The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-05-10
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.


the slavery question from the halls Of Congress,
and if possible, con6ne It to the States in which
it exists, and where it properly belongs; but with
what effect can easily be seen, by taking the
trouble to look over the daily proceedings of the
national legislature The morning hour is usual
ly spent in discussing the negro question in some
one of its phases. Nothing appears to carry
with it any interest save and except this particu-
lar question, nor does there appear to be any
disposition on the part of the agitators to cease
their assaults upon the rights of Others until they
have accomplished their purpose. We think,
however that there is a remedy which is nearer
at hand than the leaders of this faction seem to
think. If there is anything in the signs of the
times, and if the late elections mean anything at
ALL and we are to draw any conclusion from the
overwhelming defeats that are overtaking the
Republican party throughout the North and
West we must believe that their days are num-
bered, and that ere long we may see their places
filed by men willing to give some of their
time and attention to the legitimate business
of the country, and who will pay some heed to
the wants and necessities of the 10000, 900 of
whites, who should control this nation.
From the time Congress met in December last
the Republican members have been untiring in
their efforts to destroy the institution of slavery
wherever it exists, and from the industry mani
Tested, one would be led to believe that they were
actuated by an honesty of purpose rarely conce-
ded to mere poiticians-were it not that while
they are thus laboriously engaged, their people
at home are not less energetic in their efforts to
prevent these same negroes which these WASH
ington philanthropists would free, from coming
among them; and thus we have the strange
anomaly Of one set of legislators earnestly engag-
ed at the national capital in the ''humane'' work
of emancipation, and another set, at the State
capitals, as eagerly at work to devise means to
prevent this "much abused class" from inundat-
ing the free States We do not mean to include
in these remarks all the people of the free States,
for although none of them in favor of slavery,
yet there is nevertheless large number who hold
the opinion that slavery cannot be constitutional
ly interfered with in the States and of this class
the Democratic party in the free States is COM
posed. s nselg tnF a.
AL the States except one, when they entered
the confederation in 1881, were slave States, and
so remained up to the adoption of the Constitu-
ton in 1889, and that instrument recognized the
the institution of slavery, and provided for the
rendition Of fugitves from labor, and hence men
of all parties who respected the supreme law of
the land, have always refused to interfere with
the institution of slavery in the States, because it
was one of the reserved rights of the States al
the time they made and adopted the Consultation,
and could not, therefore, be disturbed without a
violation of that instrument.
The first abolition society in this country was
formed in Philadelphia, and in the year 1850
asked Congress to use all their constitutional
power to ameiorate the condition of the slave
But says learned author: i'The society of
which DR.. Franklin was President, was purely
philanthropic in Its character, and having got
the answer to their petition, that Congress had
noright to interfere in the emancipation Of slaves
or their treatment, in any of the States acquiesc-
edin this decision, and did not repeat their APP
plication." But abolition societies of late years
seem to be created not for the purpose of amelio-
rating in a constitutional way, the condition of
the slave, but to the end that war shall be
made upon the institutions of the States and that
individuals shall be deprived Of their property in
7iolationpof a solemn compact, entered into for
the mutual benefit and advantage of all.
If there are those who can support this party
in this aggressive policy, we confess that we are
not Of that number, and we think that it be-
hooves the people Of Maryland, and Of the Border
States, to look well to the consequences Of the
success of this faction at elections hereafter to
take place. They, with the instincts which are
coramon among corrupt men, are already casting
about for q new name, with which to make a
new dodge. A contemporary says: R
eThe Republicans Of New York State have
made arrangements to run a so-called Uuion
ticket at the next election, on the basis Of firm
support of the National administration in all its
measures, constitutional and otherwise, including
the anti-slavery war policy. All Union Demo-
Gratis are invited to fall into the ranks, and play
second fiddle to the iRepublicamparty. The aabo-
lition Tribune gives the new flFty, or rather the
old party under new name, warm support.
The same game which this party are now
playing in New York and other free States, will
no donbt be attempted in Maryland and the Bor-
der States, and though the Republican party
may change its name, and SIC possible prolong
itsliib by tricksfy,' II Is nevertheless the same
aggressive party which has ever sought the de-
sHucicn Of ths Constitution and the denoraliza-t