Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-08

d. D., Rev Calvin E. Stowe, and others. The
former will preach in the course Of the day ];
probably in the afternoon.
PARTIES AND SLAVERY
81 Line upon line precept upon precept :"
How slow is the progress Of Truth, when Pre-
iudce and mistaken Self Interest combine to
oppose it
Three quarters of a century ago, Lord Mans
field decided that Slavery was SO odious, and
80 repugnant to natural right, that it could
not exist except by positive law. About the
same time commenced the agitation against
the slave trade, . traffic deemed honorable BY
Christendom, and carried on not unfrequently
by companies instituted by Royal charters.
From that time to this the subject of Slavery
in all it's relations moral, social, economical,
and political, has been under discussion in all
civilized countries The slave trade has come
to be denominated piracy; England, France
and Denmark, have abolished Slavery in their
colonies; of the original States of this Union
seven have put an end to it within their bor-
ders, either by judicial decision or Legislative
enactment six new free States have been or
ganizedout of Territory exempted from it by Con-
gresaional ordinance an Emancipation Party
has been organized in Brazil; and in Cuba, a
system Of measures looking to ultimate aboli-
tion has lately been commenced, under author
ity of the Home Government. All these
important events have been attended with dis
cussions, learned comprehensive, thorough.
The highest authorities in Law, Government
Religion, and Philosophy, have been arrayed
against Slavery
In our own country, the struggle between it
and free principles has been more protracted
and fierce than in any other; for here is the
seat, at once of the best organized, most deeply
rooted, most extensive, and most powerful sys-
tenn of Slavery, and Of the best developed, most
comprehensive, and most benc6cent system Of
Free Institutions, that the world has ever wit
messed For seventy five years has the strug
gle been going on, at first to the disadvantage
Of Slavery For, no one can doubt that, when
the Declaration Of Independence was pro
claimed, when one State after another Of the
Old Thirteen, stimulated by the liberal spirit of
the Revolution, and aided by the operation Of
natural causes, threw off its burden when
the last Congress Of the Confederation passed
the celebrated Ordinance consecrating the
whole of tho Territory then belonging to the
Union to Freedom when the trainers Of the
new Constitution refused to introduce the word
q Slavery into that instrument and treated
the thing itself as an evil to be tolerated for
time; and when all the slave States, with
single exception, passed acts prohibiting the
slave traf6c,--the Anti. Slavery sentiment was
! in tho ascendant, and Free Institutions were
steadily gaining upon Slave Institutions.
But, for reasons that we have often explain
ed, the latter began to acquire strength, the
former to lose something Of their expansive
power. The struggle between them became
more doubtful, now inuring to the benefit Of
one system, then to that OF the other, until, at
last, we find them treating and compromising,
almost on footing Of equality.
And now, what is the spectacle presented
Slavery in actual occupation Of more than half
Of the original area Of the Union, and Of the
acquisitions from France and SPAIN and claim
ing possession Of all the rest Of our Territory,
more than six hundred thousand square miles,
not vet organized into States. Yes-after three
quarters Of century in which Freedom and
Slavery have been striving for the mastery, we
fiod fifteen Slave States in the Union, three
millions instead of half a million Of slaves, nine
hundred thousand instead of four hundred
thousand miles Of Slave Territory, and power
growing out Of the Moneyed Interests of Sla-
very, which gives law TO tho Federal Govern
ment, and claims that Slavery shall be the
common law in all the Territory within its ju-
risdiction.
Now, have wc not q right 10 say, that the
People to whom more especially have been
committed tho interests Of Free Labor Insti-
tutions, who have grown up under their infiu-
ences who have rcaped their benefits, whose
welfare il identified with their preservation
and growth, have either failed to comprehend
their fall claims, the inherent antagonism be-
tween them and the pretensions Of Slavery,
and the necessity Of active efforts for its re-
striction and their extension, or have proved
false 10 their own convictionsl
After the discussions OF century, with the
worlds example on their side, with the worlds
Literature, and Religion, and Law speaking
for Liberty, with all the early preccdents in
our own history, and the original policy OF the
Government in their favor, what could have
given 10 this hateful Institution Of Slavery
paramount power and consideration in this
model Republic, Moneyed and Political Pow
err, such as IL has enjoyed nowhere else on the
face Of the globe What but gross indffer-
ence, shameful ignorance, or base trsachery on
their part