The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-15

ent solution, some logical disposition of the
question of Slavery, consonant with the demo.
cratic theory, and finding none, he at length
broke ground against the hitherto unassailed
doctrine of the equality of human rights. BE
boldly denied il, and asserted the monstrous
proposition that the Almighty created one part
of the human race to serve the other, and that
the cherished fundamental ;principle of our
Government, the doctrines preached and fought
for through bloody seven years war, were a
delusion and sham. The audacity of the
declaration struck his followers dumb. The
proposition was so gross, so odious, so utterly
hostile to the teachings of the Revolutionary
era and the convictions of republicans every
where, that Mr.. Calhoun for some time stood
alone. Political events rapidly conspired to
give his position support. Little by little, the
South edged over upon Mr.. Calhouns ground.
AT length the whole slaveholding community,
including the remains of the old Wing party,
who had always followed the lead of Mr.. Clay
in condemning Slavery, gradually veered round
into the wake of the bold South Carolina states
man, and surrendered at discretion.
This brief narrative exposes the great turn
ing-point in American politics which has origin
ated the wordy discussions of the present day
on popular sovereignty in the Territories, and
on the various other aspects of the Slavery
question that just now occupy public atten-
ton. What causes all the ado is the violent
conflict going on between opposing principles,
now brought into open collision. The North
ern Democrats that adhere to the old organiza-
ton are struggling to find position on which
they can unite with the shareholders wing of
their party, and still preserve an ostensibss
adherence to their old principles. Hence the
sophistries of all kinds with which the country
is filled, from the essays of Douglas down to
the piddling paragraphs of county journals.
In ALL the effort is the same, namely, to sophis-
ticate plain questions, and befog the under
standings of the masses of the Democratic
party North. The discussions hardly pretend
to aim at what is true, but rather at what IS
ingenious and plausible.
The old Northern Democratic organization
having already suffered great losses from hav.
ing openly shifted position on the question OF
Slavery, its leaders, who wish to preserve it for
their own purposes, are driven into this hot
pursuit of some position, some apology, some
satisfactory explanation, or some theory that
will exculpate their criminality, and enable the
party to retain its vitality, and insure future
triumphs. There is no end, therefore, to the
variety of views and considerations, the novel
approximations, the decisions, and follies, put
forth in the Democratic journals Of high and
low degree, to effect their object. The friends
of genuine Democracy can afford to patiently
wait the subsistence of all this froth of DISGUST
ton, in full reliance upon the power of truth.
The Northern wing of the Democratic organi-
cation, in this search after a common princi-
pie and bond of union with the South in its new
position, are engaged in an effort which must
end in their open Reputation of the old Demo
cratic theory. The Southern side, as we have
seen, has already abandoned it. The Northern
branch determined not to break their Southern
connections, daily approach nearer and nearer
to this contamination. Various leading North
ern men and Northern presses have already
one by one openly repudiated the dogma of
equal rights, and grow learned in their stuffed
essays upon races. The organization thus adj
vances steadily upon its doom. When it shall
avowedly apostatize, as it sooner or later must,
under the inspirations and exactions of the
shareholders, who are the controlling power in
the party, then the way will be entirely clear
for the final charge upon these traitors to hu-
mainly. The truly Republican sentiment Of
the country will then advance in the open field
upon these mercenary hosts who now defend
themselves in holes and corners, and, driving
them from every ambush, finish the triumph
already so hopefully begun.