The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-28
THE NATION ERA.
Washington, D. o.
q. BAILEY, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
JOHN @. wHITTIER, CORRESPONDING EDTToH
Prospectus of the Thirteenth Volume,
BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 1859

The National Era is about 10 enter upon its
Thirteenth volume.
Twelve years ago, when the Discussion OF
the Question OF Slavery was practically pro
hlblted IN this District, the Era was commenced
for the purpose OF asserting and defending the
Rights OF Discussion, and Of giving fair eX-
preston to AntiSlavery Sentiments In the
House Of Representatives, John @ uincy Adams
and Joshua r. Giddings alone gave il moral
support; in the Senate, it found not a single
well wisher while outside of Congress il stood,
solitary and unsustained, under ban and men-
ace. A conflict followed, in which an excited
populace undertook TO suppress it by violence,
but it resisted the storm, maintained its posi-
ton, and from that hour the Liberty Of the
Press was established In the District of Co
lumbia.
Twelve years have passed, and to day, the
Era finds twenty among the most distinguished
members of the Senate, elected to carry out the
Principles il was instituted to advocate, and
the House almost controlled by Representatives,
win whom il can consistently and heartily act
as Sco-worker.
While the cause il has advocated has adj
vanced so rapidly, am constrained TO say that
the Era, since the advent Of the Republican
Party, has suffered somewhat in its circulation.
influential newspapers, once IN opposition,
but now united in the same movement, and an
extensive Local Press, upholding kindred sen
timents, naturally engross large portion of
Republican patronage.
This was TO be expected, but still think
there are good reasons why the Era should
continue TO be sustained. 1t was the first Press
to raise the standard of Freedom in the Capital
OF the Republic. For twelve years it has been
identified with the Ant-Slavery movement,
and osol, 81
element of the Republican Party. Although
independent Of mere Party organization, il was
the first paper to advocate a general union OF
the Opponents of the Kansas-NebTaska Act in
1854, in Party OF Freedom; took leading
part in the formation of the Republican Party,
and, while holding itself at liberty to blame
what il considered bameworthy, has uniformly
indicated it as true to its Principles. Ii has
never been burden to Its friends, never asked,
nor al any time would have been willing to re-
ceive, any kind of official or congressional pa
tronage, has always been self-sustaning. From
its friends, then, it asks a subscription thar
shall enable it to hold position gained by 50
much effort, and to continue to WELD an inhu-
ence which, | trust, has not been exered for
evil
The Literary Department of the paper will
be carefully attended TO. Out of il already have
been compiled several works which have gone
into the permanent Literature of the country
In addition TO the Novel am now publishing
from the pen of E. FoxToN, shall commence
some time in October another story Of remark
able power, by gentleman residing near Bal
tmore. We have read the whole production
in manuscript, and can safely say that nothing
of the kind since the appearance Of Uncle
Toms Cabin, has more engrossed our attention
or more deeply enlisted our feelings.
The Era presents weekly Summary OF
General News and Political Intelligence, keeps
a careful record of the proceedings Of Congress,
and is the repository of large portion of the
most interesting speeches delivered in that body
G.. BAILEY
Washington, ID. c., Oct |, 1858.