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

MAKE ueSOtaIe
4. "The hearthstone of their early years."
and may it be long ere he comes upon this crue
| mission.
| His children have been the burden of this
mothers prayers, and in the words of the poet
We add our own:
/ Oh! those dread powers who reignest above.
| = Know thou wilt me hear,
When Tor this scene OF peace and love
make my prayer sincere.
| She wh5has lovely offspring eyes
! w ith tender hopes and fears,
Oh! bless her with msthers joys,
| but spare mothers tears.
| When, soon or late they reach that coast
| Der hfe's rongh ocean driven,
| May they re)olce--no wanderer lost
| A family IN heaven.
THE PEOPLE AND THE PHILADEL-
PHIA CONVENTION.
We devote this week a large space to ex.
pressions of opinion from the People, in rela'
ton to the Philadelphia Convention, and the
course of action to be pursued in the approach.
ing Presidential struggle. Generally, the com.
munications published, contained illusions to
candidates, urging the claims of some, dispara-
ging these of others-but these we have taken
the liberty to omit. Principles and policy we
have thoroughly, nay, approximately, discussed
in the Era, but not candidates, for the simple
reason that we have not believed this kind Of
discussion in our columns would be productive
of any good. We may be in error, but we
think not.
WHAT IS THE TRUE POLICY?
| HUNTSVILLE, MONTGOMERY Co., Pa,
May 3, 1856.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
The coming Republican Convention, to be
held in Philadelphia in June next, has a re-
sponsibility to meet, the magnitude and import
ance of which has never been surpassed by that
of any public body in this country; and bless
ed will be the cause of Liberty and Humanity,
if it shall discharge that responsibility bravely
and wisely. Upon the action of that assem-
blage, firmly believe, will depend the success
or defeat of our principles in the coming Presi.
Dental campaign.
The great danger is, that the said Conven-
ton will reenact the oft-repeated folly of the
Wing party-of compromising our principles
for the sake of conciliating our opponents.
From different quarters, the Importance of mod.
Grafton was urged at the late Pittsburgh Con-
vention, as the slightest exhibition of Radical
| away
from our ranks some tender gristled followers
The nomination of some moderate man for
President is urged for the same reason. The
ancient principle of prohibiting Slavery in the
National Territories, which alone is the main
spring and vitality of our organization, is to be
temporized with or eva6ed; the noblest cham.
pions of Freedom, who have stood by the cause
| in the darkest hours of our subiugation and
! humiliation, who were faithful among the
faithless, are all to be sacrificed, according to
these sage counsellors, to some neao man, whose
sentiments ON this great principle are uncer
tain and unknown, in order to gain votes and
insure SUGGEST The reasons may not be SC
distinctly expressed, but the inevitable logic Of
the position amounts to this, and "nothing
else" Is this our true policy? Is this wis
dom?
Now, lay it down as selfevident PROPOSE
ton, that the Republican nominees, however
moderate and conservative they may be-
cannot obtain the votes of any man who is in
favor of continuing the supremacy of the Slave
Power in the Government of the United States
| take it, that every opponent of the policy OF
prohibiting Slavery in the Territories is op
posed to its prohibition in Kansas, and will
vote against any man that the Republican Con
vention may nominate, no matter how mode
rate and conciliatory the principles the Con
vention may enunciate. The Slavery Propa
ganda are satisfied with nothing short of impli
cit and unqualified submission to all their be
hests, and therefore their Northern allies must
resist all opposing schemes. Hence, all Hun
ker Democrats, who prefer the iron reign Of
Slavery to the benefcent and righteous govern
ment of Freedom, will, to a man, vote for the
nominees of the Cincinnati Convention, who
ever they may be; and all Pro-Slavery Ameri
cans will vote for Fillmore with equal unanim
ity. 1t is perfectly idle and ridiculous, there
fore, to expect any support from these two
classes of men, las long as they hold theil
present sentiments,) by any amount of tempo
rizing, either of men or measures. But as soor
as they change their opinions, they will as soor
support all the measures growing out of oul
great principle, as any one of them. Those
men care not to what extent we propose tc
resist the schemes of the Oligarchy, but they
oppose US because we propose any opposition.
Hence it follows that none will be left to SUD
port the nominees of the Philadelphia Conven
ton, but those who are heartily opposed to the
proslavery tyranny which now controls the
General Government, who areresolved, and who
may become resolved during the course of the
campaign, to assert the right and duty of Con
| gress to protect the Territories against the in
roads of Slavery. To unite and concentrate
these scattered hosts of Freedom is clearly our
only chance of success. If we fail in this, we
will be defeated to dead certainty
Now, how can this object be best attained ?
Certainly not by adopting low and undecided
platform of principles, nor by nominating a
new, untried man for President, whose posi-
ton may be unsound or unknown, because such
| a course would disappoint and dissatisfy some
of the most Jealous friends of the cause upon
whom we must depend for action.
And what would be the effect of the nomina-
ton of an uncertain man? The most devoted
friends of Freedom would be disappointed
Many of them would be afraid to support him
themselves, and of course would not labor to
induce others to support him. The orators and
| journalists of the party would then be obliged
| to waste the whole campaign in convincing our
own men that our own candidate is fit to be
trusted, and would only partially succeed at
that. They would have no time to operate in,
and make converts from the ranks of our oppo-
nents, which We are bound to do before we can
succeed. Would it not be the height of folly
to place themselves in such a predicament
On the other hand, if one of the ell-known
advocates of Freedom should be nominated, it
would cheer up and nerve every friend of Free
dom in the country to redoubled action for the
contest. The very news would send thrill of
| ioy and enthusiasm to every free heart, and
would draw together all freemen, to an invinci-
BILE phalanx of Spartan heroes, by the resistless
| magnetism of common cause in danger.
Every man would resolve to do his duty in dis
seminating our principles, and in urging the
people to vote for Freedom, not only in Kansas,
but wherever the flag of the nation proclaims
national jurisdiction.
mi -. orI