The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-16
VOL. TX.

Northern serviity, have reversed this policy Of
our revolutionary ancestors; and that our in.
flexible determination is, that the Federal Gov.
eminent shall return to this policy, by such
legislation as shall prevent the extension of
Slavery and the admission Of more slave States.
and totally denationalize the institution
Such resolution would have had an I'm.
equivocal meaning, both North and South. II
would have pledged the Republicans i'm this
State to an honest and comprehensive Anti.
Slavery policy, like that of Michigan, WiscOn.
SIN, and some other States and it is to be re.
GREETED that our Anti-Slaverv men, who took
part IN the Convention of the 18th, did not in
slst upon it. The consolation, after ALL is, that
there Is pretty strong and uncompromisin,
Antl-Slavery element in the Republican move.
ment IN this State, which will probably mora
and more make itself felt, and ultimately take
the bit out of the mouths of its present leaders
and command its own fortunes 1t is to be
hoped that every Anti-Slavery man in Indiana
will encourage the movement, Just so far as il
shall assume the right ground, and disown its
connection with the diseased and wasting or.
ganization of Know Nothingism, which now
seems to be subordinated to it. Let rs Law
aside every weight, and prepare for vigorou,
fight next year. on the solid and broad plat
form of No Mathematical Slacery.
Respectfully GEO. w. JULIAN.
Mr.. Julian is mistaken in saying that we
published the Republican platform of Indiana.
without comment. Our remark, expressing
regret that the platform was not better-tbat
they had not adopted one similar to that of the
Ohio Convention-was published in the prq.
ceding number of the Era We intended that
the remark and the platform should 90 in the
same issue, but the platform was unavoidaBy
postponed. G.
WORCESTER, MASS, Aug. 4, 1855.
To the Editor Of The National Era:
1t is a little singular that the State which, of
all others, has made its devotion to Freedom
historical, should be almost the last to encour.
age a political movement looking to its ulti.
mate establishment. Do you not think that =
little outside pressure might counteract in
measure, the influence of our political mana.
gers, who study to control, for sinister ends.
the honest and Interchangeable sentiment Of the
State? Certainly, we who pass Personal Lib
erty Bills; who eject Commissioners, for bow.
ing to Slavery, like the Hindoo to his idols;
who, both during the old Wing regime and IN.
der the new dispensations, have mouthed fierce
hostility to every form of oppression, ought
to be the first in readiness to prove the strength
of our devotion. Still, Massachusetts waits,
while States of more modest pretension are
valiantly wheeling into line, while the enemy
marches with aggressive steps to confident tri.
umph, while treachery is striking down the
defences of Freedom, and defeat is gathering.
like an ominous cloud, over all our banners.
1t is well for the country to know what motives
induce Massachusetts to remain so long inact-
i've, and practically nullify her great proies.
sions.
We have, first, too much Of party worship.
The Administration, so long as it lasts, will
vivify q little of the States obliquty, but will
hardly infuse strength enough into its organi-
zatiOn to give it the dignity of party The
fact is, Administration men are stragglers in
the old Bay State. On the 9th of September,
they will meet at this place, in kind of gypsy
council; and may the spirit of grace descend
on the two or three who may chance to be
gathered together! Wings incline to adhere to
their organization, not because they love or
reverence it as of old, but, as we shall see, be-
cause they hate the heresies which now rule
the State. Still they cling to the skeleton of
their once proud party, and are dumb, while
they hear the cry of good men in all the States,
Farewell to old heartburnings and jealousies
union for Freedom and the future!" Issues
which were long since dead, and ought to have
been turned to ashes, are rising again, like
some of Ariosto's warriors, to trouble and dis.
tract the combatants; and this, too, when the
avowed sentiment of the Wing press, on the one
question before the country, is strong enough
to command the victory, if they would discon.
meet it from their ghouish distractions which
only had meaning when they had life The
same may be said of the American Party, in
which our own Free Soil organization was alb
sorbed and lost. The question, Freedom or
Slavery, is mixed with homogeneous and unim
portant issues; and with the certainty that
thousands will in consequence either refrain
from voting, or scatter their strength, the party
refuses still to forego or subordinate them.
An able and wellinformed writer for the
Tribune says there is no need of fusion in this
State, because the American Party is really
good enough! But it is not "good enough
When it insists upon birthplace as test Of
civil merit; when it cries out against the natu
ralization laws, as if the State eUer received
detriment or dishonor from them as they are
when, above every cry and signal Of impend
ing danger, rings its unmeaning watchword
" Americans for America" rs if any terrible
foe ever dreamed of imposing foreign crown
or mitre; when it clothes itself with all these
fallacies, and recognises the cause of Freedom
with merely incidental approval, shall we be
told and believe that it is "good enough for
Ant-Slavery encouragement? Not So. The
e =.
changing the administration of the State, or he
is no friend to our cause. The party, liberal
as it is, is stumbling block in the way OF our
principles. You know how it succeeded last
year by betraying the Republican organization.
And now, with the notifying history OF ITS
legislation still fresh in the memory Of the
State, we seem to be pursuing again the sane
suicidal policy.
Still we think the people would sustain
movement, if some of our bOd
spirits were true to themselves and to their
sympathies. Were they to unite, regardless OF
ready TO concede and forbear, and
in this spirit inaugurate the movement, so
strong and sincere is the feeling of the masses
that they would gather round and sustain them.
Then Ohio, with the prestige of former TIL
umph in her favor, could boast of no prouder
promise than Massachusetts. But we have
fears that the devotion of the many for their
parties, and the mutual jealousy of their lead
ers, will prevent any such contamination
Certainly, there is little room for hope, when
we are compelled to wait upon Wings who sull
think they live, and upon Know NOthings who
are not willing to give up or divide their sPoll''
e.
WEST ALEXANDER, Pa, Aug 3, 1855.
The appointment of J. l.. Dawson, as Coy
eenor of Kansas, took us by surprise We
knew the organ had said that members o.
Congress would be rewarded or punished ! az,