The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-08

From the Whee ing lnteLisehcer-
awe have reprinted in the Express, as a
matter of news, the circular of the Republican
National Committee. What just claim a party
has to the adjective National whose limit is
far less than onehalf of the geographical sHr-
face of the Union, the Public can judge.'-N.
J. Express.
Now, Mr.. Express, will you please to allow
us to ask you question or two-one or two
fair and rational queries-and which have often
occurred to us on reading similar paragraphs
to the one which we have quoted from you?
You say that the geographical limit of the
Republican party is Mason and Dixons line.
We grant you that what you say is plausible.
We admit that it is not recognised as an effect
i've organization south of that line. And this
assertion of yours, and our admission, leads us
to ask you why and wherefore the Republican
party is not what you insinuate, that it ought
to be south of the line in order to entitle it to
the term National, viz controlling organi-
cation in one or more Southern States. Can
you find no answer in your mind to such
question. Was not an answer, full and SUI
Gcient answer, present to your thoughts when
you wrote the above paragraph? 1t seems to
US that there are some facts that could hardly
have escaped suggestion in so fertile mind,
and amid so ready run of general knowledge,
as we candidly award to you. But as you seem
to have overlooked them, we will venture in an
humble way to call them up. First, then, we
would ask you if it is at all a cause of reproach
that the Republican party does not possess the
electoral vote of single Southern State? Do
you consider that's principle, to be national must
WELD power-that it must have the prestige of
universally throughout country, to make it
worthy of acceptance, or to shield it from de-
rision? Certainly, you cannot so think. You,
as paper, are chiefly known for your bitter
and incorporating hostility to the spread of
Catholic influence in this country. And we
only now remind you that you are so known,
because we think that you will better appreci-
ate the force of our remarks in this connection.
You have, no doubt, read of a sect of Christians
called the Albigenses, who were a powerful,
prosperous, and religious people, inhabiting
and almost exclusively occupying the South
of France at one time.
Now We wish to ask you, inasmuch as you
have assumed to be, par excellence, the defender
of the Protestant faith, and the stickler for,
geographical nationality, if you think these peo-
pie were heretics because they occupied but
province or two in point of territory, and be-
cause they numbered many millions less than
the adherents of the Pope, Throughout France.
IN other words, we want to ask you, does mi
nority in numbers, or scantiness of territorial
occupation, derogate from the soundness of
mems religion or politics? Certainly you will
not say that they do. And, if you will not say
so, how do you excuse yourself, when day after
day you sit in your Office and pen and publish
caricatures and filings on and at the Repub-
can party, because it is weak and limited in the
Southern States? You cannot certainly be
oblivious of some of the reasons why it is so.
You certainly remember that in the campaign
Of 1856, good men and good citizens of this
State were driven away from the polls in the
city of Norfolk-that likewise useful, inteli-
gent, and law-abiding citizens of the city of
Wheeling were rutianly mobbed during a
peaceful aSsemblage-that a most generous,
philanthropic, and devoted citizen of Clarke
county was expatriated, his family insulted,
and his property plundered-that learned, eff
fcient, and harmless Professor in the Univer-
sity of North Carolina was degraded from his
professorship and exiled from his State. And
all for what? Because, and because only, that
they protested the principles of the Republican
party. In all the instances which we have cited,
land We could cite many more,) citizens were
prosecuted, put under public ban, threatened
in their persons and property, just because of
their conscientious belief and attachment to
principles that were not in power, and were not
popular therefore.
d
gular for you, Mr. Express, who are one of the
heads and shining lights of party that pos
sesses but the electoral vote of one State in this
Union, and that State distinguished for the
rowdyism and blood -thirstiness that attend It's
political victories, to be reading lectures on
nationality to party that carried the electoral
votes Of eleven States of this Union in 1856,
and that at this time makes you and yours, to-
gether with all the combinations which you
have in prospect with the adherents Of the
present corrupt Administration, tremble in
your boots, lest they, over all your heads, shall
carry the solid electoral vote of a majority of
these States?
Their nationality, indeed Must they carry
all the States? Does not constitutional ma
jOrity make them natioRdLP Do they them
selves, of their own choice, limit their numbers
by any geographical line? You talk as if they
did. Do they not cordially invite YOU and all
other men to join with them? Have they not
many prominent and excellent men sympa-
thizing with them, and bidding them g God
speed IN the Southern States Do thew
make war upon the institutions of any State,
North or South? Do they not everywhere, and
at all times, openly and avowedly proclaim the
integrity and involability of all the institutions
| OF all the States? Certainly they do. No one
/ knows better than you do the rectitude and the
entire consututlonalty OF their institutions. No
one knows better that they go not one whit be-
! yond the doctrines of the Fathers of the Re-
public.
The time is at hand when you will think and
print differently from what you do. Just as
sure as the 4th of November, 1860, comes
round, the Republican party, or those who will
carry out all they contend for, will succeed to
the place now occupied by the "last of the
Bourbons." When they shall have so sue
ceedod, and when they shall have vacated,
! cleansed, and renovated the high and low
/ places of the Government, and put in order
anew all its machinery, then you, as numberless
otASrs of their disparagers, will be willing to
recognise them as national.