The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-28

uroosihS Tic wrong ana reDuklng the aggreSS-
ors, and to give notice that the majority of the
People OF the Union mean to vindicate their
rights and the cause of free institutions, in the
most direct manner and, also, that slavehold-
ers may have warning in advance, not to hazard
the property they value so highly, in Territory
from which by solemn covenant Slavery was
interdicted, and which the sovereign power of
the country has resolved to reinstate. This
warning is necessary to preclude the plea of
vested rights, as having effect in favor of such
as 60 into Kansas or othef free territory with
slaves; plea which was urged successfully in
Missouri. 1t is necessary, too, to estop owners
of slaves from claiming indemnity for slaves
freed by the act of Congress, recognising such
Territory on coming into the Union as free
Even if Kansas were admitted at the present
session of Congress as free State, the repeal
ought to be urged, to prevent the repetition of
the Kansas outrages, in New Mexico, Utah, and
all the territory of the United States, the Ne
braska act having in violation of the prohibit
DRY laws or treaty. opened them all up to SINH
lar invasions. For these reasons, and many
more that might be urged, touching the policy
of the measure, | hold that every issue should
merge in that Of Repeal.
There is one view more, which duty to my
Southern constituents prompts me to present
for consideration. In the South, both the old
their strength to secure the conquest of the
free territories for the slave institution. Mr.
Caruthers, stanch Wing of Missouri, when
asked where were the Wing party, answered,
that its soul had transmgrated into the Demo
cratic body in the South; and while pronounc-
ing the proudest eulogium on Henry Clay
whose principles he still held as his political
faith, admitted that the measure on which the
slaveholdng section had planted its standard
had identified in its support the Wings and
Democrats of the saveholding States, however
differing on other questions. The South Amer
leans, although all connection with them was
reprobated by the Democratic caucus of the
House, and by the official organ of the Admin
istration at Washington, were constrained to
support Mr.. Aiken, the Administration cand-
date for Speaker, at the close of the contest.
This proves that all political organizations,
hostile as they are on all subordinate questions
upon the sectional policy of extending Slavery
to territory hitherto free, are one and indivisi-
BILE. The success achieved by the Southern
politicians, by inducing all the Northern aspi-
rants for the Presidency to run a race for the
favor of the South, in showing who would go
| farthest and fastest to make surrender of the
rights of their constituents to the slaveholding
section, leaves no public man in the South any
other alternative than to reinquish his position,
holding interest, to which it was contrived to
give the appearance of being voluntary boon,
rendered by the North to the South. 1t is this
strategy which renders it impossible at this
time for those among the people who favor the
compromises, to rally in the South to maintain
what they are sensible honor and good faith
recognise as binding, because made by its own
statesmen, then in command of the Govern
ment, and sanctioned by their own consent.
In the South, there can never be a party to as
sist in redressing this wrong, until the North
dispels, by its unanimity, the illusion that its
people are willing to acquiesce in it.
The hopes depending on party leaders, con-
trolling everywhere the old organization of the
Democratic party in the free States and the in
huence and patronage of the Administration,
have done much to stife the voice of the mass
es in the free States. If they will in the ap-
preaching Presidential election unite all parties,
indignant at the violation of the rights of the
North, to assert them, as all have united in the
South to deny them, the injustice will soon be
remedied. When the North is true to ITSELF
there are multitudes in the other section who
will preceive the iniquity it has suffered, but
who would never see it, if tamely acquiesced in.
There are thousands in the South who are SEN
sibe of the danger to themselves in the breach
of the compacts about Slavery, who estimate
feeling between the sections, and who, rather
than bring matters to the arbitrament to which
they seem to be Fastening, would willingly see
the broken compacts restored-but if, from want
of concert Of action, the North however in
lured and excited, can make no effectual resist
ance, 1t may prepare for repetition of indigni
| ties and wrongs to which those who offer them
will set no limit, when there are no bounds to
submission. This Republican Convention is a
nucleus which tmay be hoped will gather around
1t the masses OF the North, who are resolved to
redress the wrong perpetrated by the passage
of the Kansas Nebraska act. "The Republican
party was the early designation of that which
subsequently took the soubriquet of Democrat,
at first given in derision. Mr. Jefferson, in his
first inaugural, calling the parties by the names
under which they then we're arrayed against
each other said, ave are all Republicans, we
are all Federalists." He meant doubtless, that
there were certain great principles, in which
| both agreed, embraced in their designations,
| however much they disagreed about matters of
policy and modes of administering the Govern
ment.
The Federalists gave their support to the Re-
| publican form of Government-the Republi
| cans were devoted to the Federal compact
| both agreed in opposition to royalty, and in OPP
| position to a severance of the Federation, and
leaving the States to drift as petty nations de-
tached from each other. May not those who
have organized with view to correct what they
consider mere error in the legislation and ad-
ministration Of Government, under whatever
party name or watchword they rally, unite with
those who do not agree with them about the
measures or mode of reform, on points which
| involve nothing vital, to redeem the Govern
ment from an infraction of fundamental laws
on which they believe It's peace and prosperity
certainly depend and possibly its unity es a
nation? Cannot all parties in the North unite
| IN such crisis, to preserve what they in COM
! mon feel to be paramount to all other questions
in controversy, which have heretofore divided
them? And cannot all rally under hepubii-
can standard, to defend the cause of free insti-
| tutions and the Union against the aggression
Of interested and ambitious men, who make
| Slavery the means of combining sectional
| force to accomplish their designs against them,
and especially when, if this moment be lost, the
| cause must be lost (?
The great movement made to repel Southern
aggression, putting all questions of difference
in abeyanoe, uniting for the time, does not inn
ply surrender of other party principles, or of
\ che organizations to be employed to give effect
| to them hereafter. But such is the reluctance
of men who have battled for a cause under o
banner to which they have given their affec-
| tions-so loyal are the hearts of good men, even
| to the badges they have worn and which they
honor-that they will not desert them for 9TH
ers, although they feel the necessity Of uniting
with those whom they have once opposed, in
support of still dearer and more important in
terests. | think this noble feeling should be
consulted. by this Convention in the arrange