Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-07-07

ago as dangerous eXpedient, which could only
be sanctioned as an ultimaiaia, must now be EN-.
braced as a cLoics Of evils.
The people of the norh have no desire to in.
serlere with the peculiar institution" Of the
soulh-have no desire to disturb the institution
of slavery in any State or territory where it al
ready exisls-have no desire even 10 discuss the
question; but determination is daily maniies.
ting itself, aud that determination is, that the
limits Of slavery must be at once and forever
prescribed the bighdng influence ofslave
ry shall never palsy the yigor of any territory
now free--that we shall never be encountered
/ by an additional legion Of save.hodng States,
to lord il over the institutions Of the free morrill,
and trample underloot the dearest rights Of the
people.
The south, not content with the annexation
Of Texas, and the conquest of Mexico, is now
endeavoring to establish the institution Of slave.
ry over the free territory of Oregon. Not con.
tent with lettering one arm, it seeks to manacle
the other. Not content with parulyzing part,
it desires TO palsy the whole. Not content with
''sowing the wind, "itwould "reapthe whirlwind.'
The question of occupying the territory ac-
qured from Mexico, and framing laws for the
government of our possessions in Oregon, will,
most probably be adjourned until after the NEE.
ting of the next Congress. The evil day will
be procrastinated as long as possible; but come
it must The people Of the north have endear.
ored to avoid it-have readily acquiesced in
compromises honorable alike to the north and
the south--have sought to adopt conciliatory
measures, which, if carried into effect, would
tend to cement the bonds of Union more close
ly, and establish the unity of these States more
firmly than ever. All their offers of concia-
tion--all their compromises-wereu unawailing.
1 Territory was forced upon lhem and the ques.
ton now is, shall the north suffer the south to
extend its institutions over this territory, and
over Oregonl shall the north quietly submit to
the admission of dozen or more slave-hoding
States, formed out of this territory! shall the
north meekly succumb to scheme that will bind
them hand and foot, and leave them at the mer-
cy of the domineering policy of the people Of
the south! or, shall the north, while it has the
power, meet the question of slave extension as
men--men knowing their rights, and possessing
the nerve to maintain them. The question is
now before us, and it remains for the people Of
the north to decide whether it shall be SET.
tied to the advantage of the south or not.
Though this article is already extended be-
yond the limits we had intended, we must ad.
vert to its direct bearing upon our State election.
The Legislature elected this year will elect an
United States Senator during the coming winter
and that Senator and the Representatives tc
Congress this year, will be called TO decide the
question of slave extension. How important
then, that not only our Representatives in Con
gress, but the members Of our State Legisla
ture, be northern men with northern principles
that they be men who will not forsake northern
principles in this hour Of trial; that in darkness
as we'll as day,-adversity as we'll as prosperity
weakness as we'll as strength--they stand by
the norlh that they be men of tried virtue
unimpeochable integrity, and incorrupdble NOR
als,-men that cannot be swerved from the path
of right and justice, by Executive lrowns on the
one hand, or Executive favors on the other; thai
they be unequivocally pledged to resist the fur
ther extension and encroachmenss. of slavery
to limit the evil, and stay its progress. If these
precautions are now taken--if no more "north
ern men with southern principles" are elected
to Congress from the north, we shall be able tC
weather the storm--shall be able to settle the
question of slave-holding territory as welst; bu
if this one opportunity be neg ected--if this ia
vorabe moment be not embraced--if we lalte
in our duty Now--if we waver, if we hesitate
if we yield one inch, if we quit the position W.
have been forced to occupy, all is lost. Slave
ry will be extended over all the territory now il
the Union, legions of sIave.holding Estates will b.
hatched into existence by the warming inAu
ence of Congress, spawns Of Senators, represen
ting slavery and its interests, will take their pla
ces in the Senate, and dictate our tariff laws
and other measures designed to weaken ant
PROSTATE the north, and the sceptre shall be ia
ken from our hands, and placed over slave-rid
den regions of the south.
With these hasty reflections we dispose of tht
subject. If the people of the north are true t
themselves, to their institutions, and TO their in
terests--if they meet the question in time, ant
with becoming irmness, the scheming Of th
south will fail TO accomplish Its design; but
prudence be not displayed in every movement
: we at once fall from our high position; and tn
north will become the punder ground of th
: south, or the Union be dissolved