Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-08-18
VOLUME l. NUMBER 10.

teiprse; are not only withheld from the
construction Of harbours on our lakes, and
from terrifying our northern and western
frontiers, against the encroachments of a
savage Toe, but are actually converted in
to an engine to bind still closer, the fet-
ters of three millions of our fellow-coun-
trymen, and render still more hopeless
their bondage.
There is no computing, my friends the
sum total of these expressions upon the
free. Think you, that this unnatural
state of things can endured and our happy
institutions remain unimpared? AS we'll
might we attemptto confne light and dark
ness in the small compass of few square
feet, as to cherish and build up the two
great temples of liberty and slavery in
these states. What then is our duty as
patriots, as phllanthropists and as lovers of
lberty2 Which side shall we be on?-
Surely we will be for liberty. We would
not be tenacious about the measures, (if
moraD by which we may advance and
strengthen the principles oiuniversal rights,
which | trust are in each ofour hearts, land
occupy our thoughts and feelings with in
creasing solicitude, each returning ami
versary of our nations birthday. These
principles then, viz: that "all men are
created free and equal" were nothingle less
than the mighty motives which inpelled on
our fathers, with the sacrifice of the best
blood and treasure Of the colonies, at every
stepin that bloody struggle, for the achieve
ment OF that rich boon, which we this dav
enjoy. Shall we be recreant and prodigal
sons, and squander this noble inheritance
in vain, fanciful pursuits? or render it
profitless, by perverting its enobling de-
signs?
Again we see this interest at the south,
engaged in enslaving free coored citizens,
kidnapping and dragging them from their
own happy fire sides in the free states, to
slave holding regions and selling them in
TO bitter and hopeless servitude. Such in
stances almost daily occur in the southern
portions Of Ohio and Pennsylvania, bor-
derins on kentucky and Virginia. Not
only free people of color, but white free
men for no other crime, than being sus-
pected of hostility to slavery, are ever and
anon, dragged from their homes, and with
out the form Of trial and immured in tho
county jails Of Kentucky. Several such
cases have occurred within the last two or
three yeas, and are becoming still more
frequent.
My friends, there is no safety for liber-
ty, SO long as this deadly foe to human
rights exists within our borders. would
not dwell upon our dangers, unpleasant
perhaps, to many, were it not the part of
wisdom to take survey Of our actual con-
dition and endeavor to avert every threat
ened evil. Neither would |, on this iov-
Gus day, when he3hearts of millions of
treemen are rejoicing in the consciousness
of their own independence, from the green
hills of New England, to the rich blooming
prairies of Wisconsin, indulge in ill-timed
fears, or useless forebodings.
| rejoice with you my friends, to believe
that there is yet intelligence and moral
worth in the American people to meet any
emergency-and although corruption and
tyranny, may rear their unhallowed heads
above the constitution and laws and virtue
of our fellow countrymen, yet trust a re-
deeming principle, will ever be found
abroad in the land, that will SLOWLY, vet
efficiently correct every error; and dispel
every danger. Such principle is daily
engaged in combating the vice of intempe-
rance; and is its influence impotent and in
sufficient to subdue the dangers of this vice?
BY no means-tts power has been felt
and acknowledged, and so long as intem-
perance prevails, its power will continue
to be felt and acknowledged, from the worm
of the Dist5liery, TO the grave of the drum
kard.
A redeeming spirit is also busly enga-
ged IN undermining the strong holds of
that giant foe to human rights-domestic
Slavery; and, with the perseverance, of
patriots and philanthropists, guided by the
unerrlng wisdom of the Most High we
may indulge the most sanguine expecta-
tons, that this foul blot, will be peaceabM
wiped from our national escutcheon-the
oppressed emancipated--and every fetter
severed.
Then shall this exalted nation stand
forth to the world, redeemedgand disen- :
thralled--a precedent in all after-time, of
the selfpreserving powers, of a free and
Independent people
l would not forget, TO congratulate you,
and to rejoice with you on this occasion,
at the present, as well as prospective con-
dltlon, which our new and newly adopted
Territory, this day presents TO us.
What do we this day behold? A coun-
:ry, which, but five or six years ago, pre-
'ented nothing but signs of savage wander
ers, amidst native wilds; checkered by9In-
liam trails, and traversed by Indian hun.
ers, now teeming with civilized life and
minated bv haaltbfuI ,,;rx1-o,,z II Ill