The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-27
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

4
/ Administration owes its defeat in New York
and the Republican Party there, its integrity
and its success, first to the failure of the mlser-
able attempt at coalition and secondly, to that
Rochester Speech, which concentrated the Anti
Slavery sentiment in support of the Republican
ticket, defined beyond all doubt the true issue
of the canvass, and rendered it impossible to
construe the result otherwise than as an CYL
dence of the preponderance Of the Anti-Siayery
Element.
| At no time since the organization Of the Re
publican party has it been free from purbhnd
councillors and hating conservatives. Every
year, we have been accustomed to hear them
croaking about the danger of being radical,
inconsderate hot-headed. Be quiet Is the
burden of their advice, let us show the country
that we are not the agitatorS-what Is the use
of this eternal talk about the niggers we
can meet the issues as they arise. They seem
to be under the Illusion that they are still re-
spectacle members of the old Wing Party,
which. merely to suit circumstances, has adopt
ed the tile, " Republican" and they are anna
zed that the wise counses of Webster and
CLAY are set at nought. Let a determined Re
publican in Congress proclaim the real doctrines
Of the Party, and they grow nervous; they are
sure he will spoil everything" how can we
unite the elements of the Opposition, if such
zealots will forever be agitating ?" The very
best way, they think, for the Republican Party
to succeed, is never 10 make a single effort TO do
what il was expressly organized to do.
That Mr.. Washburn of Maine should have,
incurred the displeasure Of these gentlemen Is
] Just what might have been expected bat We
cannot understand why any real Republican
! should think frank utterance Of Anti-Slavery
/ opinions, at such crisis, unreasonable. The
speech of that gentleman, Notwithstanding the
patriotic outbreak Of Mr.. Thompson Of New
| York, about union Of the true men OF
the country, North, South, East and West -
a phraseology intended to imply that the
Republican Party, with its definite aims and
purposes, should give way to a mongrel OPP
position, with no principle, and no aim but.
that of power-were not only well considr
cred, but well timed. Recollect what us6a
had been made of the vote Of the Republicans
]
ment. Every intelligent person knew that thai
vote was given, not to sustain the dogma a
Popular Sovereignty" OF the assumption THAI
the People of any Territory have a right TO es-
tablish Slavery, but TO defeat The Lecomptoa
! Constitution, and save Kansas from Slaver%
No sooner, however, had the record been made
than Mr.. Douglas remarked that he must nov.
cease to call them Black Republicans, because
they had adopted his principle of Popular Sow
ereignty, and Mr.. Humphrey Marshall boldls.
claimed in the House that they had abandoned
their obnoxious position on the right Of Cons
gress to prohibit Slavery in the Territories, and
now occupied ground to which the conservas
tive men of the South could not object. Eithes-
no opportunity was given for explanation or i.
was thought by Republican members that i
vas Ell gnneeess SAL PeoPle could not bs
/ is always better to trust to our own care and
vigilance, than the candor or good will Of others.
| That vote was mscOnstrued, and in the columns.
Of leading Republican Journal, measure
aSsented to with reluctance. as a neccssitS
under the circumstances, purely exceptional !
ordinary action Of the Party. Then foIowcg
the effort to supersede or sell out the Re9ubS
can party; and at the opening Of the present
session, efforts were made to restrain agiet ton,
or any expression of opinion ON the subject of
Slavery. Mr. Marshall and his American as
sociates we're again busy Republicans were to
be taught that their mission was accomplished
that the Kansas Question having been settled,
they had nothing further to do-that ali sec
tional issues were now to be ignored, &nd a
a grand Opposition organized, on the GROUND of
simple antagonism 10 the Administration. Was
it wise to suffer this pertinacious system Of de-
moralization to 90 on, unrebuked ? To permit
Samson to be luled to sleep, that his locks
might be shorn
Why multiply words? The determined in
telligent men of the Party saw the danger
and one or two speeches suficed TO show that
the Republican Party was alive-not 20 be
cheated, seduced, or ignored. Let us assure
Messrs. Purviance and Thompson that the
right words came at The right time If they ex-
pect any other union than that already estab-
lished by Republicans union composed of
the good and true men of the Democratic,
Wing, Liberty, and American Parties, on the
basis Of opposition 10 the Slave Power and to
its creature, the Administration-they will be
mistaken.
Mr.. Washburns speech fortunately provoked
Mr.. Marshall TO an open demonstration and
Mr.. Thompson, Of New York, may learn from
that what sort Of "uGon " he may look for
outside of the Republican Psrty-a union with
South Americans on the basis Of No Agitation.
No Discussion the Compromises of 1850. the
Fugitive Slave Act, and the bred Scott Dog
mas. We rejoice that Mr.. Marshall has pro-
claimed the doctrines of his third Party, if Par
Is it may be called Substantially it is with
the Administration-an Republican co-opera-
ton with one would be just as decent and CON
sistent as with the other.
By far the better, wiser, manlier policy IS 10
define the true Issues, distinctly, to draw the
Party lines Enthusiastically, to adhere to Prjnci
pies vigorously, and to have done with schemes Oh
compromise and coalition, with a view m'.rely
to obtaining political power. Let him WHO is
for Slavery, for Slavery Extension, for Slavery
Domination, for Cuba Annexation, for Ce,Itral
American and Mexican Spolation, for Fil,bus
tering, and the African Slave Trade, for Cocrup
ton, War. and Extravaganza, vote for the so
called Democracy and its Charleston candidate
Let him who is for Freedom, for the eiten
sion of Freedom, for the rule of Freedom, or a