The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-12
WHERE RESTS THE RESPONSIBILITY ,


ana Territory, above the line of 36o 3O/, reposed
secure, under the sanction of solemn COM
pact, against the intrusion of Slavery, destined
to become the nursery of freemen. The whole
of the Pacific coast embraced within our en-
pire was shut against Slavery. Central Ameri-
ca was at peace, left unmolested by us, to work
out her own destinies. On every side, it seemed
as if the Oligarchy although still powerful, were
under restraint, effectually held in check, while
the operation of natural causes promised to Sc
cure the ultimate and unquestioned ascendency
of Freedom.
Three years have gone by, and behold the
change! That solemn compact has been an.
nulled, and every safeguard against the extern
sion of Slavery utterly broken down, by Presi-
dent elected by the Democratic Party. Slavery
now is recognised in New Mexico, and exists
in Utah, the People of which have just formed
State Constitution which tolerates the evil.
The vast Territory above 3G0 30/, once conse-
Grated to Freedom, has been divided, and Kan
sas, the great majority of the People having
decided in favor of Freedom, has been overrun
by armed invaders from South Carolina, Geor-
gia, and Missouri; its actual settlers have been
driven from the ballot-box, plundered, NAL
| treated, murdered, their printing presses de-
| stroyed, their houses sacked, by ProSlsvery
| men, supplied with United States arms, taken
into United States service, led on by United
States oiiicers-the whole power of the Federal
Executive in Washington being employed to
plant Slavery in the Territory, and drive Free
State men out of it. Should the Propaganda
succeed, backed as they are by Presidential
power, Nebraska, into which already slaves
have been carried by Judges appointed by
the President, will next fall a victim to their
tyranny.
Meantime, the struggle is watched with pro-
found solcitude by Slavery Conspirators in
Southern California. who have thus far been
defeated in their attempts to divide that State,
or smuggle Slavery into its lower half only by
the force of the Native vote. But, this vote is
decreasing American settlers, chiefly from
the South, subject the native population to
every species Of harassmeut and indignity-
and the result is, that large portion of it has
been driven to take refuge in Mexico.
Let this process go on, and let the struggle
in Kansas terminate in the triumph Of the
Slave-Interest, and these California. Slavery
Conspirators will attempt to carry out their
schemes by the same instrumentalities as are
now employed for the subjugation of that ILL.,
fated Territory.
While thus circumscribng the sphere of free
men and free labor in the North and West,
drawing the lines more and more closely around
on the South, and nothing less than Central
America, and as much Of Mexico AS may suit
them, will satiate their demands. Walker, the
adventurer, whose revolutionary Government
has just been recognised by the President will
prove an apostle of Slavery. He may not pro-
pose, As his chief object, the propagation of the
system, but he knows that every foot of land he
subjugates, is laid open to Slavery. This is why
the filibusters of the South are so eager to Join
his standard-this is why New Orleans is all
the while sending him men and money-this is
why he prefers Southern to Northern recruits
this is why the Costa Rcans, more enlightened
than their neighbors, have been attempting to
drive him out. His establishment in Central
America is the establishment of Slavery, and
Slavery pays no respect to the mixed race of
Negroes, Indians, and Spaniards, which inbab-
its that country race which trembles with
| apprehension of enslavement or determination
whenever it comes in contact with Slavehold-
ing Americans. Central America subiugated,
then follows the seizure of Cuba, with the ulti.
mate annexation of that island and Walkers
conquests, establishing at once a continental
and insular empire Of Slavery.
With these gloomy facts, and still gloomier
| prospects before us, look at that Cincinnati
Convention. 1t meets in a free State-a ma.
jority Of its members is from the free States
it is in the power of that majority to put an
end to Slaveholding rule, to undo all the mis-.
chief that has been done in three years, to dis
sipate the gloom that hangs over our Future,
to save Kansas to Freedom, to save our other
Territories, to put an end to Slavery conspira-
cies III California, to battle the detestable plot
to plant Slavery in Central America, and add
to this Union an indefinite extent of slave ter.
ritory for the purpose of securing perpetual as
tendency to the Slave Interest. Aye-all this
is in its power-it has the weight OF talent
the numerical force-it would have the back.
ing Of seventeen millions Of freemen, against
an Oligarchy Of four hundred thousand But,
mark its conduct! 1t betrays the free States
1T attempts to hand over the seventeen millions
of freemen, bound hand and feet, to the Oil.
garchy. 1t approves and confirms all the usurp.
atoms OF Slavery. 1t approves of the annul.
ment of the compact by which Slavery was ex.
cluded from Kansas and Nebraska. 1t ignores
even the principle of popular sovereignty, in
virtue of which it was claimed that Slavery
could be more efiectually excluded, than by
Congressional enactment. 1t stigmatizes al
| guilty Of treason our fellow citizens in Kansas
who have been trampled upon by brutal moi
of Slavery Propagsndists. 1t can find no cause
for disapprobation in the destruction of print
ing presses, the sacking OF houses, the plumber
ing of private property, the indictments Of
peaceable citizens for high treason, and con
structive treason, by Pro Slavery Judge, and
IN the general subsection of the Territory by q
regiment of armed invaders from the South
On the contrary, its voice is heard, stigmatiznp
as sectionalists and aiders and abettors of trea
son, all who have the manliness to condemn
those atrocities. And, as if in love with the
masterdom of Slavery, it engrafts upon the plat
form of the Party, new articles of faith, practi
cally committing its candidate, if chosen to the
Presidency, to the support of Fiibustering and
Propagandism in Central America and the
West Indies.