The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-26
TY-c0NsERvATIsM- IGNORING
THE SLAVE QUESTION,


this country has always been the noisiest in its
professions of patriotism and reverence for Law,
claiming to be preeminently national" and
conservative"
Nationality is the quality of strong attach
ment to ones country and its institutions; but
man may possess this quality in high de-
gree, without approving oil the institutions or
acts Of his country. 1t so happens, however,
that if there be in any State an institution de-
handing precedence and paramount considera-
ton, its supporters consider loyalty to that as
the test of Nationality. He who offends on that
point, although blameless on all others, COM
mits thei objectionable sin. In this country,
the South claims, and its Northern supporters
concede, that Slavery is pre-eminent, and that
Nationality consists in devotion to its interests,
or habitual submission to its requirements.
Conservation" is another word, specially
appropriated by Pro-Slavery men. In its legit-
innate sense, it means respect for the laws and
order of Society, but according to popular sig
MITIGATION, it defines the policy of preserving
and perpetuating whatever is, exempt from in-
novation or change. The Slavery party, hav
ing construed Nationality to mean, fidelity to
Slavery. assumes that Conservatism consists
specially in preserving that system, exempt
from innovation, in acquiescing in all its pre-
tensions, in resisting all attempts to arraign it
before the tribunal of public opinion.
Having thus secured respectable nomen-
cature, it stands forth as>the National and
Conservative Party of the country, and its
opponents of course rank as Sectionalists, Dis
unionists, traitors, disturbers of the peace and
order of society. To disapprove of the Fugi-
tive Slave Act, or breathe a whisper against the
violence of Shareholders in Kansas, is sectional;
to uphold both, is national and conservative.
To oppose the seizure of Cuba, for the purpose
of perpctuating Slavery, is sectional; to advo-
cate it, national. In word, to do or say any,
thing unfriendly to Slavery, or in conflict with
its most extravagant pretensions, is sectional;
to excuse them, or submit silently to them, is
national and conservative. So when we hear
Southern politician praising a Northern man,
or party as National and Conservative, or indi-
eating his willingness to sustain q National
candidate from the North on a National plat
form, we know precisely what he means: Ma
tionai," Conserpatire," Pro-Slavery," are
with him convertible terms. Respectable, gen.
eral terms are used to cover up an odious spe-
cifc meaning.
We do not ask you, he says, to approve of
Slavery, or even to give up your prejudices
against it. We tolerate differences of opinion
~ 2. IL l,,+ nf 1<
national. Which, being interpreted, means
Think Slavery wrong, if you choose, but give
no utterance to your opinion. If you have
prejudice against it, harbor it, but conceal it.
Swear that you will not give expression to your
views, that you will keep down the discussion
of the. subject, that you will act as if you did
not believe it was wrong, and that you will con-
tinue the power in the hands of its supporters,
and although fanatics may stigmatize you as
Pro-Slavery, we will baptize you as National
and Conservative.
Such was the discipline to which the two old
parties were subjected, and from the year 1885
down to 1852, they were recognised by the
Soath as Orthodox. Their Northern members
did not love Slavery-many of them regarded
it as a great wrong-some of them, from time
to time, impeled by the growing Anti-Slavery
Sentiment, were guilty of overt offences, which
exposed them to severe rebuke from their
Southern leaders; but the respective organiza-
tons to which they belonged, agreed to acqui-
esce in the maintenance Of Slavery, to refrain
from opposition to its aggressions, to discoun-
| - o,I
candidates for National offices, although den-
titled with the system and committed to its am
bilious policy.
Now, this was precisely what the Know Moth
ing party calls, ignoring the Question Of Sta
rery. We are not Pro-Slavery, we are not An
ti-Slavery, says the american Organ. Our
policy is, not to discuss, not to agitate the SUBJ
ject, but to suppress agitation, to ignore the
question altogether AS if the farmer, whose
fiocks are every day decimated by hungry
wolf, should say, | am neither pro-wolf, nor
| anti woli-lny policy is, not to discuss or
trouble myself about these depredations; but
to ignore the wolf altogether: or, as if the
Postmaster, apprized of habitual peculation
among his deputies, should declare, am ne-
Their prescription nor anti-corruption-I am
simply opposed to agitating or disturbing the
subject-in other words, in favor of ignoring
the matter altogether: or as if the President
should proclaim, | am neither for nor against
flibustering-my policy is, not to discuss or
agitate, but to ignore the whole subject.
This, We say, was the very essence of the
policy of the old parties, constituting them Ma
tional and Conservative. So long as it was
adhered to, the South was satisfied, securing
its peculiar ends, whatever party triumphed
| Its aggressions were fragrant, almost uninter.
rupted, but the mantle of Nationality was spread
over them-the Slave Power grew in strength.
and enlarged its domain, expeling the In
dams from their homes, in violation of treaty
obligation, annexing Texas, waging war against
Mexico, dishonoring and breaking down the
policy of Slavery prohibition embodied in the
Ordinance of 1897, making provision for the
introduction of slave labor into the free terri
tories acquired from Mexico, and, by the pas
sage of an infamous slave-catching act, paving
the way for the enforcement of the claim to
carry slaves into any State of the Union, in
disregard of its local law. All these aggres.
sions were carried on under cover and in vir-
tue Of the policy of ignoring the Slave ques
ton, the policy of Nationality and Conserva
tism; and in 1852, both the old parties, in
terms more explicit than had been ever used
re-afirmed and re-endorsed that policy.
General Pierce was elected as a National