
its extraordinary and exceptional exactions,
were not to be lulled into security. They main
tanned their organization, denounced the de-
ceptive action of the Old parties, and admon-
ishe cd hn 70 hot
cure them against such disturbing force as
Slavery-that the Slave Interest would remain
quiet only till the Public mind was so far en-
crossed with other questions, that it might with
IMMUNITY resume it's schemes for universal
domination.
Events have abundantly attested their sa-
gecity. Hardly had the Democratic and Wing
National Conventions, with their characteristic
suppleness to the Slave Power, ratified the
Compromises, so called, and pledged themselves
to stop, all agitation, when news came from
California thai the Propagandists were covert
ly laboring to subvert it's Constitution, with a
view Of opening the whole State to Slave labor.
or at least Of dividing it, so as to make Slave
Territory out Of its southern portion. Protract
cd and desperate were their efforts and had
there been no obstacle in their way but the
force of Public Opinion ON this side of the
mountains, they would have succeeded.
Next followed a conspiracy for the acquisi-
ton of Cuba, constituted OF heterogeneous ma
terials, instigated by variety of motives, but
the predominant force of which was, q secret
purpose to uphold Slavery in that island, and
enhance by its annexation the strength of the
Slave Interest in the United States This In
teress is not apt to make a parade of its pur-
poses, when it can more oihciently pursue
them under cover Of other interests.
Still the People slept, narcotzed by the Com
promise of 1850.
Ramors now reached lis of plottings in Cali.
fornia to extend the area of freedom so as to
embrace Lower Califcrnia-to seize Sonora. a
department of Mexico, appropriate its riches to
the uses Of Slavery, and through it to give q
chance TO the Slave Power, at least to divide
with Freedom the empire of the Pacific The
denouement of this game has just been an
nounced in the overthrow Of Capt. Walker, his
sham Republic and his slave code of Louis
lana
Meantime, grand idea possessed the public
mind-the projec. of National Highway to
the Pacific, binding in indissoluble bands the
two extremes Of our vast empire. 1t was a
work, ht to be cone, necessary to be done, en-
tirely within the means Of the People and their
Government. But all kinds Of obstacles were
interposed, and whye The same selfish. in
triguing, grasping Interest interposed with its
sectional claims, and demanded that this
Highway should be constructed, not along a
central route, equally accessible to the differ.
ent sections of the Union, and which had been
demonstrated, safe and practicable, but that i.
should be run on q Southern course, having It's
eastern terminus in great slaveholding city
with view to throw the balance of Trade
and Travel in the scale Of Slavery!