The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-30

O. BAILEY, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
JOHN q. WHITTIER, CORRESPONDING EDITOR.
The signs of the times indicate an approach
ing crisis in the conflict between Freedom and
Slavery The Democratic Party and the Wbir
with their peculiar issues, have ceased to eyis,
the latter being totally dsorganized; the orcani.
cation Of the former being appropriated as th.
machinery of Party devoted 10 the Cause Of
Slavery, while nearly all that was hcalhlulanJ
progressive in both has been absorbed by The
Anti-Slavery movement. now organized IN the
form of a Republican Party. The one grpa,
Question before the People is, the Slavery
Question; and there are really but two Panie7
the Republican and the Pro Slavery.
Henceforlh, these Parties must meet each
other face to face. The Congress that shall
meet within the next two weeks, must witness
their first national struggle Who shall b.
Speaker ~ what Power shall organize the
House, constitute its Committees, initiate ami
determine its action will be- the first ou.s.
tons to be settled. Next must be considered
the affairs OF Kansas. II spurious Delegate.
chosen by fraudulent votes, at a spurious ele,.
ton, ordered by an Illegal Legislature. repre-
senling the policy and interests of Missouri
Slaveht lders; and genuine Delegate, chosen
by the votes Of actual settlers, at an election
held in accordance with the principles of sell
government, assumed 10 be embodied in the
law organizing the Territory. will demand
admission to the floor of Congress. At the
same time will arise the question of the adni>-
sion of Kansas as a State, ia conformity 10 lh.
application of It's inhabitants. who in CONVEX
ton assembled, have duly formed State Ton
sttution. Add to this, a bill for the admission
OF Oregon as a free Stale-and Congress will
have before 1t series Of practical Questions of
vast magnitude, involving the entire issue be-
tween the Slave Power and It's opponents. The
struggle will not be confined to that body
Already commenced among the People, il will
derive new interest from the proceedings IN
Congress, All those q uestions must enter mia
and decide the canvass for the Presidency now
opened. The next twelve months. then. Wi!
be period OF surprising importance. The
People must array themselves under the ban
ner OF Republicanism, or the banner of Slavery.
There can be no neutrality, no evasion, no com
promise. There can be no intermediate par
ties, although there may bc sinister factions
working insidiOusly for the defeat of Republi
canlsm, and the continuance OF power in the
hands Of the Saveholding oligarchy. lie that
is not for Freedom is against ii.
The responsibilities of Republicans al such a
moment cannot be too urgently impressed upon
them. The great Question, TO the exclusion
of all others, should be made the test in Con-
gress. and by the People, on every occasion, at
every election. The work OF organization
ought to be vigorously prosecuted, ill every
county and Town be fully prepared for the de-
cisive struggle.
Above all, the Press should be PIT in actire
operation. Local and Metropolitan newspa
pers-there ought to be no jealousy between
them-are alike needed. Republican papers
should be encouraged, and their issues multi
piled, until every man and woman, who can
read, be furnished with the whole argument for
Liberty.
TO the readers of the National Era We ad-
dress ourselves specially. 1t has fought the
battles OF Freedom for nine years, and is now
entering its tenth campaign. What it has been.
II will be. The doctrines it has urged. the aims
1t has announced, are still dear to it. Its course
has been straightforward one, without con
cealment. without compromie~. i.""u' r'''o''
W questionable expedlents 10 achieve tempo
rary success. So long as the Republican Party
shall continue true TO the principles of Civil anI
Religious Liberty we have advocated through
the Era, true TO the rights of conscience with
out distinction OF sect, true To all the rights OF
Humanity without regard to race or birth, the
Era will labor for its ascendency.
Our tenth volume will begin with the first of
the new year. We need hardly say that no
pains will be spared to maintain its position as
Literary and Family newspaper. We have
on hand several new stories, and the promise
of one from the pen of Mrs SoUTHwoRTH, 10
commence in the first number of the new
volume.
TERMS.