The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-19
THE SIGNS OF THE T1MEs-rHE DUTY.


lar movement that gave it birth. Laws were
enacted, to protect the liberties of the citizen
against the illegal operation of the Fugitive
Slave Act, and to withhold aid from the bust
ness OF slave-catching, by prohibiting the con-
inement of alleged fugitives in the jails Of the
State; and resolves were passed, covering the
whole ground of opposition to Slavery, and in
structing the Senators of Michigan in Congress
to vote against the admission of new slave
States and for the repeal of the Black Act.
The Reform Legislature of Maine pursued a
similar policy, and State Convention of the
new Party agreed harmoniously upon COM
plete platform of Anti-Slavery principles and
measures.
The Anti-Nebraska Legislature of New York
has indicated the "higher law by electing
as Senator the man everywhere spoken against
as its most obnoxious representative, and
has passed a stringent Prohibitory Law; and,
among the measures that are about to pass,
are bills, to protect the personal liberties of the
citizen, TO prohibit the exclusion of colored
children from the Common Schools, to amend
| the Constitution so as to entitle Colored Citi-
zens, without property qualification, to vote,
besides resolutions declaratory of Anti Slavery
principles and policy, and denuncatory of
oath bound, secret political associations.
The Massachusetts, Legislature, adulterated
as it is with Element at war with justice
| and humanity, and true Americanism, has
been compelled by the dominant Anti Slavery
Az, al,
Senate Of the United States, has confirmed the
policy of Liquor Prohibition by new and
more rigorous enactment, and, it is presumed
that the bills now before it, to guard the rights
of citizens against the operation of the Fugi
tive Act, and TO prohibit the exclusion of col
ored children from any of the Public Schools,
will soon be put through both branches.
Looking beyond legislation, to popular ac
ton, we see the Administration forces still
borne down under the reaction consequent on
the Nebraska outrage, in New Hampshire,
Connecticut Rhode Island, Iowa, and Wiscon-
sin. Whatever other influences may have been
at work to vitiate the results in these States,
we know that few, if any, of the candidates
elected, could have been chosen had they not
been understood to be friends of the Anti Sla-
very cause. In Iowa, the Opposition candi-
dates for State Officers are chosen by larger
majorities than the Fusion ticket received last
August; and in Wisconsin, Judge Cole is
elected to the Supreme Bench by a majority of
about three thousand. 1t will be recolected,
that Judge Cole had pronounced the Fugitive
Slave Act unconstitutional. Judge Crawford,
his competitor, had conceded its constitution
atty The Milwaukee Free Democrat, of the
18th inst, says:
The election of Cole, now no longer doubt
full to the Office of Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court, is the third great triumph of
Justice and Freedom in Wisconsin, within the
last year. The first, was the decision of our
Supreme Court, sustaining the first Opinion of
Justice Smith, that the Fugitive Slave Act is
unconstitutional. The second, was the elec.
ton of Charles Durkee TO the Senate of the
United States. And now the People. in their
primary assemblies by the most solemn forms
prescribed by the Constitution, have ratified
the decision of the Supreme Court, declaring
the soil of Wisconsin sacred to Freedom. and
the Fugitive Slave Act an outrage upon Free
dom and the Constitution. 1t is the culss.,s-
ting victory of Freemen ovefthe poweEs Oh
Slavery, Hunkerism, and Rum. and decide
the political character of the State, on The
issues of Temperance and Freedom"
In Iowa, moreover, the Maine Liquor Law
has been sustained by the popular vote, and
the friends of progress will rejoice to learn that
even the Catholic Bishop of that State openly
used his influence with his charge to secure
this result.
All these are encouraging indications but
there is much to perpex and embarrass the
friends of Liberty. Look, for example, at
Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts
The organization Of the Free or Independent
Democracy has no longer an existence within
their bounds. In Massachusetts and New
Hampshire, the few members who have not
joined the Know Nothings, no longer consti-
tute party; and in Maine, all are swallowed
up IN the Republican movement. But there
are signs of an approaching fusion among the
scattered forces of Hunkerism. Prominent
leaders of the Old Line Democratic party in
Maine are inviting bunker Wings to join them,
proposing fair division of the places of honor
and trust in the new organization. The Hon.
Ephraim X. Stuart in published letter con-
corning the consultation of the Democratic
State Committee in Augusta, Maine, says:
q II 'cas agreed that are shouM ertcnd an in
| r'faf'on 10 $4,000 Straight Wigs TO JOIN
Us uPoN THE LEADING ISSUES or THE DAY. New
| issues have been forced upon the great Ma
tional Democratic party, and upon these issues
II was believed that the Straight Wings so
called, agreed NTH as, and that Mey could here
after act ruth ns, ,cithom Inconsistency, as a
consolidated Democratic party, ,ciM as new
issues. The proposition was not for a union
of the party as it stood ten years ago. but as
it stands to-day. Straight Whigs' are for
orr country, and for good faith t0scards all
sections Of y, ho,cerer bounded-against secret
societies-for religious OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the
persecution of Acknowledgements Neal Dow
ism-against the Academy robbery of the
State-against land plundering against all
wasteiul expenditures by the Government, and
for vigorous foreign policy which will protect
our commerce, and these are all the vital issues
before the public. THEY COMPRISE THE
PLATFORM OF THE FRIENDS OF THE
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION.
Upon such platform it was thought that
Senatorial and county tickets should be made
mp an erery county from the ranks Of the Dem
| Ocrdfs and Straight Wkigs' IN lust propor-
Gons-and it was further agreed. that sbould
the Straight Wings of the State Join us upon
the platform proposed, that all Appointments
ought hereafter TO be made an inst proportions
from the ranks Of tie Democrats and STRAIGHT
Whigs.' That after this is accomplished, all,
| of course, would be regarded as belonging to
the great National Democratic party, and all
in equally good standing"
1t is added, that provision was made for