The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-24

to oppose all projects for converting it into
a slave State, act from wise selfinterest; but
the same parties send to Congress, as their
Representatives and Senators, determined pro-
Slavery men. Hunker Democrats, who favored
the repeal of the Missouri compromise, such as
Colonel Lane, engage in making free Consti-
tuition for Kansas, but what do they understand
of the expressions of the Slave Power what do
they care for them? A man may be in favor
of admitting Kansas as a free State, and yet
utterly indisposed to arraign or act against the
Power that seeks to enslave it. The Kansas
question is transient one, momentous as it is.
Will its settlement, one way or the other, sup
press the agitation of Slavery, and give peace
to the country, so long as the tyranny of the
Slave Power shall remain unbroken? Let the
history of the last sixteen years answer.
1t is possible that the spirit of compromise
and conservatism may yet determine the char
acter and direction of the Republican move
ment. This, we have long foreseen. Know
Nothingism has demoralized many of the old
Anti-Slavery voters, and rendered them adopts
In compromise. The movement against the
Slave Power, as it has grown imposing, has at
tracted multitudes who regard it chiefly as an
instrument for gaining place, and they cannot
bear to wait long for the ful6lment of their am
bilious aspirations. They invest their capital,
with the hope of immediate returns. And even
drilled veterans of Liberty, now that they have
come within striking distance of success in the
heat of the struggle, are in danger of forgetting
that victory of numbers at the expense of
Principle, is worse than a defeat.
The sincere purpose of the masses of the
People who have been drawn to the support of
the Republican movement, is, to dethrone the
Slave Power, to exclude Slavery from the Ter
ritories, and to put the Federal Government on
the side of Liberty. They have sustained the
movement, because it means all this Less they
will not be satisfied with. If the only object
be, to admit Kansas as Free State, there is
no use in organizing a new Party. The old
Wing organization, or the Know Nothing Or
der, would suffice for that. If this be all, if
Parties have been broken up, and the country
has been convulsed merely to redress single
wrong, leaving in full power, with all its capa-
cities for mischief, the Despotic Interest that
has committed it, then indeed has the noun
tain labored to bring forth mouse The Peo-
pie do not so understand it. They intend to put
down the Slave Power, and assert their right to
use the Federal Government for the establish
ment of Liberty, and prevent it from being prost-
tuted to the extension of Slavery. This sublime
movement-the reorganization of the Federal
Governments second only in Importance to
the organization of the Government. Shall the
spirit of Conservatism and Compromise besray
it In the hour of its strength, ON the very eve
of its triumph? Who is sufficient for its inau.
guration? Have we ever thought of the re-
sponsibilities of him, who shall be called upon,
as its first Representative, to take the place of
the Slave Power which has ruled us for nearly
half century? The Presidents, installed by
that Power, have always found beaten track
before them, prescribed formulas, routine work
Submission to its dictates has been the unvary-
ing rule, and it was easy for, like the People,
they had been trained in that way.
How different the position of President
eiecteo ny the eopie against the Ollgarchy
Representing Revolution, peaceful, but rad-
cal, what clear view of its nature, its scope, its
philosophy, what intimate acquaintance with
the politicians and public men of the country,
what discriminating views of the relations of
the various sections of the country, what accu-
rate opinions of the Constitution in its bearings
on Slavery, what deep insight into human ma
ture, what moderation, calmness, selfcontrol,
6rmness, courage, wisdom, would be required
to reorganize, in all its departments and func-
tons, on the basis of Constitutional Liberty, a
Government which has been used for nearly half
a century for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the Slave
Interest! Who, we again ask, is sufficient for
so stupendous work What man, who has
formed any true conception of its overwhelm-
ing Importance, and knows himself, would not
shrink from its undertaking? Strange, that
there should be so many aspirants for posi-
ton demanding extraordinary energy, expert
ence, skill, and wisdom, and beset by difficulties
such as have never surrounded the Presiden-
tial Office since the day when it was filled by
George Washington