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

We print several communications this week,
from different sections of the country, in rela.
ton to the general course of the Republican
movement. They reveal a state of anxiety
and distrust among the old friends of Freedom,
which politicians cannot overlook without haz.
ard Intent upon gaining the support of what
is called Conservatism, they are in danger Of
alternating an element without which the Re-
publican movement will prove dead failure.
Meantime, we hope that the veterans of our
cause viii do nothing rashly. Let them do all
they can to give right direction to the action
of the Convention at Philadelphia on the 18th
of June, and not commit themselves, in ad-
vance, to any projects tending to division. II
they fail-if the action of that Convention be
such as they cannot sustain, then they can de-
eide on their course. We hope for the best
But, there are few things political man.
ayers might as well know in advance. There
are some of us who can never be induced, even
by the prospect of civil war in Kansas, to rally
under the flag of Know Nottingham
The Secret Order in Chicago nominated for
the Mayoralty Republican, an odUance the
Republicans subsequently nominated him and
he ,cas defeated. That was right. Let the Know
Nothing Convention to be held at New York,
June 18th, pursue similar policy, and let the
Philadelphia Convention ratify it, and inevitable
defeat will be the result.
We must have rally of the People against
the SlaveDemocracy. If the Know Nothings
of the North are in favor of this, let them de-
sist from all attempts to make the rally under
their banner, on their platform-let them give
up the project of making Presidential nomi-
nation in advance, so as to constrain the action
of the People, who shall assemble, without dis.
tinction of party, at Philadelphia. For one,
under no circumstances, can we support or
countenance a Know Nothing nomination,
whatsoever its relations to Slavery. Wings,
Democrats, Free-Soilers, Abolitionists, Know
Nothings, have been invited to meet in Con-
vention, on one issue, at Philadelphia, and
they ought to be left free to act according to
their own Judgment. If any particular class
attempt to take the lead, and control all the
rest, debating, in advance, through a party
Convention the nominations, and then endeav-
oring by its representatives, in the No-Party
Convention, to force a ratification of them, it
will prove itself blind and bigoted, and effect
ually prevent the union of the masses of the
People of the Free States.
One thing more-it will not do to attempt to
satisfy the People by verbose resolutions, with
great show of Anti-Slavery sentiment, but with
out the enumeration of single principle--to
declaim about incorporating hostility to
Slavery and Slavery extension" Border Ruff.
fanism in Kansas" the necessity of "reform
in the National Administration" and nothing
more. Give us plain, an unequivocal affirma-
ton of the right and duty of Congress to prohibit
Slavery in the Territories of the United States,
and the duty of Congress to admit Kansas in
stantly as a Free State, and we will dispense
with all sentimental illusions about the princi-
pies Of Jefferson and Washington. Plain men,
men of action, want few words, but very plain
ones.
A single remark in reference to Mr.. Julian's
communication on our first page. We do not
wonder at mis- dissatisfaction, but is it best to
precipitate crisis before the action Of the
Philadelphia Convention? Suppose the re-
solves and nominations Of that body should be
entirely satisfactory, would they not remedy all
the evils Mr.. Julian complains Of? State or.
CARNATIONS would be apt to come up to the
National standard-the Know Nothing element
might gradually become extinguished. Again,
we say, let us be patient till we see what shape
the National movement shall take.