A political party for the defense of liberty was the fulfillment
of the aspirations of all earnest anti-slavery men and of all
abolitionists not of the radical Garrisonian persuasion. The
national anti-slavery societies were for the most part limited in
their operations to the Atlantic seaboard. The West organized
local and state associations with little reference to the
national association. When the disruption occurred between
Garrison and his opponents in 1840, the Western abolitionists
continued their former methods of local organization. They
recognized no divisions in their ranks and continued to work in
harmony with all who in any way opposed the institution of
slavery. The political party was their first really effective
national organization. Through party committees, caucuses, and
conventions, they became a part of the forces that controlled the
nation. The older local clubs and associations were either
displaced by the party or became mere adjuncts to the party.

The lines for political action were now clearly defined. In the
States emancipation should be accomplished by state action. With
a few individual exceptions the leaders conceded that Congress
had no power to abolish slavery in the States. Upon the general
Government they urged the duty of abolishing both slavery and the
slave-trade in the District of Columbia and in all areas under
direct federal control. They further urged upon the Government
the strict enforcement of the laws prohibiting the foreign
slave-trade and the enactment of laws forbidding the interstate
slave-trade. The constitutionality of these main lines of action
has been generally conceded.

Abolitionists were pioneers in the formulation of political