The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-12
NO CONCESSION OF PRINCIPLE.

While we deprecate any movement calcula-
ted to deter the honest opponents of the present
corrupt and prohigate Administration, Of what
ever previous party designation, from co-opera-
ting with the Republican party in 1860, we
nevertheless desire our friends to preserve clear
and definite ideas of the Importance of main.
tanning intact the distinctive principles which
have given the Republican party its great
strength There is not the slightest probabili-
ty in the world that any kind of fusion can be
patched up by which single slaveholding State
can be carried by the opponents of the Slavery
PrOpagandists. The defeat of the Democracy
must be accomplished by Republican States
by States that can be relied upon to cast their
electoral votes against that party, without the
aid of solitary ballot from those who have
thus far stood aloof from the Republican organ.
ization. 1t is worse than folly to base any
action upon the probability that MARYLAND
Delaware, or Missouri, with possibly Kentucky,
Tennessee, and North Carolina, NAV be carried
in 1860 " for the Opposition ticket The hold
Of the sham Democracy upon those States is
too strong 70 be overcome by any combination
that may be made against them. Fusion will
not gain US single electoral vote, while the
only advantage that can possibly result from it
would be to deprive our opponents of the OPP
portunity of continuing their false charge of
as 1t deserves, but it will not do to lower the
| standard to gain it. Better wait until it comes
in Its own good time, as come it will if the Re-
publican party but prove true to the principles
OF the organization. In a word, the Republican
party is " master of the situation" and nothing
can prevent ats accession to power in 1860 but
descent from ITS high position to secure votes
which 1t does not need. Let the masses stand
| hrm, countenancing no movement among the
| leaders of the party which threatens in any
way the integrity of its principles, and those
who now desire Republicans to vacate their
platform will soon be glad to stand side by
side with them upon it.-ChicGgo Press and
Tribune.
While We approve the general tone Of the
above article, we are unwilling to admit that
| Delaware cannot be carried for the Repub-
lcan candidates.
The SLAVE TRADE.-The Nashville Banner
correctly representing, we trust, the real senti-
ment of the more northern slave States-says ;
The United States laws expressly provide
tor the punishment of those who engage in car.
rylng on the slave trade. The law, whether
| right or wrong, should be obeyed, and obeli..
ence, 1t not yielded voluntarily, ought to be en-.
forced. No Government can endure a success
sion of open and palpabe violations of the law.
II law Is wrong, or unjust, or pnwise in its
provisions, it should be repealed. That is the
only safe and proper remedy. We, of the
South, complain of the North because the IA
natics of that section rescue fugitive slaves from
the custody of United States officers. With
what show of propriety or consistency can we
complain of the Northern people, when we have
in our midst set of fanatics who are also re-.
CARELESS of Federal laws? Our fanatics ark
eren tcorse than the fanatics Of tie North, for
they add the crime Of perjury to their .caiH o,
| respect for the tatcs. The grand jury at Charles
ton took solemn oath to indict and present
all violators of the law, but notwithstanding the
solemnity and obligation of their oaths, they re
fused to indict Capt. Corrie. Such conduct a,
this is enough to bring blush of shame to tn,
cheeks of every Southern man. To violate tn,
plain letter and spirit of the law is bad enough
but to manifest their indifference by commit
ting perjury, is carrying the enormity too far