Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-07-15

friends in those States to be, are incapable
Of irlf1ng with so grave subject.
Our ancestors signaIized The commence.
ment of this glorious government of ours
by rescuing, from subsection to slavery, a
territory, which is now covered by five
great States, and peopled by more than four
millions of freemen in the full enjoyment of
every blessing which industry and good in.
situations can confer. They did this when
the opinions and conduct of the world in
regard 10 the institution of slavery were
very different from what they are now.
They did SO before Great Britain had
even commenced those gigantic efforts for
The suppression Of slavery, by which she
has so greatly distinguished herself. After
seventy.four years enjoyment of the sacred
and invaluable right of sell: government, OBJ
tanned for us by the valor and discretion of
our ancestors, we; their descendants, are
called upon to doom, or if that is too strong
a word, 10 expose TO the inroad of slavery,
territory capable of sustaining an equal
number of new States TO he added to our
Contederacy,-a territory in great part of
which slavery has never existed in fact, and
from the residue Of which it has been ex-
pressly abolished by the existing govern
ment. We are called upon to do This at a
period when the minds of nearly all man
kind have been penetrated by a conviction
of the evils of slavery, and are uniting in
efforts for its suppression, at moment too.
when the spirit of freedom and reform is
everywhere far more prevalent Than it has
ever been, and when our republic stands
proudly forth as the great example of the
world in the science of free government.
Who can believe that a population like
that which inhabts the non-slave- holding
states, probably amounting to twelve mil.
lions, who by their own acts, or by the fore
sight of others, have been exempted from
the evils of slavery, can, at such momen,
be induced, by considerations of any DIES
cription, to make relrogade movement OF
a character so extraordinary and so painful!
Such movement would, in my view of the
matter, and say il with unfeigned defer.
ence TO the conflicting opinions of others,
bring reproach upon the influence of free
institutions, which would delight The hearts
and excite the hopes Of The advocates of ar.
bi,rary power throughout the world.
Holding these opinions. you have duties
to perform as important as they are delicate
In the first place you should adhere intiexi
bly, to your opinions, as long as you believe
them to be right, and no longer This you
will do. In the next place you should pre-.
sent your views in regard 10 them, calmly
and distinctly, but firmly, to your political
brethren Of the slave holding States, with a
full statement of the reasons that those rea.
sons may be controverted if they are not
sound. In other important respects your pc.
s,ions are unassailabe. The movement to
advance the principles, you desire to pro.
mote was commenced in the right place,
though perhaps not at the most desirable
moment, and was not accompanied by par.
tizan measures or founded on political de.
signs of any description, as far as
know or have reasons TO believe. i'll I'm.
ders,ood your course your delegates wen,
to the convention prepared 10 accept the
nomination ofanv sound Democrat who had
not actually submitted TO test which i'm.
planted the well known and repeatedly ex.
pressed opinion Of your State. without in
lerroga,ing him in regard TO his opinion on
this particular question. In taking thi.
ground. you pursued the only course by
which the Democratic party of the Union
as hitherto organized, can be perpetua,ed
and the Just and fair minded men of the
party every where will. when the present
excitement has passed away. approve your
conduct. One thing more. and yonr whole
action will, in the end. attract the attention
and enlist the good feeling of all just and
generous minds. Let your farther pro.
ceedings in this whole matter be distinguish
ed BY moderation and forbearance.
Injustice must be Observation-Disclosures.
repealed, and all can be done with decency
and without impeachment of the motive.
of whole communities on account of The
conduct of individuals. The situation o
your political brethren in the slave holding
States, is not as favorable to calm discuss
ion and dispasionate consideration as yours
and more will, therefore, in this respect. be
expected at your hands. If your differ,
ences must continue, do you at least sustain
your views, without vituperation of IN
necessary excitement of any description
Exemplify firmness and your confidence il
the business of your cause, by the best of al
less--lhe dignity and moderation will
which you uphold it. When the election
is over, and reason resumes her empire, th'
ground whichfas been taken by your south
ern brethren, will be reviewed with calm
ness, and if found to be untenable, you arr
bound 10 believe, will be abandoned. If il
This you are disappointed, it will still be
H. H.