Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-28
FREEsoILIsm THEN AND NOW.

| The Detroit Free Press makes the following
sensible remarks on the Inconsistencies Of the
Abolitionists:
"a hiatus of two years sometimes works a
wonderful change in the actions of men, and
in the condition Of things. What was gospel
| then may not be regarded as gospel now.
What was dangerous doctrine in the year
| 1852 may be the very soundest doctrine in
the year 1854. As an illustration of this,
we may contrast declaration of the Free
soilers prior to the last presidential election
with their conduct now. The National Free
soil convention held in Pittsburg in 1852, and
which nominated John p. Hale for the Presi-
dency, constructed platform of which the
following was one of the planks:
GO Resolved, That the doctrine that ANY HUMAN
LAW is a fnality, and not subject 10 modification
or repeal, is not in accordance with the creed OF
the founders Of our government, and is dangerous
10 the liberties Of our people,"
"This resolution had direct reference to the
compromise measures passed in 1851, some OF
which the Freesolers were bent on repeating.
They secuted the idea that those measures
were fnality, and commended, on the stump
and through the press, as well as in the above
resolution, that they could be modified or re-
Now, no one will presume to say that the
Missouri compromise was any more fnality
than the compromise of 1851. Both were sim
pie acts of Congress- -nothingmore and nothing
less. But what will strike the reader is the
fact, that the Freesoilers now refuse to stand
up to their declarations solemnly made by the
Pittsburg convention. The ground now occu-
pied is, that the Missouri compromise was an
irrepealable compact. They ignore an article
in their creed, and falsify their former preten-
sions.
"But this is not the only case of palpable in
consistency between the Freesoil doctrines of
1852 and 1854. Another resolution of the
Pittsburg Convention was in these words:
81 Resofucd, That EMIGRANTs and ExILEs from
the Old World should find a CORDIAL WELCOME 10
homes Of comfort and fields of enterprise in the
New; and every attempt to abridge their privi-
eges ofbecomng citizens and owners of the soil
among us ought to be resisted with infexible de-
termination"
"We cordially agree to this doctrine, no less
now than we did two years since. Not so,
however, with the Freesoiers. The Know
nothing organizations in this city and State,
we have the best reasons for believing, are al
most entirely made up Of Freesoiers, alias
Republicans acknowledgment is regarded
as one of the greatest elements Of Republican
strength. 1t is relied upon, more than any
thing else, to elect portions Of their ticket.
Instead Of extending to 'emigrants and exiles
from the Old World cordial welcome, and
declaring that every attempt to abridge their
privileges of becoming citizens and owners of
the soil among us ought to be resisted with in
flexible determination, they could erclude them
from landing on our shores, and take aUay their
privileges Of becoming citizens and o,cners Of
the soil.
"Such are some of the differences hiatus
of couple of years has made in the doctrines
and practices Of Freesoilism. We might draw
almost endless contrasts, but these are sufi-
cient for present purposes. Can there be a
particle of integrity in such party? Is it
not, rather, rotten at the core, and unsound
throughout the entire body?