79

LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS 231

Preceding the repeal of the Missouri Compromise I gave, at the anniversary
of the American Anti-Slavery Society in New York, the following picture
of the state of the anti-slavery conflict as it then existed:

"It is evident that there is in this country a purely slavery party, a party
which exists for no other earthly purpose but to promote the interest of slavery.
It is known by no particular name, and has assumed no definite shape,
but its branches reach far and wide in church and state. This shapeless and
nameless party is not intangible in other and more important respects. It has
a fixed, definite, and comprehensive policy towards the whole free colored
population of the United States. I understand that policy to comprehend:
First, the complete suppression of all anti-slavery discussion; second, the
expulsion of the entire free colored people of the United States; third, the
nationalization of slavery; fourth, guarantees for the endless perpetuation of
slavery and its extension over Mexico and Central America. Sir, these
objects are forcibly presented to us in the stern logic of passing events, and
in all the facts that have been before us during the last three years. The coun-
try has been and is dividing on these grand issues. Old party ties are broken.
Like is finding its like on both sides of these issues, and the great battle is at
hand. For the present the best representative of the slavery party is the
Democratic party. Its great head for the present is President Pierce, whose
boast it was before his election, that his whole life had been consistent with
the interests of slavery that he is above reproach on that score. In his inaugural
address he reassures the South on this point, so there shall be no misapprehension.
Well, the head of the slave power being in power it is natural that
the pro-slavery elements should cluster around his administration, and that
is rapidly being clone. The stringent protectionist and the free-trader strike
hands. The supporters of Fillmore are becoming the supporters of Pierce.
Silver Gray Whigs shake hands with Hunker Democrats, the former only
differing from the latter in name. They are in fact of one heart and one mind,
and the union is natural and perhaps inevitable. Pilate and Herod made
friends. The key-stone to the arch of this grand union of forces of the slave
party is the so-called Compromise of 1850. In that measure we have all the
objects of our slaveholding policy specified. It is, sir, favorable to this view
of the situation, that the whig party and the democratic party bent lower,
sunk deeper, and strained harder in their conventions, preparatory to the late
presidential election to meet the demands of slavery. Never did parties come
before the northern people with propositions of such undisguised contempt
for the moral sentiment and religious ideas of that people. They dared to ask