Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-08-04
HOW TO STOP AGITATION

Under this head, The N. Y Time, Of July 18th
discourses as follows:
AS we stated, the other day, we cannot regard
the Douglas ticket as fairly representing The prin
ciplc of Popular Sovereignty. Mr.. Douglas a5an
doned the leading feature Of that policy in hi,
conspiracy speech, when he invoked the power Of
the Federal Government to guarantee slave pror.
erty to its owners within the S.ntes. His colleague
on the ticket, moreover, Mr.. Ii. v. Johnson, Of
deorgia, is among the most open and resolute oil
the opponents Of the who'll doctrine of Populat
Sovereignty-and advocates Congressional pro,
lection FOR Slavery in the Territories. We think
it not improbable that, if this ticket were elected,
the whole Slavery question would be treated and
settled on this basis-that the people of each To-
caIity would, in the end, be left to manage this
matter for themselves. But we have very little
doubt that the same result would follow the cleo.
ticn OF any other ticket-simply because il will
be found impossible to carry through Congress
any measure founded upon any other principle.
But suppose Douglas should be elected Presi-
dent,-how is that to stop the Slavery agitation 7
Could he silence the demands of either Northern
or Southern uliraists! He might veto their acts
but he could not silence their voices. He might
arrest legislation, but he could not control public
discussion in the press and on the stump. He
might disarm faction, but he could not supprass
its clamors. All the parties which live and thrive
by agitation would have redoubled motives for
continuing tit would be their only hope of
achieving power. Every act Of his Administra-
ton would be watched and judged, by it's bearing
on this question. The Republicans would find
their account in assailing every movement he
might make upon the subject, aud the Abolition
lists, as Nj. Wendell Philtips avowed at Brooklyn,
would make every valley and hilltop ring with
the widest Anti Slavery agitation which has ever
disturbed the country. The Southern ~ultraists, on
the other hand, would have precisely the same
reasons for pursuing a similar course. and would
wage a systematic warfare on his administration
in its relations to Slavery.
1t may be said that he would sustain his ed.
ministration against them all that the principle
Of Popular Sovereignty would be triumphantly
sustained both in Congress and by the people.
Very likely but this would not be suppressinp
agitation. However it might end, the war would
still 60 on, and the contest rage with greater fury
than ever.
In our deliberate judgment, nothing will con.
tribute more to the silence of clamorous controver-
sy on the subject of Slavery. than :be triumph Of
the Republican Party. That party would then be
compelled to assume the responsibility of dealing
practically with this whole subject. All PARTIES
would from necessity await Its action. Both
Northern and Southern ultraists would And their
only material for agitation in what it might do.
No one need DO told that a Republican Admins.
%tration could not satisfy either. 1t could not in,
%terfero with Slavery in any Southern State, nor is
there any reason to believe that it would give an
section of tho country ground Of valid complaint,
Its first necessity would be to divert public stten.
ton fiom this subject; to bring for ward, into their
just prominence. the great questions of domestic
and foreign concern which have been so long neg.
lected. Every dictate of self interest would require
it to let Slavery alonO,-to allay public excitement
in regard to ito relieve the apprehensions OF
the South and restore a feeling of confidence and
repose to the whole community. And it is the
only Party which has sufficient influence with the
Antl-Slavery element to coerce it into a~couies.
cence, and to check the agitation which has mark.
cd its progress, hitherto