The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-02-05
EXTRACTS FROM OUR LETTERS.

energetic resistance, his infatuated devotees to
commit to his embrace our infant States. We
want the doctrine proclaimed continually at
the seat of Government, that righteousness
exalteth nation, but sin is a reproach to any
people" One would think that majority of
our Senators had never heard the adage, that
Honesty Is the best policy" or if they have,
that they regard it in the same category of
Wanted seifevident truths to which they refer
that clause OF the Declaration of Independence
which asserts that "All men are created with
certain inalienable rights" &C., and which
some of them, with amusing selfcomplacency.
stigmatize as selfevident le."
Legislation in our country seems to be fast
approaching to the degraded condition of a
system OF tricks; and the most successful trick
ster Is, IN many quarters, coming to be regarded
the best legislator.
Look at the catchword of "Squatter Sever
eignty," and see what iniq uitous purposes it
has been made TO cover. The real vitality of
the principle which that term implies has
never for a moment been entertained By a very
large number OF those who have been most
lusty IN their support of the measures which
have been introduced under its agis The
whole system Of measures relating to Kansas
seems TO be an enormous trick. The repeal of
the Missouri Compromise; the oppressive &C.
eiSI Vi hHS t-SGlDSJ rcGeQOm-lOVlnp
men, who had gone to Kansas in harmony with
the act organizing it a Territory; the recoe-
nising as obligatory on them, of a code of laws
established by Legislature constituted by
armed bands of invaders, a,ho ,cere not citizens,
ana containing enactments in the last degree
revolting to humanity; the liberation, on the
one hand, OF murder and rapine, with not even
a word Of rebuke, while, on the other, the
slightest accusation Of the most characteress
wretch has been followed with a lash of scor
pions-these, with other considerations, would
seem sufficient to crown with historical infamy
the names Of those men who have participated
III the evident design of forcing Slavery upon
Kansas. The monument that should be raised
IN commemorstion of the legislative and execu-
tive action in reference to Kansas, would be
justly and significantly headed with the inscrip-
tiOn of Bad Faith; and On all its sides would
be written the catalogue of consequent suffer
ings.
While such is the condition Of things, Gov
eminent cannot command the respect OF the
citizens, much less of foreign Powers. To
what are We to attribute the restless and inso-
lent spirit that is abroad in the land, but to the
fact that justice in legislation may be disre-
garded? What else is done by such legisla-
ton than TO educate and encourage men to
make unreasonable demands? And when
these demands come to conflict on all sides.
what conservative power shall remain in Gov
eminent that has set the worst example OF DO.
itical in6dclity?
Among the conservative agencies, the most
powerful, doubtless, is an enlightened pablo
sentiment. But public sentiment is IL great
measure an effect, which may be truly regarded |
as having It's origin IL, or st least having its |
expression IN, the press of the country aud |
The kind of sentiment will necessarily pactake |
OF the principles in which it shares hence. |
for one, am quite sensitive to the truth that |
We ought to support papers that yindicate 2rin- |
ciples of equity and Justice to all men. AS |
such | regard the National Era and tender |
to you my hearty good wishes for the prosper
ity and long -continued usefulness of your pc
riodical.
Shenandoah Co., Ia, Jan. 16, 1871 really |
think, if the non-saveholders of Shenandoah |
county would read your paper they would soon |
cease to cooperate with the Slavery Ohgarchy, |
to prescribe what they please to call an "Abo. |
liiionist," or, i'll other words, a "Black Repub- |
lican"
l was prosecuted for voting the Republican |
ticket. My life was threatened ON the evening |
Of the general election, in Woodstock and my
name cast out for evil in some of the Valley |
papers. But, notwithstanding all this, have |
gained true friends by taking so decided stand |
III the great and good Republican cause. feel |
encouraged to press forward in advocating the
Republican principles, and truly wish you God |
speed in the great aud good cause CT Liberty
aud Freedom, for which our noble ancestors
have bled and died. You have nob!y acquit-
ted yourself in this good cause, for which you
merit the good wishes of the American people.
BeloH, Wis., Jan. Z, lS57.-We have been
very much amused, as we'll as edited, by your
extracts from Southern editorials, and hope
they will be continued. II is ridiculous to hear
those men crying fanatic, fanaticism whilst |
they are themselves indulging in such crazy
vagaries; as though the growth of com mercial |
cities depended upon the resolutions Of few
hundred windy politicians-the Sir Oracles Of |
plantation life, and the braggarts OF small towns;
or, as though the spasmodic efforts Of these idle |
gentlemen could in the slightest degree hinder
the progress Of millions of industrious, enterpri-
sing, and well-educated fraemen, in their march |
toward wealth, intelligence, and political power.
". ID. A.
Congressional Correspondence.
Gitroy, Santa Clara county, Cdf., Dec. II,
l836.-As one Of that class by the hon0rables |
usually denominated "aay dear CONSTITUENCIES"
wish to record my protest against that
Border Ruilian act, by which members Of the |
present Congress voted money into their own
pockets. They virtually agreed to serve their
constituents for eight dollars per day. When |
they arrived at Washington, after emptying |
our Treasury of seventy. FIVE millions of money,
after squandering millions OF acres Of the na-
tional domain, by giving it away to railroad |
companies, Tom, Dick, and Harry-after retu- |
sing to set the seal Of condemnation upon one |
Of the most gigantic frauds and bare faced vii |
lanes ever perpetrated in any country this side |
the dark ages-atter trampling in the dust the |
liberties OF the free settlers of Kansas. and |
laying Their towns III asbes--after doing all |
this, they come to the conclusion that eight |
dollars per day is too little for so 1uch acorh.
The constituent is pretty warm, but il is some
consolation to know that absenteeiam is almost
cured-members were never before so pune
tual in attendance. Besides, the proposition
now is, to punish voluntary absenteeism at the
rate of $25 per day.-Ed. Era.
RepuDlcanism in Illinois.
Springfield, Ill.,, Jan. Ii, 1871 YVES pres.
ent here on Monday, the 18th inst at the In
auguration of the Republican State officers.
The Old Line Democracy had had control Of
the Capitol SO long. that they appeared to think
their dispossession mere farce, and that in n
few days they would again be permitted to re-
sumo their seats. But l think their fate is
sealed. Repubhcanism will continue to grow
stronger and stronger in Illinois, until the ma
jorities for Freedom and Free Soil, rolled M
by the Young Giantess of the West, Will be
equal to those Of the Empire State in the last
election.
The Republican party in this State is much
stronger now than it was at the November
elpctlOO IF ba