The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-17
THE WASHINGTON STATES AGAIN.

This journal must be more careful, or it may
be suspected of private arrangement to adver-
tise for the Republicans of Washington and
that respectable portion Of our community have
no fear of publicity, for they have nothing to
conceal. But we confess our surprise that so
vigilant guardian of Southern interests should
only have discovered the existence of the Wash
ington Republican Association since the trea-
sonable demonstration at Harper's Ferry"
That association is older than the States itself,
Its reading room and place of meeting has al
ways been conspicuously located on our most
public streets, and it has been in a state of
great activity for more than four years, sending
out thousands of sound Republican documents
into the " dens " of Democracy, with what effect
the late elections testify. But we have already
given more prominence to this paper than it
deserves. 1t had better understand, once for
all, that while its abuse can do no possible
harm to the Republicans of Washington or the
National Era, its Misrepresentation may give
unnecessary alarm to the timid and nervous
among its own readers.
The States may as well cease its TRADES.
The Era is no stranger in this community 1t
is one of the Oldest journals in the city, its An
ti-Savery character is well known, it holds no
opinions that it does not openly avow, and asks
leave to exist of none but its own subscribers.
We advise our neighbor to cultivate patience
and forbearance. 1t will have great need OF
these christian graces before it sees the end of
Republication and Anti-Slavery journals in
Washington.
The following is the editorial to which We re-
fer, from the States of Friday last
PATRIOTIC LEAGUES.
The association in this city Of Black Repub-
licans, which has discovered itself since the
reasonable demonstration at Harper's Ferry,
is calculated to excite painful forebodings in
conservative minds, that scheme after scheme
is originated and discussed for the interruption
of the peace of the saveholding States.
What other object can an Abolition associa-
ton have at the Metropolis of the Union, than
the PRONUNCIATION of insurrectonary sentiments
in districts of the South where such sentiments
can accomplish the most harm
Washington is spot to which the most des-
perate political incendiaries can repair, osten.
sibly for the transaction of business with the
General Government, without exciting susp-
cion. In connection with the Abolition associ-
alton, they are invited to come hither, Just as
robbers are invited by mystical signs to con-
centrate in the same cave for the arrangement
of their plan Of operation.
What the sign for admission is into the Abo-
lition den of vipers who infest this peaceful and
well-disposed community is not perhaps known,
except to the initiated. By and by it will prob.
ably manifest itself, through the inadvertence
of new member or a malcontent. IN the
mean time, however, it may commit a ruinous
amount of crime against the Republic
In the interest of public security, every in
habitant of the District suspected of Black Re-
publicanism cannot be too vigilantly watched
relates to his intercourse with suspicious
looking strangers We are quite confident that
John Brown would have been at no loss where
to apply for aid and comfort, had he found it
possible to proceed to Washington as a place
of refuge-if, indeed, he had not previously had
a personal knowledge of the receptacle pre-
pared for him. Two most conspicuous desig-
nations of the Offices of Abolition journals,
near the railroad depot, would have served as
unmistakable beacons for him.
In a time of so much peril, we believe that it
is the duty of patriotic communities to form
themselves into leagues, in counties and cities
throughout the Union. BY adopting such a
course, a new lease would be given to the Con-
stitution. Black Repubhcanism would be COM
pletely checkmated, and conspirators against
our system of government disarmed of their
fratricidal weapons. The really good men of
the non-slaveholding States would cooperate
cheerfully in such movement. None but the
false and vicious would withhold from it their
cordial approval