The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-09
THE cossAcKs IN THE FREE STATES.

Is it not time to deny to the party that sup
ports the Administration the title, Demo
cratic?" What is that party, but an instru-
ment of the Slave Power? What Democratic
principle has it illustrated, what Democratic
measure executed, since it gave us a President
in 1882? Was it Democratic to repeal an an
Gent Compromise, for the purpose of national
izing Slavery in all United States territory
Was it Democratic to plot a war against Spain,
with view to rob her of her richest colony
and, failing in that, to offer two hundred mil
lions of the Peoples money, without their con-
sent, for possession intended to inure to the
benefit of selfish, sectional interest? Was it
Democratic to lay out millions more of their
money, without asking leave, for enough Mexi-
can territory to open a slaveholding highway
| to the Pacific? Was it Democratic to strike
down, in obedience to the Slavery Propaganda,
THOMAS II. BENTON, that veteran champion of
Democracy, to eject from Office the friends Of
the only slave-State statesman favorable to free
institutions in Kansas, and to fill their places
with the creatures of his sworn enemy, the
| leader of the Vandal horde which has subju-
| gated Kansas by fraud and violence?
When those Northern men, Pierce, Marcy,
and Gushing, came into power, THOMAS IL.
| Benton and the Liberal party in Missouri were
dominant in that State, and had they remained
| so, the country would not have been dishon-
ored by the infamous deeds of border rufiian-
ism. But those Northern men, not satisfied
with breaking down the barrier against Sla-
very, north of 360 3O>, erected by our fathers,
put down Mr.. Benton and his friends, put up
Atchison, Stringfellow, and their associates,
and offered them every facility for carrying out
their devilish scheme Of Slavery Propaganda
| ism.
In a word, from the 4th Of March, 1852,
| down to this hour, the one overshadowing
| characteristic of this Administration has been,
undertaking, unhesitating, ever-active obedi-
ence to the will of the Slaveholding Oligarchy.
And yet it vaunts its Democracy, and the party
that sustains it styles itself Democraticl
1t lies before God and man. Slavery is
fat contradiction of every principle of Democ-
racy, and the party that upholds it, connives at
or is controlled by it, has no more claim to the
| title, Democratic, than the Cossacks whom the
Gar lets loose upon Poland and Hungary.
The Administration champions at the North
are the Cossacks of the Slave Power, instru-
ments of its will, dependents upon its bounty.
Already they are preparing for the campaign
of 1856. They meet together in State Con-
ventions, in the guise of Democrats. They
pass democratic resolutions, nominate
I" Democratic" candidates, pledge support to
the democratic" National Administration
and their opponents, with extraordinary anna
biity, recognise their impudent pretensons, by
conceding that they are indeed !" the Democ-
racy."
Let US put stop to this miserable, mis-
chievous mockery. Once there did exist
Whiy and Democratic party, and their names
designated pretty fairly their characters; but
the Questions at issue between them have been
settled, or are now overridden by another and
more vital one--the Question of Freedom for
AU or Sdoery for Al. The terms Wing and
Democratic, as party names, have now no per.
thence. There is no Wig, no Democratic,
party. There are but two parties-the Party
Of Freedom, which finds its representatives in
such men as Chase, Seward, Preston King,
Sumner, Adams, Wilson, Hale, Fessenden,
Giddings, Julian, Cassius NJ Clay, and host
like them; and the Party Of Slavery with its
head i'm the South, and tail in the North, its
chiefs, the Slaveholdng Oligarchy, its subordi-
mates, Pierce, Cass, Douglas, end Marcy, with
their associates, office-hoders and office-expect.
ants, who hold occasional Conventions in the
free States, which they affect to call "Demo-
cratic" 1t is nonsense, or worse, to talk of
any other. The Question, whether Slavery or
Freedom shall rule this Republic and the Con-
tnent it is embracing, has thrust aside all
other issues, and men must range themselves
on one side or the other, Anti-Slavery or Pro-
Slavery, for Freedom or against it. He who
will not rally under the banner of Liberty,
must take his place under the black flag of
Slavery. He who will not openly enroll him.
self in the Army Of Freedom, must be held
an ally Of the Slave Oligarchy, let him shout
Democracy till he be hoarse.
All kind of devices have been tried to stave
off or cover up this great issue but the arts
of demagoguism have been almost exhausted
the refugees of lies are failing. Some time ago,
the Party of Slavery held Convention in
Maine. 1t declared its adhesion to the Admin
istration, but forbore to express appreciation of
its Nebraska policy, vainly hoping, by this dis
ingenious device, to disarm the hostility of the
People Not long after, a like Convention was
held IN Vermont and similar course pursued.
In Pennsylvania, the same policy is adopted,
the Administration sustained, while the Con-
'vention of its retainers declines to express any
direct opinion of the Nebraska Act And now
in New York, the central organ of its support
ers insists that in their State Convention the
true policy will be, to maintain silence on the
Question of Freedom or Slavery. Thus de-
clining to endorse an act of the Administration,
specially obnoxious in the North, while they
pledge themselves to its support, and labor to
shield it from retribution. These allies of the
Slave Oligarchy hope to mystify the People,
and seduce them insensibly into submission to
the Slave Interest. What care they, that the
Administration which they endorse has CON-
mtted more fragrant crimes against Liberty
than any of its predecessors What care they
that, in base submission to slaveholding dicta-
ton, it has robbed the non-slaveholders of the
country Of an immense domain consecrated to
Free Labor institutions? What care they, that
it has nurtured the men who have provoked
civil strife on our borders, invaded free Terri.
tory, overpowered its actual settlers, usurped