The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-22

. Pofiticai leader, or as the conductor of an i'm.
huentiai journal, or even as politician, lin
the common usage of this term, applied to those
who make politics profession by which TO Oh
tam personal honor and emolument,) but sim
ply as man In business, largely in communi-
cation with the various portions of our Union.
and partaking in public action only to discharge
sacred duties to my country and to posterity.
Throughout the broad Northwest, there is
but one feeling in the minds and hearts of the
.treenen 1t Is, that the nominees of the Phila-
ceiphla Convention must be tried nen-men
who have identified themselves with our great
cause, whose names are familiar y their ears
as the faithful champions of Liberty. of State
flights, OF the Union, and the restoration of the
pure principles OF Government upon which it
was formed.
l assure you, sir, that availability" in our
cause will require different pattern of a man
from the Gcailable Presidents who have entail.
ed such shame upon our institutions in these
and former times. The Free State men of the
North will not respond with that fervid enthu-
slasm which presages and secures a triumph
to the nomination Of MAJ whose chief recon-
-inendation is, that he has done nothing for the
cause, and therefore is not obnoxious to its
'lnkewarm friends or It's deadEest foes.
:, Such a selection would be shrinking from the
real issue of the struggle complete evasion
OF the question, robbing us at once of our great
moral strength. The ProSlavery leaders in
Congress have thrown down the gauntlet: the
people of the free States are ready to pick it up,
and go into the contest on the single issue of
: No more slave States! no more slave terrific
ryl" provided candidate is presented for their
choice, whose availability " has been earned
by eminent services, and consistent devotion to
the principles Of Freedom.
Fortunately, sir, there is no lack of these men
IN our ranks-men who contested every inch of
ground in the Kansas Nebraska struggle, and
came out laurelled, as victors in debate. though
in votes outnumbered; their names are insep.
arabic from that fierce strife, and from amongst
them the selection should be made.
l would not whisper one breath in disparape.
ment of any of the illustrious statesmen, whose
wisdom, sincerity, and eloquence, have shed
imperishable glory on our struggle and the
country. My earnest desire is, that the Conven-
ton should understand the popular wish, and
respond to it in the selection of candidates.
If the delegates to Philadelphia do their dutv,
the people will not falter; and the next occu.
pant of the White House will be man whose
truly national course, in defending Liberty, has
gained him the proud distinction
A RHODE ISLANDER.
INDIANA REPUBLICAN CONVEM
TON.
MAY 5, 1856.
To the Editor of the National Era:
This body met at indianapolis on Thursday
last. The assemblage was large, and several
distinguished speakers were present, amongst
whom were Lane of Kansas, and Lieutenant
Governor Ford of Ohio. The Anti.Slavery
tone of the speeches was of the lowest type. 1t
amounted simply to opposition to Slavery in
Kansas. Our old and long-tried friends of
Freedom, such as Stevens, Julian, and Hard
in this new party, made up principally of de.
funct Wings, Know Nothings, &C., with scarce
perceptible or defnable amount of Anti-Sla-
very mixed in the compound. The whole in
quiry seems to be, "On what platform can we
succeed best against the Old Liners?" Many
OF them are the bitter enemies of Julian, on
account OF his consistent and unwavering Anti
Slavery faith. When urged to re-aflirm, in
their resolutions, our former positions, such
as" relieving the National Government from
all responsibility for Slavery repeal of the obi
Gus fugitive act; no more slave States, no slave
Territories" they utterly refused, and took
sanctuary behind the late Pittsburgh Platform.
Sorry am T. indeed, that they were able to find
such shelter. How could our friends ever con.
sent to that trucking, time-serving document !?
Just in proportion as Slavery has increased in
her exorbitant demands, have we receded; and
now it is proposed to give us party of a single
idea, Tor rather half a one y and that is, to
bring in Kansas free. Well, it is altogether
probable that the fate of Kansas will be decided
before Republican party could by any posi-
bility get the control of the Government, and
then we should have the ludicrous spectacle of
our great and beloved party without single
principle, good, bad, or Indifferent! Why not
affirm our former positions? Why not pledge
all our constitutional power against Slavery
have heard all the arguments of these truck
ling, time-serving, temporizing, would-be lead
ers, and they are lighter than chat. If these
men could be put into a mesmeric sleep till af
ter the election, the cause of Liberty would be
infinitely the gamer.
The people are ripe and ready for action,
but the leaders hinder them. Do pray, gentle
men, get out of the way, and let the people win
the battle. / hope the wisdom of the Conven-
ton TO be assembled in Philadelphia will save
US from the threatened danger, by giving us
good, broad, comprehensive Anti-Slavery plat
form. 1t is no time to throw our principles
overheard, on the plea of expediency. Reform
ers, who are worthy of the name, do not bring
down their principles to the level of the corrup-
tons they seek to reform, but to bring the moral
sense of the public up to the principles of truth
We cannot fight for nothing. Should the Phila-
delphia Convention fail in this, the consequence
will be certain defeat. There will be seces-
sion of earnest Anti-Slavery men from the
ranks, which will count by thousands.
d. WORTH.
PUBLIC FEELING ON THE WESTERN
RESERVE.
LoRAIN Co., WESTERN RESERVE, ONO.
TO the Editor of the National Era:
Politics are well astir with us. The close
proximity of the Republican National Nomi.
mating Convention, and the preparations which
are being made for the State Convention which
is to meet on the Oath instant, have quickened
into quite lively action the political pulse of this
comparatively staid and unimpulsive region, in
which, by the way, hardly traces of anything
but Republicanism can be found. The zeal
which, as the important 18th of June ap-
proaches, gains heat daily, was aroused quite
early in the season, by the efforts which were
made through northern Ohio for enlisting men
and gathering supplies for the aid of the Free
State party in Kansas In the course of these
efforts, some of the counties were canvassed
throughall their townships, and the consequence
was, a general interest in the issue coming to
its head in Kansas, which was not unlike that
which sent our fathers to the field in revolution
airy times. The interest in politics which now
appears here, not originated but called into
new life by sympathy with the suffering Free
State men of Kansas, is greatly influenced in
its character by that sympathy. Nothing could
be more obvious than is the feeling manifested
through all the rural districts of the Reserve, |
that something more than distractions are now
at stake; that, in the impending conflict, prac-
teal principles of the utmost account are to be