Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-03

As before stated, there are three prominent
parties in the country, each Of which, it is GER
tain, will present their candidate for President
and Vice President. The American party has
already given us the names of their candidates.
Soon, the Democratic and (so-called) Repub-
lican parties are to hold conventions TO present
the names of their candidates. With three
candidates in the field is it at all certain that an
election can be effected by the people2 There
is no such certainty; but there are many well
grounded fears that an election by the people
will be defeated, and that the House of Repre-
sentatves will be the tribunal before which this
great question must be tried and decided. With
the late protracted contest in that body for the
election of Speaker, and its results before US, it
cannot be that any sane man who desires to
protect the rights of the South can wish, or
would be wiling to see our rights submitted
to such an arbitrament, or the permanency of
the Union exposed to so severe a test But,
should an election be obtained before the peo-
pie, which OF these parties is most likely to sue
coed? In order to form something like cor
rect, enlightened judgment on this-subject, it
is proposed to inquire what is to be the nature
of this contest? BY what circumstances is it
to be surrounded, and what questions are to be
settled by it? May ask what issues are to be
involved in this contest? Is it bank, tariff,
distribution of the proceeds Of the public lands,
internal improvements, the acquisition of more
territory? Is it the annunciaton of the Mon
roe doctrine, as proclaiming our foreign policy2
Is it any one, or all of these? No, not one OF
them all is spoken of as the issue upon which
this great battle is to be fought. Indeed i'm
portant some of these are, they seem scarce
ly to be thought of or cared for. The only
issue of practical, political, or legislative
al I,o e.. II - \
ed by the American party, is an amendment, or
abrogation of the naturalization laws. That
Americans shall rule America-that natives
have rights superior to foreigners-are present
ed as arguments or adjuncts.
do not propose to debate this question. |
will, however, say, that | should not object to
| prudent, patriotic amendment of the natural
ization laws.
What is rendered by the falsely-styled Repub-
lican party, standing out in bold relief, en-
blazoned on their banners in glazing capitals,
is opposition to slavery. This is presented in
all the varied shapes and forms, suited to the
tastes and caprices of all but at last all these
principles concenter in the one idea Of oppo-
sition to slavery, or the prostraton of what they
please to denominate the slave power. Some
are, or say they would be, content with the re-
peal of the fugitive slave law; others demand
the abolition of slavery in the District of Col
umbia; some, that the slave trade, as between
| the States, shall be interdicted that no more
slave States shall be admitted into the Union
others, that Congress shall prohibit the intro
duction of slavery into the Territories-that
| slavery shall be abolished everywhere.
But all these factions are to be harmonized
all these shades of opinion are to be reconciled,
| and the battle is TO be fought on the Kansas
and Nebraska act this is to be probably the
sole and only plank in their platform; and they
propose to accomplish their purposes by attack
ing us in detail, and if they can succeed in
| carrying the outposts by attacking one Of them
at time, then the citadel, which is slavery in
| the States, must soon capitulate. IT'S thus
they reason.
What issue or issues the Democratic party
will present, or whether they will be content
simply to accept those rendered by the other
parties, | am not advised. Only one thing in
this connection is certain, and that is, they
cannot refuse to accept the issue presented by
the Black Republican party; they claim the
paternity of the Kansas Nebraska bill, and
must, and will, doubt not, defend it to the
last.
In this brief review of the attitude of parties,
it is obvious that the Abolition party-the
opponents of slavery of every hue, shape, and
complexion throughout the entire Union-are
to be harmonized on the one idea and purpose
of the repeal Of the Kansas Nebraska act, or
the establishment of the prohibition OF slavery
Malakoff; if this falls, then a surrender on our
part, and the taking Of Sebastopol 1t may be
that they reckon without their host.
Whatever may be svid of the treason that
guides and animates this party, we cannot
withhold our admiration of the bold, manly,
and defiant manner in which they proclaim their
purposes, and challenge us to the conflict.
Can we with safety or honor decline the invi-
tation thus boldly given2 In my judgment,
we cannot. The issue is fairly made, and it
must be met. There can be, ought to be, no
evasion. Let US, then, in corresponding
spirit of promptness and boldness, meet them
in the field they have selected; and this we are
constrained to do, unless we have made up
our minds to capitulate and surrendr ourselves
to these usurpers. If we are ready for this,
then the battle is already fought, and our dis
grace and degradation are full and complete
and we are only fit to be slaves. / repeat-the
issue is fairly made, boldly rendered, and must
be met. The question, the great vital question
of the equality of the States and their rights
under the Constitution, are involved and must
be maintained or the Union is dissolved. This
IaNo'ioh huos NC bstdeu tnlo has W De
fought sooner or later.
Efforts have been made from time to time
by the wise. the good, and the patriotic, to
avert this necessity. Compromises, delays, and
postponements have been resorted to, with
what success let history teach. These patriotic
efforts have served as Notwithstanding the
nerves, but not removing the disease-they
have served to allay the angry and aggressive
passions of the enemies of slavery for a season,
and to lull the friends of the Constitution into
the dream of delusive security. Experience
shows how impotent such efforts have been,
and must ever be, to bring permanent repose
to the country.
We want no other compromises than such
as the Constitution gives. For one, shall be
satisfied with nothing less. The temporizing
expedients, however periodically intended,
have heretofore served only to enable the
enemies Of the South to recuperate their weak.
ened energies and repenish their magazines,
in order that they may return to the conflict
with increased vigor and accumulated strength.
The quiet it gives is only the calm that pre-
cedes the Storm No considerate man can