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

from the lst Of January, unless otherwise re-
quested.
THE ONE ISSUE-LAYING ASIDE EV-
ERY WEIGHT.
The Slave Power, having It's seat in the South,
controls the Federal Government. In the South,
whatever the disaffection to its rule, it is power
less, 50 that the force necessary to its overthrow
must come from the Free States but that force
can never b. so organized as to be completely
effective, while their masses shall be divided BY
p5l:tical questions unconnected with the great
Question on which the Slave Power has united
sle Slave States. The one thing necessary Isl
u un.o7i ot'a ntajority ofhe People Of the Free
.Stgles IA opposition to he Poicer that has used
and Unused, and non uses and abuses, the Fed
cal Government Let this union be effected
and the Government redeemed, and the way
vii be open for the wise settlement of other
Questions. ACCORDING to tie will Of majority Of
the American People. Revolution in organiza-
ton must pracede Reform in administration. We
ta9st change the Power before We can change
tie PRODUCE. To postpone the struggle for the
s8Jversion o.; Slavery Domination, is to post
pone every other Question
But, experience and cornmon sense teach that
The necessary union Of the Non-Slaveholders Of
che oouutrT against the Slave Power cannot be
effected. ,r,lcss tRe great issue bstreea them
te tspt distinct and paramount. You may SUI
peradd other issues, on which there IS general
concurrence of opiniou-such as cheap postage,
homestead reform, Federal appropriations for
River and Harbor Improvements, Of genera
character. 10 which individual or State re
sources are unequal-keepng them all strictly
subordinate - but the attempt to introduce
such issues as the Baak, Tariff, md inner
4caa Questions, and 10 demand uatormity Of
cred and Policy upon them, as condition to
unson against tie Stare Posrer, is simply alb
Surd. Il IS utterly impossible TO unite a ma or
liy of the People Of the Free States on these
Questions. Union Of the majority of Non-Slaye-
holding voters against the domination of the
Slave Power-,he great evils possible; mn
ion upon any other basis is utterly impractica-
be. There is no use in arguing the proposition.
Every who knows anything OF American
politics knows it 10 be fact.
Stale action, Of course, admits of modilica-
s.ou. In Pennsylvania, so general is the senti-
meat n azor Of pr9eeIi9p e iron , and seal
cans there should partake of it, and give coun.
. fenance 10 il. Here and there, the Im0Tcan
sentiment Is 50 strong, as 10 pervade all poiti-
cal organizations, so that Republicans are found
asserting 10 i, 10 a certain extent. But, dec
)sration tat might do no damage to the Re
publican Party in Rhode Island or New Jersey,
would find no favor in Ohio or Illinois a doc
tTine that might help Republicanism in Pcan-
sylvania, might hurt it in Michigan or Wiscon-
sin. When Tie increment IS a national one,
aohea the organization IS 10 determine rs natj4R-
al policy and issues, It must avoid subordinate
questions, tending to produce division, and con
fine itself to the great Question on which there
IS unanimity. We shall not insist upon Free
Trade resolution, or a declaration of war against
Know Nothings-nor viii We consent TO a Tariff
resolution, or a declaration of Americansm.
Keep the Issue on which we can unite, pure and
nnadulterated, separate from the issues on which
we cannot unite | am a Free Trader but
viii mite heartily with the Protectionist in
overthrowing the Slave Power, if he will not
require ne to swear by Protection. He may
enjoy his opinion on that or any other Question,
advocate it freely and even labor to secure the
nomination Of such men as are nearest his
own cceed-but, if he concede me the same lib
srty, and fHsist upon no party test, b'd that
Of uncompromisng and actire opposition 10 the
rule Of Sl1rery, ! can work with him. If he
ask more than this, he shows that he regards
the Slavery Question as subordinate, not para
mount and be IS an enemy TO union, an enemy
70 true RePubiicanism, an ally, in effect, al
though not, it may be, in purpose, of the
PoweE'tdat Is ruling the country TO its ruin.
The Republican Party is the offspring of a
atronC conviction in the free States, that such
Union as we define. i a necessity 1t is it.
self precisely that Union--a Union Of native
aad natlralized citizens, of Wings. Democrats.
Liberty Men, Land Re:ormers, Americans, Rad
icals And Conservatives. who be6ese that the
greateYt AMI most urgent evil Is Slslsfv Doni-
nation ard g.rassi.tl, and the HI chest and first
political dgty. tie subor,lination Of all other
Pchticnl questions 10 4 union for is overthrow.
The several parties 10 1t generously and wisely
agreed 70 lay aside whatever divided tbem-not
insisting upon placing each other in position
~ Wa N-su ti41AA nNttl-l NtuAlElO0S. 1t was
not asked by the Democrat that the organiza-
lion should be styled Democratic Republi-
cans" by tae Wing, T" Wing Republican -
Nv the American, a. American Republican y
popular sentiment proposed simply, Republi-
can "a National Republican Convention
vas beld-the ticket was 4 Republican ticket
and since 1856, in Congress, in the States, in
TIE Nation, among friends and foes, the party
has been known as Republican, Under this
name il rules in nearly all the Free States
b. this name it viii be known in 1860. Why
not he satisfied with it? Why seek to clog
it with new and distracting issues or emas
culate it by taking away from it its Vita
issue? or embarrass il by change of name
If the title Republican be good for the ma
t5onal organization, it is good for the State
How clear and straightforward the way to VIC
tory, # We follow with single eye the direct
path struck out amidst the commissions of 1856
CONGRESS-