The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-21

ton, we might hopefully trust the Southern
People with the solution of the grave Question
which would then be presented to them. Two
Parties would be inevitably evolved among
them, Emancipationists and Perpetualists, and
the contest, once inaugurated, with no hope for
the latter of aid or countenance from the Fed
eral Power, and with all the normal influence
of Civilization working together for the former,
could not be long doubtful.
In short, the thing to be done first is, to
acithdrarc tie aid and countenance ofhe Fed
erat Government from Slarery. This can be
done by the non-slaveholders in 1856; and,
when done, &acery aoouid cease to be source
of political po,cer. What would follow? The
extinction of Servility or doughfaceism in the
North, the era of Liberalism in the South-out
of which ultimately, through safe, peaceful, and
constitutional ways, would grow Emancipation
and solid Progress.
1t is the disloyalty Of the non-slaveholders of
the Free States to their own institutions, and
the subjugation of the Federal Government by
the shareholders, which keeps down the spirit
of Freedom in the South. Liberal Statesmen
in that section know that, should they avow
their real convictions, they could expect no
backing from the observation-disclosures or from the
Federal Government. Were this state of
things changed, how long would they keep
silence? Emancpate the Federal Government
and yon break in pieces the Slave Power, which
now strikes dumb the Editor, the Preacher, the
Statesman where it does not compel them to
become its champions. Emancipate the Fed
eral Government, let the People of the Free
States be true to themselves, and you emanci-
pate thousands upon thousands of Southern
People, who feel the evils of Slavery more
keenly than stranger can conceive them, and
who are silent now, because hopeless and help
less.
The Edinburgh Rerier ought to know that
the South is not yet inaccessible Northern
newspapers, full of Anti-Slavery sentiment, find
their way into this section by thousands. The
National Era is established on slave soil. and
exchanges with hundreds of Southern news
papers, including nearly all the leading Jour-
nails. The Foreign Quarterlies, with their oc-
casional discussions of the Question, are read
extensively by Southern planters. Every year,
the debates of Congress on Slavery pro and
con-, fully and impartially reported, are circu-
lated widely in the Southern States In nearly
all National Conventions, where Northern and
Southern delegates meet face to face, the SUBJ
ject comes up for discussion, and the words
spoken are sent by telegraph to all sections of
the Republic. Northern men go to the South,
Southern planters sojourn in the North, visit
there on business send their sons to be edu-
Gated at its colleges, and are familiar with its
literature. Thus in ways innumerable is the
South made to feel the pressure of Anti-Sla-
very sentiment; and extreme as is the ground
now taken by its politicians and political press
generally, we know that it is not sustained by
a large body of Southern People, who are yet
restrained from expressing their dissent As
it is, many journals in the Slave States con-
denim openly the outrages Of the Pro Slavery
party in Kansas some as openly favor the Or
ganization of free State in that Territory.
In Virginia, we find one leading press in its
western section, boldly denouncing Slavery for
economical reasons; several well known news
papers in other Southern States, strongly ur-
ging a mitigation of the slave code, SO that
marriage may be legalized among slaves, the
bonds of the family preserved, and slaves be
taught to read. Even in South Carolina do we
see religious journal insisting upon the edu-
cation Of the slave population as religious
duty. (See the extracts quoted on the fourth
page of this number of the Ero.) Nor must
we overlook the fact, that the Emancipationists
of Kentucky still maintain their ground, Cas-
sius NJ. Clay, John G. Fee, and others, assert
ing and exercising the right of openly discuss
ing the Question of Slavery, and by holding
public Anti-Slavery meetings.
Let us repeat: these are but indications of
a strong sentiment in the South, which, should
the free States prove true to Freedom, and in
augurate an Anti-Slavery Federal Admnistra.
ton, would gradually embody itself in the
form of an efficient organization.