Year: 1860

extension.


THE ATTITUDE OF PARTIES TOWARD


SLAVERY. ....... ...


What is practically the distinctive idea of each
Of the four parties now dividing the country, With
regard to tho great question of slaveryH This is
an inquiry Of much present interest to evory voter
since the progress of slavery is really the most
vital question in our politics, and il is manifest
that We shall have peace in the nation until this
question is settled, and settled right


We will begin with the Bell aud Everett party.
which arrogates to itself the title claimed by men
OF all parties aud of no party-of the special
friends Of the Constitution and the Union The
idea of the BelEserett party respecting slavery
is-to have no idea at all. They prefer to ignore
the whole question. They deliberately shut heir
eyes and go it blind Should they get possession
OF the government, they have defined policy to
pursue on this, or any other question. They have
reversed the good old motto of the purists in poli.
tics Principle, not men, and 60 in for men, not
principles. But they forget, (or ignore) the fact
that in republic it is not possible to elect m en-
to che Presidency, without e!ec,ng their principles
along with them. Our Chief Magistrate has it in
his power, through the enormous patronage of the
BUNerumouI anu OlueT NelI hUOWn lnUueDCeS, &c
shapc not only the legislative, but the judicial
action of the government to an almost indefinite
extent. If the administration is for slavery exten.
sion, slavery will lie extended. Ifthe admustra.
ton is against Homestead Law, no Homestead
Law will be enacted. And so we may 90 through
the whole circle Of questions of public policy and
we shall find the influence OF tho Executive almost
omnipotont, whether to procure by patronage, or
to prevent by the veto power, the passage of such
measures as it pleases. We are stating the fact,
rot defining it.


Suppose, then, that the Union Constitutional
party have elected John Bell, President Ito sup
pose very remote contirgency,) what will be
the policy of his administration 1t is idle to talk
of his standing by the compromises Of the Constr
tuition and preserving the Union at all hazards
These pet hackneys Of the ignoring party are too
flmsy coverts and lodges 20 blind any discerning
man for moment. The administration hiast hare
policy; it cannot exist Tor month without one;
and the country has right to know what Mr.
John Bell means by THE Constitution'-ahd what
he understands by the Union on With his
nominators have planted him for platform


Fortunately, the codhtry is left no longer in
doubt. By characteristic ndiscreton Of Mr.
John Bell himself we are PLACED in POSSESSION Of
his doctrine Of slavery extension. lie has written
a letter to Mr. Dawson, of Alabama, referring to
his record as Senator to show where he now
stands, and conveying to him the information that
he esteems it the duty of the Federal Government
50 protect slavery in the Territories. lie denied
that either Congress Territorial Legislature
could rightfully exclude slavery from the Terrific
res, and summed up his creed on the matter as
follows:


Humanity to the slave, no less than Justice to
the master, recommends the policy of diffusion
and extension into any Territory adapted to bis
condition.


Here then is the policy of the Bell and Everett
administration clearly foreshadowed The Union,
the Constitution, and the enforcement Of the laws
means giving to the few shareholders OF the South
the unrestricted right TO spread slavery over all
territories now free, and protecting them in so
doing, by the whole power of the Federal Govern
ment.


We do not charge that the supporters of this
party ia the North are in favor of all this. We
know better. But with all their power of ignor-
ing things they cannot ignore the fact, that the
above is the recently avowed creed Of their candi-
date, and that the policy Of his administration
would be disinctively pro-slavery and consequent
l5 adverse to the interests offree labor How any
man who has preference for free labor over slave
oan vote fdF slavery extending candidate for the
Presidency, we confess ourselves ignorant.


Next comes the Breckenridge Democratic party,
who declare openly and above board, in favor of
the policy which Mr. Bell more quietly entcrtains.
Fha, which is with him settled conviction, to be
communicated TO his Southern friends, the Breck- !
inridge men have erected into party shibboeth,
and 60 before the country on it as their creed
Slavery has rights in the territories which Gre
paramount, not only to the will Of the people of
the territories, bit to the will of the nation, in
Congress assembled. Slave property must be pro-
tected at all bszard. and the institution must be
planted securely everywhere where it chooses to
20, by the strong arm Of Federal power. The
right the wrong of the thing is not in question;
The violence done to thedemooratio principle is not
in question; the injury TO the interests Of free
labor is not in question; the opprobrium Of spread
ing still further our one national weakness and
disgrace. is not in question; the injury to human
welfare, and the degradation of both tie races is
not in question. The right Of slavery to,spreed
everywhere is the only question. That right is
assumed (it can never be proved) from the com
promises Of the Constitution and We are coolly
told that, no matter what the people think, their
hands are tied by 'inexorable logic to allow the
haselass and impudent claim, that slavery is the
paramount law Of our Republic! According to
this doctrine, little squad Of 100000 Shareholders
mus, be suffered to dictate law, government con-
stituton and social order to nation of thirty mil
lions Of lreemen. This is progressive Democracy
aud 'ineIorAble logic with yeugeanco How
any man but pretty large STAKEHOLDER can afford