The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-22
THE NATIONAL WASHINGTON D. C, NOVEMBER g.

the true policy of the members of the American
Party in Congress? 1t is to hold conserva-
tive position for the organization of the House,
without regard to the special question of the
admission of Whitfield or Reeder. Upon this
precise Territorial issue, months may be wasted
in vain endeavors to elect Speaker; and in
the mean time the ultras of the two sections
may destroy all the elements of peaceful COM
promise, in the embittered sectional feelings
which they will have excited. Let the Ameri-
can members, then, DESTROYS of controlling the
great battle of 1856, unite, North and South,
upon some conservative compromise policy in
the very outset, leaving the issue between
Reeder and Whitfield to be settled after the
organization, and they will avoid the rock upon
which Southern and Northern ultras intend to
split them in pieces"
We shall see: We shall see to what extent
the People have been swindled. "Forewarned,
forearmed." Let US hope that great majority
of the Opposition from the free States will be
actuated by paramount regard for Human
Rights, and stern purpose to battle every at
tempt to make them tributary to an organiza-
ton founded upon principles and aiming at OBJ
jects other than those set forth in the Repubi-
can platform. They will be beset on all sides
with propositions of compromise. Coalitions
will be urged, that can have no other effect
than to prevent their independent organization.
There will be few National Know Nothings
from the North, closely affiliated with Southern
Know Nothings. constituting secret solid
phalanx; and there will be others of the fra.
ternity, acting with them in disguise, but pro-
fessedly Republicans kind of gobetweens-
whose business it will be to seduce true men
into the support of candidate standing on the
ground of opposition to the Administration, but
in heart an acquiescent in the Union saving"
policy of the Secret Order. Let Republicans
beware. Let them remember that they must
act with view not only to the organization of
the House, but to that organization of the Peo-
pie that aims to rescue the Government in
1856 from the Slave Interest. No arrange
ment in regard to the former, calculated to in
jure the latter, should be tolerated. We have
had enough, too much, of cunning coalitions,
achieving temporary triumphs at the expense
Movement. Better the election to the Speaker.
ship of a bald, bold Pro-Slavery man, by COM
bination of Administration men and Know
Nothings than the election of hypocrite or
compromiser by coalition of Know Nothings
and Republicans.
We do not underrate the importance of the
questions in relation to Kansas but he is very
much mistaken who supposes that the action of
the House, at its next session, in relation to
them, will settle or suspend the great issues
between Freedom aud the Slave Power. Should
Reeder be admitted, nay, should Kansas be re-
ceived as a free State into the Union, would
that be a reason for permitting the Government
to remain in the hands Of an Interest which is
forever meditating new accessions of power in
Cuba, Dominica, Central America, and on the
Pacific coast, to say nothing Of its design to
nationalize Slavery by corrupt. and arbitrary
judicial decisions2 But, should Reeder be re-
jected, and the application of Kansas for adj
mission be fatty refused, so much the worse for
that Interest and its adherents, SO much the
more cogent to the popular mind the argument
in support of union of the masses against it.
Besides, no adverse action on the part of the
House, at its next session, will decide the con-
-. -
exertions Of the now ascertained majority of
Free State men in the Territory-only protract
a conflict, the final settlement of which must
depend upon the results of the Presidential
election in 1856.
Again, then, we beg the real Republican
members of Congress, not to suffer themselves
to be misled, by the prospects of temporary and
local gain, into coalitions, not only question:
BILE as to principle, but calculated to embarrass
the main movement, which proposes nothing
short of the entire subversion of the Slave
Power in the Federal Government.