Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-01
From the N. Y. Evening Post.
BAcKBONEs WANTED "A NORTH.

BACKB0NES WANTED "A NORTH
"There ia no NORTH, Y said Daniel Webster.
Mr. Webster was mistaken, aud in the little
time that interviewed before his death, after he
had given himself up entirely to the South he
found out his mistake There is North but
the instructive, strong, conscientious love OF
liberty, felt by the North finds but feeble and
imperfect expression through the politicians or
public statesmen, 80 called Now and
then an exceptional voice speaks ont in clear
and loud tones; hut it is mortifying to witness
the general faebleness which has characterized
the opposition in Congress to Senator Douglass
bill Of denominations. Our public men want
sitter backbon weakening Of the spine is
epidemic amongst them. Not ono in a hun
dred stands straight
Look at that polished icicle, Edward Ever
ett--the man who, when in the pulpit, was
said to have offered up the most eloquent
prayer ever addressed to Boston c0ngrega
tion-look at that finished statue, hear HIM
express his high "admiration that is tho
word he uses) for the Compromise measures Of
1850, the damnable Fugitive Slave Law not
excepted--and if you doubt any longer that
his lips are made of marble because you see
them move, you will not doubt that his heart
il made Of stone. Educated, learned, accom-
plshed. elegant what 4 pity that, while God
gave him talents the devil--who always puts
in weak ones should have supplied his back
bone. The freedom Of great Territory--the
highest right, the right to liberty, of millions
vet to be---the cause committed to his hands
is no less than this. Aud yet, with what an
effeminatc and soft and fattering voice he
pleads case worthy of n giants struggle
How carefully he treads among the toes of the
Southern Senators, by the very gentleness Of
his opposition tendcrly wooing future Southern
support for the Presidency How, while he
argues this great case, does he at the same
time concede the main point to his opponents,
by falsely admitting that the great question is
Of no practical Importance Ah yes how
blandly he smiles away tho liberty Of the I'M
born generations of men and women, who shall
toll aad bleed under the lash when he shall
be sleeping-if their groans will let him sleep
ia his grave And yet this is the Same man
who, . few years ago, when candidate for
Governor Of Massachusetts,, wrote o letter to
William Lloyd Garrison, av0wiDg himself in
favor Of immediate emancipation. No back
bone has he.
But this humiliating spectacle--the more
sight Of the Northern men who,
prostrating themselves at the feet Of the Ad-
and meekly taking on their dis
honored shoulders the heavy burden of this
wicked measure--all this does not prove that
there is no North. 1t does, indeed, prove that
there are white slaves-pitiable and despicable,
too--in Congress- whether or not there may
hereafter be black slaves in Kansas and Ne
braska but it does not prove that the massea
who want no Office and ask no favors are not
and strongly in favor Of glorious Lib
erty, and opposed, bitterly and forever opposed
to the further extension Of Slavery. Does any
one doubt that our own strong-hearted Charles
Allen would have more truly expressed the real
sentiments of Massachusetts, had he been
where he ought to be, in the United States
Senate? Does any one doubt that the recent
mastery speech Of Mr.. Eyerett's colleague, Mr.
though perhaps too formal and
nevertheless has still stiff back.
any one doubt that his great speech
and Chase's are heartily concurred in by al
most the entire population Of the free States?
There is North, but it wants moro voices.
And We wish, more particularly, to inquire if
there has been any weakening Of the spine
among the Democratic leaders--not in Con-
gress, but out Of Congress-or il they are
troubled by bronchitis or loss of voice. that more
Of them are not heard from?
Preston King-always true as steel, and
wise-has written letter, which will tell for
Freedom wherever il il read. But where is
tho peoples favorite, John Van Buren,? He
has called out letter, it is true, from ex-Sena-
tor Jere. Clemens, on the right side; but the
popular ear listens expectant for his voice
Will he let the mighty occasion pass by in 81
lence? IL is idle for him to say that he is not
in public life Whether holding Office or not,
such men are, in one sense always in public
life. In critical times the people look TO them
for words OF counsel and encouragement, and
for strong and faithful expression OF the pub
lie sentiment If Mr.. Van Buren, does not stir
himself, he will find his rival Gov. Seward
who, loaded with political heresies on other
questions, is buoyed up and borne aloft by his
fidelity on this, ahead Of him in the general
estimation.
A correspondent makes the inquiry-Where
ia General Dix? Yes where il General Dix
whose physical courage would not quail at the
lannon's mouth Has he no bold word for
Freedom now2
Sitter backbones are wanted now not
amongst the people, but amongst the poll
ticians.
IL is not o few ranting Aholitionists, it is
not few noisy brawlers, who constitute tho
opposition to Judge Douglass unholy, treach
erous, and monstrous proposition. u is the
masses-the laboring masses--the honest mass
es--the masses, all lovers Of liberty, with back
bone stiff and straight is the masses, almost
without exception, who are opposed to it. If
there are for these any more orators, with clear
voices aud stiff backbones, let them speak soon
IMPORTANT, ~ TRpE--A Paris correspond
ent Of the Times MENTIONS the following re-
discovery:
"A very remarkable discovery was announced
to the Academy Of Sciences by M Dumas in
its last sitting. He stated that NJ Saint Clair
Dcville had succeeded in obtaining from clay
a metal as white and brilliant as silver, as
rs gold, and rs light rs glass. II is
fusiblc at a moderate temperature Air and
damp do not affect this metal, which il called
il retains its brilliancy, and is not
affected by nitric or sulphuric acid, either
strong or diluted If the temperature be not
raised. IT, only DISSOLVED by very hot chor-
hydro acid. Several specimens Of this metal
were exhibited 10 the Academy and on the