The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-01
WASHINGTON, d. G..
For the National Era.
ERUPTIONS-THEIR CAUSES.


ginia, and secondarily by the unparalleled eff
forts of the Sham Democracy to throw the en-
tire responsibility of the transaction upon the
Republican party, hoping to reduce thereby the
majorities which they had reason to fear would
overwhelm them at the elections then about to
occur in some Of the States. Probably no more
violent threats of dissolution, or terrible predic-
tons Of revolution, anarchy, and bloodshed,
have ever been vomited forth from the open
mouthed craters of the Democratic press from
nearly all sections of the Union, than upon this
occasion. But the awful crisis has come and
gone-election returns are recorded and read
as usual-the sun shines, commerce flows OF
in its accustomed channels, and nobody is cali
ed on to assess damages done to the Union.
1t was to be hoped thatol Browns maneuvres
would not soon find parallel, but it is dOdbt-
fal whether he is guilty Of grosser inconsistent
cies in his foray upon Harper's Ferry than the
Democracy in their political raid against the
Republicans. He certainly has the reputation
of truthfulness and sincerity, even among his
enemies; but many Democratic politicians have
persisted in making charges without the slight
est foundation in fact, while others we're public
ly known to be untrue. Now that elections are
over for the present, We suppose terra firma
viii stop quaking, the nervous Union-savers
spare their throats and the general fearful
tendency of things to revolutionary explosive
Less viii subside.
1t is not. however, so much to the immediate
political aspect of the agitation that we ask at
tention as 1t is to those charges, made with ap-
parent sincerity, that the discussion of the Sla-
very question at tie North has been the sole
cause of the late outbreak. 1t should be known
10 all that there are three distinct classes of
Anti-Slavery men al the North, each advocating
lis own peculiar measures for the final extinc-
ton of Slavery. The Republican party has
planted itself upon the doctrine Of nOn-exten-
sion of Slavery into the Territories, and the use
of the powers Of the Federal Government in
favor Of Freedom. 1t sanctions no attempt at
intermeddling with the institution in the States
where it already exists. Another class believes
the Constitution an Anti-Savery document, and
that the General Government can legally con-
troll Slavery wherever it exists within the limits
Gifts jurisdiction. Others still refuse a willing
allegiance TO the Government, and look to a
dissolution of the Union as the only possible
remedy. Now, II can hardly SAVIOR of sound
sense to throw the blame indisCriminately upon
ali these. because their teachings have been en-
tirely different, and would, of course, lead to
totally diverse results.
But, without further delay, let us ask the
great question, Why is the North aroused
Why have the people of one portion of the Con-
federacy set their faces as flint against the ex-
istence and progress Of an institution confined
Il Al
jOrities, based on the Anti-Slavery anti-exten-
sion principle, become common in almost every
free State? Why have churches been rent
asunder, and ecclesiastical bodies broken in
pieces, drawing the separating line between
free and slave territory? In short, why is the
South arrayed against the North, and the North
against the South There be many ties that
bind" but they are not needed in the contest.
Is the fault with US Are we disposed unjust
ly to complain? Are there no motives but
selhshness moving in this agitation? Is the
North ambitious and grasping for power as
soon as 1t becomes conscious of strength? Or
are We acting in defence of our own rights and
the rights of man? Let us see what history
proves.
When the governmental compact was enter
ed into, Freedom was the rule, and Slavery the
exception. Several Of the States subsequently,
abolished it, and the practice was universally
regarded as political and social evil. Wash
ington was in favor of political action for its re-
noval Madison would not admit it into the
Constitution, and jefferson trembled for his
country while rejecting that God is Just, and
that his justice will not sleep forever. Special
provision vas made for its exclusion from all
the territory then belonging to the States, and
the day, not distant was confidently expected
when Slavery should forever disappear. But
an process OF time, slave products began to Weld
larger profit, and shareholders chung to chat
Tel labor with tenacity that refused admission
TO Missouri as free State, after a severe and
protracted contest. But a line was drawn and
agreed to in solemn council, which said to the
slave power, thus far northward. and no farther
but gave TO the South all the territory lying be.
low So and 300.
By virtue of right granted in the Constitu
ton, Congress was petitiOned for the abolition
of Slavery in the District Of Columbia and
other places then under its Jurisdiction: but
the prayers Of the people were met at the very
threshold Of the halls of legislation and for a
long time denied hearing, or even a reception
In open defiance of sacred guarantees to the
right of free speech and the press, men were
mobbed for expressing their opinions in public.
presses were demolished and thrown into the
streets, and the lives of uuoffendinc citizens
sacrificed by prosecuting Pro-Slavery spirit.
Texas cost the nation blood and treasure at A
tune when there was an abundance of unoccu.
pied territory fertile in all the resources neces.
sary TO supply the wants Of a dense population.
California, though vigorously claimed. was lost
10 the South but IN the adjustment the free
States were made to bow low in the dust in
submission to the behests of an Infamous
fugitive slave law. -Four years later. in 1854
the work OF undoing compacts and reversing
Congressional enaetmentS was begun The
The Missouri restriction was struck down, re-
CARELESS OF protest or entreaty, or phghted
faith, and the whole Territorial field opened
vide to the advancing strides of the Slave
Power. In Kansas, the representatives of free
and slave labor met each other, face TO face
under the promise of fair play and equal priv
Ieges OF settlement. But no sooner was an
uniavorable result TO the slave interest antici-
pated, than the cohorts OF oppression com
menced the process of expelling the Free-State
pioneers from a soil which Congress had inst
declared should be perfectly free to the people
OF all the States, for the purposes of permanent
occupation. In the formation of a Territorial
Government, frauds were substituted for fair
oeanng, while large malOrities were overcome
by iorce and violence at the polls. Families
were driven from home, and innocent men
put to death, for no other crime than DESIRING
Kansas to become free State. These atroci.
ties were not only winked at by National
Executive, bus the perpetrators were encour.
aged and sustained by the strong arm of Fed
eral power In the midst Of the strife came
next in order the great Pacifcator, a grand
Finality, the bred Scott decision, throwing the
broad mantle of constitutional protection over
slave property in State and Territorv. and
from this high authority we are told there is NO
appeal.
Again: The advocates of slaveholding now