The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-20
A FEW PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.

present, and more would have attended had
they been fully satisfied as to its object.
Among the Senators in attendance were
Messrs. Seward, Wilson, Collamer, and Foot,
the lastnamed gentleman presiding. Mr.. Cum
back of Indiana was chosen Secretary. The
object of the meeting was to compare views,
and bring about better understanding among
the Anti-Nebraska members of Congress, sus-
tanning somewhat different pity relations. A
spirit of concord pervaded the meeting, and it
was manifest that there was a more general
agreement of opinion than had been looked
for in some quarters.
Mr.. Wilson spoke earnestly for q union of
all in favor of Freedom, and pledged Massa-
chusetts to support an Anti-Nebraska candi-
date for the Presidency. Mr.. Banks followed
in a similar strain.
Mr.. Colfax, of Indiana insisted that the
great issue of the Presidential canvass must
be, Freedom to the Territories, in opposition to
Slavery aggression.
Mr. Collamer, of Vermont, said that the
great Question was, Freedom or Slavery, and
on this the appeal must be made to the People.
Messrs. Cragin oe New Hampshire, Benson
of Maine, Howard of Michigan, BiIlinghurst of
Wisconsin, Granger of New York, Meacham
and Sabin of Vermont, all agreed that the con-
trolling issue of the campaign was, Freedom to
the Territories.
Mr.. Durfee pledged Rhode Island for an
Anti Nebraska nominee. Mr.. Woodruff, for
Connecticut, expressed the views of the whole
delegation from that State in favor of Presi
Dental canvass on the great issue of Freedom.
Mr.. Todd, of Pennsylvania, while avowing
himself an American, and preferring to remain
uncommitted as to the Presidency, declared
himself strongly an Anti-Nebraska, Kansas
man.
Mr.. Seward spoke at length, urging union
on the one great issue, declaring that he cared
nothing for names, and would support the can
didate who should represent the principle of
Freedom. He was frequently interrupted by
applause, and the Caucus then adjourned, to
meet on the evening of the 18th, to hear further
expressions of opinion.
We did not need the evidence which this
meeting has furnished of the fact, that all the
Anti-Nebraska members of the Senate and the
great majority of the members of the House who
supported Mr.. Banks, are determined to make
controlling issue in the Presidential canvass.
Not even the large portion of these, styled
Americans, will have anything to do with the
nomination of Mr.. Fillmore; nor will they seek
to make their peculiar views in relation to
Naturalization, a test in the contest.
We may assume, then, that in the judgment
of the great majority of the Anti-Nebraska
members of both Houses of Congress and of
the constituencies they represent, whether Gre
publican" Republican-American," or "Amer-
ican," the one issue of the Presidential Canvass
ought to be Freedom to the Territories
of the Anti-Nebraska voters of the country,
Native-born and Naturalized, Wings, Demo
crats Free-Soilers, and Americans, be effect
ed-and that therefore other questions and
organizations must, for the time at least, be
held in allegiance: and they know that such a
union on such an issue would be invincible.
So far, then, as the issue, the necessary con.
dition 10 union, and the result to be accom-
plished BY it are concerned, there is perfect
Nebraska voters. Neither section can succeed
without the votes of the Others We must have
the votes of Free-Soilers and naturalzed citi-
zens we must have the votes of Americans
but we cannot have them both, unless the latter
agree to lay aside their peculiar issues, and for
haor TO ~ a, 80 a. ~.
If they do this, Free-Soilers and naturalized
citizens can vote with them on the great ques-
ton of Freedom, for the rights of the latter will
not then be in question. How, indeed, could
we expect them to support any movement, in
tended or calculated in any way to derogate
from their rights?
We, then, have got one step further: Wings
will not press their peculiar claims; nor Dem
ocrats, theirs nor Free-Soilers, theirs, if they
entertain any; nor Americans" theirs. There
will then be no califor an anti-Whig, anti Dem
ocratic, ntiAmerican test-nor will the natu-
rallied citizens want any declaration against
Know Nothingism, for the plain reason that
the Anti-Nebraska or Republican union is not
formed to disturb their rights, to touch any of
the questions hitherto agitated, except that of
Slavery, but expressly invites voters of all par
ties, sects, and races, to unite on equal terms,
IN one organization, on the one controlling
issue of Freedom, in this canvass
To such a union no true-hearted friend of
Freedom, nativeborn or naturalized, of what.
ever party, except the party of Slavery, can
object.
But says an Anti-Slavery Know Nothing,
willing himself to aid in such an organization.
there are difficulties you have not noticed. You
have had Convention at Pittsburgh, STYLED
Republican 1T has made provision for a
National Nominating Convention at Philadel.
phia, on the 18th of June-the whole move.
ment is Republican," but, in New Hamp-
shire, there is no Republican organization-in
Massachusetts, there is a bitter feud between
the Republicans and the Americans, although
in the ranks of the latter are numerous Anti.
Slavery men, who would be willing to sink all
but the Anti-Slavery issue in the Presidential
election, but not under the lead of Republicans.
So, in other States, there are voters ready to
unite with you on the one question, but not
willing to go over to the Republicans"
Is not this difficulty more imaginary than
realY We care nothing for nawes-indeed,
ours was the last paper to adopt the term, " Re-
publican" Any other, even now, would suit
us just as well, if it were short, easily written,
and we'll understood. What, after all, does it
mean? 1t is simply term of convenience,
used to designate all those voters who are de.