Republicanism.--
We have been informed by a city contemporary that Black
Republicanism has been recently knocked on the head! Another in
somewhat choicer phrase has pronounced the recent decision of the
Supreme Court, the funeral sermon of Black
Republicanism. Blind leaders, miserable prophets are ye all! While
these hirelings who feed at the public crib forget the source of their
power and act as if there were no Supreme Director in the affairs of this
universe, the people, the honest and unambitious masses, answer the
question of "knocking in the head" and of "Funeral Sermons." The first
comment comes from New Hampshire in the shape of
a Republican Governor, a full delegation of
Republican Congressmen and a majority of two to one of
Republicans in the State Legislature. New
Hampshire, that chronic seat of Democracy, the home of
the unfortunate and most unhappy Pierce, answers the decision
that makes her virtually a slave State, by sending to every department of
the Government in which she has a voice, true and tried friends of
Republican principles. How idle to suppose that a free and
intelligent people can be made to accept the ipse dixit of a Court
which has stepped aside to pass an opinion upon questions not properly
before it, as law.
We believe that this decision lately thrust upon us will have its just
and proper effect. - It will awaken the friends of freedom to renewed
efforts. From all parts of the country in which the word "freedom" may be
pronounced without danger to life and limb, comes in the testimony that a
feeling, not loud but deep, is awakened by this recent decision. One of
the most accomplished of the correspondents of the New York press, writing
from Albany to the Courier and Enquirer,
says:
The Dred Scott decision is an amazement to all. It is
conceded that it has secured the supremacy in this State of the
Republican Party. I do not say in the
Union. I think the prevalent feeling is a concession or an
admission that the Government of this - Nation is with and in the
institution of human Slavery. The legal power and the Presidential power
combined are invincible. It remains for those who do not believe slavery a
national institution to "bide their time." I confess I can see no other
result than the complete ascendency of Slavery. It is on the Nation,
either for good or evil.
I think it most probable that the voice of New York will
be calmly and wisely uttered in this emergency. They who know the State
well say that the effect of the recent decision cannot be exaggerated in
its importance upon public opinion. The greatest State in the nation is at
this moment preparing to throw down the only barrier that its constitution
interposes to prevent the complete citizenship of the man of color, while
the highest legal authority in the land is denying his citizenship. Thus
slowly, like the approach of doom, does the State and Government come into
controversy.
The highest success in Literature, the highest honors in War, have made
the name of Scott memorable. A poor, and humble, and wretched
man, is to make that name the very hinge of our History.
So let it be. If there is left one spark of manliness among the freemen
of Pennsylvania and of the free North, they will
address themselves anew to the battle, and gird on their armor for the
victory that must sooner or later crown their efforts. We have an abiding
confidence in the vitality and invincibility of truth, and with that we go
forward in the path of duty and sound the trumpet of vigilance wherever it
may through us be heard. Though the heathen rage for a time, let us stand
up in our own places for the right, and yield not one hair to present
successful wrong. We trust that the Convention which will assemble at our
Court House on the 25th, will speak out the sentiments of Allegheny county on this subject in language as
unmistakable at that which she uttered at the polls in November last. Let
us pledge each other anew in the good fight we have entered upon, and
never lay down our arms until we have conquered. The first gun for 1857
has been heard in New Hampshire. We trust that
Connecticut will answer next in the same spirit,
and that we may count Pennsylvania in the coming
autumn in the list of States redeemed from the thralldom of false
Democracy. Let this country at least do its part in the
premises, as it did again and once again last fall.
Transcribed by Lloyd Benson from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Gazette, 14 March 1857. |