The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-22
1AIRE9I IL Ao1AIA9I1
Washington, July IL, 1859.
THE BANNER REPUBLICAN CITY.

1t is a singular fact that st. Louis, in the
slaveholding State of Missouri, is the most re-
liable Republican city in the Union, and casts
the largest Republican majorities. Indeed, it
is almost the only large city in the Union
which can be always counted upon to give a
clear and unmistakable declaration in behalf of
free soil, free labor, and free men, at every cleo
ton. New York, the great mart of foreign
commerce, has been immemorially welded to
the Black Democracy and if that party is
sometimes beaten by an Opposition or INDIE
pendent ticket for municipal officers, the fact is
by no means owing to the prevalence of free
principles in the community, but to the intes-
tine divisions in the ranks of the allies and sup
porters of Slavery. Philadelphia is equally
devoted to Slavery, or to Conservatism "a
term which implies that, in order to preserve
the Union, the shareholders must be allowed to
have their own way. So thoroughly conserva-
tive A" and Pro-Slavery is that great seat Of
manufacturing industry, that its effect is to re-
press the rising spirit of Freedom in Delaware
and Maryland. If Philadelphia were true to
the principles of William Penn and Benjamin
Franklin, these slaveholding States would feel
the genial influence, and ignorance and preju-
dice would vanish. But hitherto the influence
of Philadelphia, like great iceberg, has chilled
every warm and generous emotion in her South
ern neighbors. Even Boston, with its world
wide reputation for philanthropy and for Abo-
litionism, is not so decidedly Free-Son as St
Louis We believe that Chicago stands next
to st. Louis in its devotion to Freedom, but the
latter carries off the palm against all COM
petitors.
Is it not singular that cities which owe all their
greatness to the fact that their soil cannot be
1esecrated by the foot of slave, should be the
stl'ongholds of the slave power? We can &C
count for the Free-Soil sentiment which has
taken such vigorous root in st. Louis. The
people of that city have been made to feel the
curse Of Slavery, in its dwarfng effects upon
the industry and progress of the State, and upon
themselves but we have no adequate theory
by which to account for the perversehess which
actuates the masses in the cities which are ex-
empt from the curse. We cannot believe that
they will long remain in their unnatural posi-
ton, into which they have been led by the cum
ming of demagOgues.
st. Louis is the banner Republican city. But
Wheeling, in Virginia, place of considerable
population and enterprise, shows a strong af-
finity for Freedom, and the metropolis of the
Mississippi must look to her laurels. We have
also strong hopes that in two or three years
Baltimore and Louisville win emulate the noble
example of their Western sister; and other
places of less note might be named, in which
the signs of rebellion against the benumbing
influence of Slavery are beginning to show
themselves. The first election which takes
place after the Inauguration of Republican
President will exhibit powerful Free-Soil or
ganization in all the border slave States
CoLoRED LABoRERs IN JAMAICA.-Iti is stated
that the Colonial Government of Jamaica is
about to appoint an agent in Canada, under
the immigration act of l84S, to encourage the
immigration of colored laborers to that island
Provision will be made to pay the passage OF
emigrants, with whom contracts viii be made
Tor three years, at stipulated sum per month
1t is estimated that there are in Canada 40, 00O
colored persons, the great majority being male
adults. Many of them have become possessed
of considerable property, and would make ex
cellent citizens Of Jamaica. We observe thai
the project of immigration finds considerable
favor In Canada, and it is probable that Jamai
ca will receive quite an accession to her pro
ductive industry. Exchange.
The idea of compulsory labor for a term O
years seems to be inseparable from every Eng
hsh scheme of inducing immigration into he
West India colonies. Why is this2 Can it b,
pretended that the expense of emigration is SC
great as to require such sacrifice of independ
ence on the part of the Immigrant? If labo
is half as much wanted in those colonies as i
pretended, the authorities can web afford {,
pay the fare of immigrants without making an,
conditions They mistake the spirit of the fire.
black men of America, if they suppose then
ready to enter state of servitude, even for
term of three years. All such projects deserv
10 fail.