Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-15
CONGREss-rHE GROWTH OF THE
ANTI-sLAvERY PARTY.

CONGREss-rHE GROWTH OF THE
ANTI-sLAvERY PARTY.
tits a strange, but no less we'll established fact
that when danger is most imminent, men are usu-
ally most cool. Theyt then rally all their courage,
all their caution, and all their discretion TO
meet and disarm it. Nothing furnishes q
stronger illustration of this than the contest
for Speakership which is now going on in the
House of Representatives. The time was, nor
has it been more than few short years ago,
when the delivery of an Abolition speech in
either House of Congress excited the just in
dignation of all sound constitutional men,
whether from the South or the North. 1t al
most caused the very hair of the shareholders
in Congress to stand on end. The rumor of
such speech was spread with electric speed
through the South, and shocked and enraged
all whose ears it reached. In those times it
required bold or shameless man to assail
the tenure by which the slave owner holds his
property 1t was deemed SO henious an offence
as to call not only for unsparing denunciation,
but for personal, corporal chastisement Yet
that was but the first harmless ripple of the
waters. In the lapse of few short years, the
Aboitionists have grown holder and holder.
They have increased in number, and increased
in zeal. They have an organization extending
throughout the so called free States, and they
maintain discipline that regular troops might
envy. The public mind has become SO accus-
toned to hearing their speeches and reading
their appeals and their newspapers that they
listen to the FIRST and read the last, without ex.
periencing shock or shudder. This pro-
gress and increase of the anti-slavery power
has gone steadily on until it aspires now to
control the popular branch of the Federal
Government. That party has put forward its
candidates for all the Offices to be elected by
the House of Representatives, and laughs to
scorn the idea of defeat Yet throughout the
protracted contest there have been no distur-
Dances - no criminations- no excitements.
Abolition nominations are made, and Abolition
votes cast, with as much GOODNESS and conf
dence rs sturdy plantation negro would sit
down to his breakfast. The very men who
were thrown into q rage, but few years
ago, by the expression of an abstract Adolf
ton sentiment, are now as cool as cucumber
when an actual struggle for ascendancy is
going on in the House of Representatives be-
tween the Freesoilers and the constitutional
party.
What does this mean2 Does it indicate
that the upholders Of the rights of property and
the friends of the Constitution are growing
cold or losing courage? Does it mean that
they have given up the struggle and are hum
bly submitting themselves to the aggressors
on their rights and the epemies of the Consti-
tution? Far-far from it. 1t means that they
have thrown wild impulses and noisy rage to
the winds; that they have abjured declamatory
appeals and mere verbal resolves, and that
they are calmly resting upon their convictions
and preparing with resolute courage, and un-
tagging energy, 10 assert and maintain their
conviction. He reads the signs Of the times
with an obscured vision who does not thus I'M
derstand the ominous calm that now prevails.
There is but one place in all the vast terrific
rial extent Of this great country where the
fierce but Just spirit Of the constitutional party
is now developed in its full and imposing man.
ifestations. That place is Kansas The cause
of is actual outrage and robber.like violence.
The issue has been distinctly made there, and
We fear, from what we have heard, that arms
alone can decide that issue. Our friends are
standing up and will continue to stand up
firmly. But such a strife cannot be confined
to so narrow a compass. 1t must extend from
thence to the old States, and the partisans OF
either side will be marshaled into order
Soon, we fear-so soon as the House Of Rep
resentatives can be organized-the strife that
prevails in the virgin Territory of Kansas will
force an entrance into Congress, and the CAPT
tai, which should be sacred to law, order, the
Constitution, and the equal rights Of the States,
will be desecrated by sectional contest which
viii be marked by q rancor hitherto unknown
and which may lead to an issue that patriotism
may well shrink from in dismay and horror.
That the friends OF the Constitution will do
nothing rasbly, that they will give no cause of
offence we feel certain. But we feel equally
confident that they will stand firm and refuse
from this time forward and forever, to yield one
inch Of ground or one atom of right to the
banded factions arrayed against them.
-
sSg- The course of the Democrats In the