Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-04-11
Real Question. f"


article in Putnam's Monthly Tor April, with
the above title. They arc worthy the deep
ct consideration OF every reader and every
lrcc man. They are noble sentiments, and
minslc humanity with statcsman'hir:
1.-The recent exciting and proiractcd cun'
test, n, to the organization Of Congress, was
significant, in more respects than one. 1t
wa. topical symptom ola general state,
showing large amount Of arrangement,
and yet tendency to recupcntiou.
Nor were leaders ever chosen with more
instructive wisdom, considering thcr-culiar-
iiy orthcir relations TO this predominant
issue. Mr.. Bankswas man of the people,
who had risen by hi, own efforts frnm an
humble mechanical occupation TO a high
political orc,; while Mr. Aiken was a
STAKEHOLDER, one OF ,hcwalthirst OF his class
endowed with the better qualities Of that
class, and a. sincere as he WIS strong in his
geographical convictions Mr.. Banks rep
resented the state Of Mas'achusctis-itsell
I the bcst example ola fro condition Of 500
cicty TO be found on the face VI the earth (,
while Mr.. Aiken represented South Caro-
lina--lone distinguished us the able't expo
ncn, Of both the opinions and the influences
u the disqualification. In thc.,, their
champions, therefore, the two social systems
Of the North and the South were pi,icd
against each other, and, cor the fret time %
openly and directly, in the history u our
national existence.
"lu the same way, The nation, In The
midst Vt the parties and as,intou' hywhich
Q, &. distracted, recognize, the fundamental
AMI vital question to Dc that Of slavery.
Wink It out or sight a' ws may, or c'mp'i.
cat, i, rs We may, it cannot be disguised,
that slavery /, the single real element OF
party divisions. Openly or secretly. it
controls ,hc action Of all Tartic' They
come together. as IN the cas-, Of the Amcri-
cans, iur other o.,sn.ibls purposes, bu, h,-
l''' ",! NI''''' ~ "'''D' a. ''-s
i''i' "'''' '''' l'''t'' "'''! "n.''''
PARTY organization ha, been 'undsrcl by H.,
AMI their members, in forming new party
tics, ~, almost exclusively controlled by 10.
The h''' condition 'h,N enact '.'''' J''''s
any ''dy IT, mat 's'on'' '''"N '"u' anu
90 OF 'he slavery question
" Iu' controversy '''N,'" ""'' may ''
''rh'' our N'''0''n -"' H''l'''" ''''',-''
"'n'' presents Two ''pe'" n'''' ""''",,
Che influences "i The one '' ''s other 'h'',
rr'domina'e IN The i"IeTAI government AMI
'rc'ndly' whether The one "r The Other OF
ta,se influences shall prevail ~ a." or,'n'-
nation o'u'w territories Virtually, thc'"
questions are one ior Whichever ''ie sue
cr"i' In rrsarl % th" first point, will he
.lrc % s1reryd Ia regard u the second, and
u.' rDia.
" " g. ihe fr'' aspect Of we arr all
aware what th" facts OF che cos" have been
Hitherto W" arr all a"ar'' that Tor many
years Oh" interests uI slavery have carried
the day completely, IN nearly every depart
m"ut Of the national government. The TX
ccutIvo has always inclined 20 that eide,
AMI - he's the judiciary, and, with occa-
sjon1l exceptions, both branches OF the lesi'-
hturc. IL came 60 such r's', indeed, Mt
last. that no man, whatever his capacities
mr. claims, who was the least adverse 90 tlat
interest, was allowed to hold tho lowest
ur.rr or rraft or honor under the general
Government. and much lcs. ,o achieve any