The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-01

highest interests of the master and the slave,
demand that the National Government should
be relieved from all connection with and re-
sponsibiity for Slavery"
This does substantially embrace the position
of the Free Soil or Independent Democratic
Party; but, the friendly sentiments we enter
tain for Mr.. Wilson must not prevent us from
saying, that the statement is without that clear
ness, precision, boldness, and emphasis, which
| ought to characterize the definition of the posi-
ton, policy, and aims, of Anti-Slavery men.
Nor do we feel satisfied with the qualifca
ton which Immediately follows:
"While they do not seek to impose these con-
victions and opinions upon their w-eitizens
of other States, or to prescribe them for not
fully concurring in those convictions or opin-
ions, they will submit TO no dictation or pro-
scription from any body of men or section of
the country"
Now, 1t is not for us to say what the People
of Massachusetts intend to do or not to debut
on one point we claim to speak for Anti-Slave-
ry men, who have undertaken the work of over
turning the Slave Power. We certainly do not
intend to impose our opinions and convictions
upon our fellow-citizens, but we do intend to
enforce and disseminate them, until they shall
be sanctioned by that Public Opinion which is
the source and handspring of Law; and, while
we do not prescribe others for not coneurring
in our opinions and convictions on this para
mount Question, we will not aid in keeping.p o-
litcal power in their hands, we will not consent
to act with them on other questions at the ex-
pense of this great question, on the single con-
sderation of being allowed to think as we
please. On the contrary, we shall steadfastly
oppose them, organized under whatsoever form
they may assume, no matter what their profess
sions of berality and federation, so long as they
ignore the Slavery Question, or do not en-
brace" it not only "among," but as chief
among the questions it may be organized to
settle.
If Senator Wilson mean this, he has anfortu-
nately failed to make his meaning clear. If he
does not mean it, his position is not what his
antecedents authorized the Public to expect.
We are not captious, but we are concerned
at the unmistakable tendencies of all the inhu-
ences of this New Order. Senator Wilson
means to be true to his AntiSlavery convic-
tons; but he knows, he feels, every moment,
that representing, as he does, Party which,
according to his own averment, even in Massa-
chusetts, "does not embrace the Slavery CUES
tion," he is involved in obligations to other OBJ
jects than that of opposition to Slavery, to other
interests, to other associations, than Anti-Sa
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| ways to harmonic his antecedents and convc-
tons, as an Anti-Slavery man, with his oblga
tons and necessities as Know Nothing Sen
| ator, it will be owing to no want of intention
in him, but to false position, and to the ma
ked impossiblity of .reconciling contradictions.
For his own sake, and for the sake of the
cause with which he has been identified, we
could wish he had said to those who impor
tuned him for letter, "Gentlemen, what
have been, l am I; and what this is, you shall
know from my speeches and votes in the Sem
ate.
Since the foregoing article was written, Mr..
Wilson has made speech in the Senate, in
which, it is said, he made full and forcible
exposition of his Anti-Savery views, in man
ner which satisfied the friends of Freedom, and
disappointed all others We rejoice. No true
Anti Slavery man, regarding the Question of
Slavery as paramount, will seek to secure ma
tonal success to Party which " does not en-
BRACE or which sinks, this Question
We shall publish the speech so soon as we
can lay hands upon it, regretting that it can
a La oc A. IL
tains his letter. We shall take his speech, not
his letter, as exhibiting the true spirit and pol
icy Of the Senator.