The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-08
THE BACK BONE OF ABoLrrroNIsM BROKEN


THE BACKBONE OF ABoLIToNIsM BROKEN,
II is not our purpose to notice the death of aboli-
tionism in this country. We have no belief in the
possibility Of that most desirable event in the his
tory Of American politics. We do not believe in the
doctrine of total dcpravity, discard all hope of
rational reform in public sentiment but there are,
nevertheless, in all communities the seeds Of evil,
and the most that good men have right to expect
is that they shall be exposed and do little dam
ngc as possible. II is extremely discouraging TO be
compelled to admit at any time that any species of
error has gained the ascendency over the commu-
nifty but the other hand it in the last degree
gratifying after such periods Of moral pesence, to
be able to feel that the curse has been removed
We have had in the United States for nearly five
years past tho most fearful mental maady and af-
Fiction which has ever fallen upon nation. few
political traders taking advantage Of the fact that we
have two classes Of labor in two distinct sections of
the Union, have employed every exerton which
malice, Misrepresentation, and fraud could devise
TO array these classes in hostility against each other
The salient point Of attack has been the public ter
ritorics, which are the joint property of all the
States. Tho first step in the work Of dividing tho
country was to raise up a pervading anti-slayery
sentiment or prejudice. There was great difficulty
in eifeoting this end, because our federal system
was such that the institution of slavery must ever
remain subject to tho control exclusively of the peo
Pile Of the States 1t was wholly impossible in
other words, for the free States to make open war
upon the slave States. But the territories Of the
Union offered plausible excuse for organizing a
party on the subject of slavery Hence, we find, in
looking back upon the last four or five years, that
the northern people have been led to believe that it
was settled design on the part Of the aslavc pow
err to preoccupy tho public territories to the ex-
cIusion Of tho people Of the free States On His
simple assumption qrh never had the least foundation,
we have gone through long, damaging, and dis
graceful controversy between the people of the two
sections Of the Union. s.
Now, we submit, in all candor, to the country
whether as practical question between slavery and
antislavery, there the least possible virtue in
the ssue2 Could either party prevail over the other
upon it? Were tho people of the North or the peo-
pie of the South empowered in any contingency to
decide the question Could the former prevent slave
ny in Kansas the latter establish it? These vital
questions, for if the issue is merely controversial
if isnterested third parties have been forced upon
the record to the exclusion of the real onehen it
is manifest that any verdict which may be obtained
against either can never be enforced Is not no,e
perfectly obuious that the people Of the place wA establish
their own nista,aons3 If So what sense is there in
bringing on quarrel between outside pa,ties2 This
is tho very point of contest II the local community
possess the legal right to settle their local nsttu-
tons, what propriety is there in intermcddling with
them? What good can of it All territorial
difficulties of the kind must of necessity, be of tenn
porary duration, and every result therefrom only
proves the folly Of State interference. (
As the republican party was organized upon this
radical error, and the folly Of its labors now
made manifest even in tho case of Kansas, our con-
6dence in the public judgment is such to lead us
to the conclusion that the backbone of that ephem-
eral and deceptive intrigue is broken. { +.
We think so, because, whatever may be the errors
Of men led on by imaginary grievances and excited
by tho turbulence of momentary passion finding
themselves deceived and misled by false issues and
representations, they viii longer consent to be
the tools Of demagogues and the supple instruments
Of traitors to their country.
of the democratic party which have withstood the
assaults of all factions in the great struggle of the
last few years, and which are now leading the coun
try by the force ofjustce and truth, to peaceful
solution Of those political problems which even q
few months ago regarded portendng untold
evils to the country They have driven tho oppo
stion from every position they have taken since the
organization Of tho government and their greatest
triumph is the last which has Frustrated the whole
republican organization and rendered them power
less for evil in the future. This is no vain pa
radc Of strength on our part, nor has it been the
work Of democratic organizations--ti mere manip-
uIation Of party machinery. Relying upon the great
principle Of popular sovercignty-that the people Of
the new States shall decide for themselves, and il
their own way when they shall apply for admission
into our family Union, what institutions they viii
havc--ws have steadily resisted the exercise BY
Congress- over them Of tho least dictatorial power
We have said to the people of the Territories
''When you shall have about one hundred Thousand
inhabitants, make your constitution and present
it TO Congress, and win receive you into the
Union.' We have said TO the States and to Con.
gress Glands off, let this young sister grow up tc
womanbood, when she shall be joined in the bond.