The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-20

The FREE Press IN THE SLAVE STATES
No phase of the growth of Republcanism Is
more significant than the establishment Of
newspapers advocating free principles in the
slave States. A few years since, any such at.
tempt to exercise the right of free speech was
sure to be met with violence. Even now. It il
only conceded in a few localities, and in these
only after a struggle. Nevertheless, the nun.
Der and influence of these journals is steadily
increasing, and they are gradually paving the
way for that revolution of public sentiment
which must sooner or later come in the South
as it has in the North. There are now ten Re.
publican journals printed in the slave States.
lin English besides eight more in the German
language, making eighteen in all, as follows:
The Missouri Democrat, ST. Louis, Missouri
The Free Democrat, st. Joseph, do.
The Sentinel, Kansas CITY. do.
The Free South, Newport, Ky.
The Intelligencer, Wheeling, Virginia
The Wellsburg Herald, Wellsburg, d.
The Ceredo Crescent, Ceredo, do.
The National Era, Washington, D. c.
The Republic, do. do
The News and Advertiser, Milford, Delaware,
German.
Der Anzeiger des Westerns, St. Louis No
Die Westtiche Post do. do.
Das Hermann Wochenblatt, Hermann, do.
Der st. Charles Demokrat, ST. Charles, do.
Die Deutsche Zeitung, St. Joseph, do.
Die Missouri Post, Kansas city, do.
Der Louisville Anzeiger, Louisville, XIV.
Der Baltimore Wecker, Baltimore, Nd.
Albany Journal.
This list is incomplete. There are several
other papers in the South, friendly to Freedom.
The Central Christian Advocate, in St. Louis,
is one of the ablest and most efficient Anti Sla
very papers in the country. The Bulletin, of
the same city, is decidedly Free-Soilish in Tone
So are the btelligencsr and NelOs. If we are
not misinformed, there are two Free Soil news
papers in Western Virginia, not mentioned on
this list, and one or two more in Missouri
There are in Delaware, also two or three Free
Soil newspapers; and in the whole South, the
number Of such journals is nearer thirty than
eighteen.
DEATH OF Mr.. Mason, MINISTER TO FRANCE.
The Hon. John Y. Mason, the American Min
:-A- - De-, -l;A1 a. aLat oify thu al i4at.
He was native of Sussex county, Virginia,
but removed at an early period of life to South.
amPton. He graduated at the University of
North Carolina in 1916, and entered upon the
practice of law. He was a member of the Con.
ventions which in 1929 and 1851 amended the
State Constitution, and from 1881 TO 1887 rep
resented the district in Congress he was Sec
rotary of the Navy under President Tyler, and
was sent as Minister to Franco by President
Pierce, which position he held until his death.
Mr. Mason was a man of respectable talents,
and much esteemed for his social qualities.
In our last weeks issue, before the result of
the election in Pennsylvania was known. We
published brief paragraph on the subject of
the Presidents visit to that State. indicating
our opinion that he had gone there for the pur.
pose of strengthening the faint-hearted and
confirming the doubtful by the offer of sundry
snug Offices" &c.
friend has shown us letter, addressed to
him, in this city, by distinguished, intelI
gent and sagaeiously observant Democrat of
Philadelphia, on the subject, from which we
have permission to make the following extract.
The letter is dated October 7th, and, it will
be seen, confirms our views, and gives US a
pretty little picture, Cabinet size. of what was
going on in that city at that time, and opens a
vista into the future:
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. Z, 1859.
"* The election comes off on Tues.
day next, the 18th. Both parties, 'People
and Democrat are disorganized and dissatis.
fed. There are two distinct and separate or
CARNATIONS inside each of the two great par.
ties. The negro question divides the peonle.
and the friends and enemies OF the Admins.
tration divide the Democrats. Our vote will
therefore be very light. The Administrator
viii be defeated on the State ticket, for the
Opposition is thoroughly united on that ticket.
But if, contrary to all reasonable expectation,
the Democratic State ticket should succeed in
spite of the disjointed condition of the party,
then you shall see Old Buck boldly throw off
his disguise, and enter the ring for a second
heat. In view of this contingency, the Admin
istration wing Of the Democratic party have
been crafty at work with stratagems to carry
delegates, under their control, from Pennsyva-
MIA, to the Charleston Convention. Philadel-
phia is entitled by her numerical strength to
a preponderating number of delegates to the
National Convention which is to meet at
Charleston. Philadelphia has therefore be-
come TO Old Buck like Corsica to Napoleon,
important from circumstances The election
in Philadelphia takes place early in Novem-
Der, and the struggle between the ans and the
outs of the Democratic party will indeed be ter.
rife. But the iRS, or the Administration wing
have the vantage ground large sums ofmate.
rial aid have already accumulated, TO advance
the interest of the Buchanan wing besides, this
wing have Offices constantly to bestow, aad an
army of ofice-holders, or CORPS of
men drilled and paid to carry delegate cleo
lions. Persons are here from Washington, de-
failing conversations with the President, in
which he declares his intention, after the cleo
'ion,* TO revise his office holders in Philadel-
phia- These reported declarations of the Presi-
lent alarm and quicken his ofice-holders to
'enewed exertions, at the same time it excites
The hopes of large body of ofhce-seekers,
Who still retain neutrality between the ans and
he outs. The ofiee-seekers are generally
,lassed as efficient political operatives
81 have furnished you with this morsel Of
political gossip at your own request and must
,onclude by quoting from memory reflection
of our dear Cowper, suited to this narrative:
It's pleasant, through the loophOles Of retreat,
To peep az such q woRld; 10 the stir
Oftn great Babel, and not feel the crowd n
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