The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-07-07


then, and are still satisfactory to my mind,
very decidedly opposed to its exercise.
The question of power is certainly as
clear in respect to the Territories as it is
in regard to that District: and as TO the
Territories my opinion was also made
known in still more solemn form by Civ
ing the executive approval required by
the Constitution, to the Bill for the organi-
zation of the Territorial Government of
Iowa, which prohibited the introduction
of slavery into that Territory.
The opinion from which we dissent
was given in the face of, and directly con-
trary to the views expressed, in forms the
most solemn and explicit, by all or near
ly all the non-slaveholding States. and
we are not at liberty to suspect the sim
cerity ofthese expressions. Honest and
well meaning men, as we know the mass
ess of onr political friends in these States
to be, are incapable Of trihing with so
grave subject.
Our ancestors signalized the com.
mencement of this glorious government
ofours, by rescuing from subj to
slavery, territory which is now cover
ed by FIVE great States and peopled by
more than four millions offreemen, in the
full enjoyment of every blessing which
industry and good institutions can confer.
They did this when the opinions and con.
duct of the world in regard to the institu-
ton ofslavery were very different from
what it is now.
They did so before Great Britain had
even commenced those gigantic efforts
for the suppression of slavery, by which
she has SO much distinguished herself.
Afterseventy- -fouryears enjoyment of the
sacred and invaluable right OF selEgovern-
ment, obtained for us by the valor and
discretion of our ancestors, we their de-
scendents, are called upon to doom, or if
that is too strong a word, to expose to
the inroad of fslavery territory capable
of sustaining an equal number of new
states to be added to our confederacy
territory in great part Of which slavery
has never existed in fact, and from the
residue of which it has been expressly
abolished by the existing government.
We are called upon to do this at period
when the minds of nearly all mankind
have been penetrated by conviction of
the evils of slavery, and are united in eff
forts for its suppression--at at a moment,
too, when The spirit of freedom aud reform
is everywhere far more prevalent than it
has ever been, and when our republic
stands proudly forth as the great exem-
plar the world in the science of lee
government.
Who can believe that population like
that which inhabits the non. .slaveholding
States, probably amounting to twelve
millions, who by their own acts, orb by the
foresight Of others, have been exempted
from the evils of slavery, can, at such a
moment, be induced, by considerations of
any description, 10 make retrograde
movement of character SO eXtraordina-
ry and so painful?--Such movement
would, in my view of the matter, and
say it with unfeigned Difference to the
conflicting opinions of others, bring re-
proach upon the influence of free nstitu.
tons, which would delight the hearts and
excite the hopes of the advocates farbi
trary power throughout the world.
E Holding these opinions, you have du
ties to perform as important as they are
delicate. In the first place you shoulC
adhere infiexibly to your opinions as long
| as you believe them to be right, and M
longer. This you will do. In the mex
place you should present your views il
, regard to them, calmly and distinctly bu
firmly to your political brethren of the
, slaveholding States, with full slatemen
1 ofthe reasons on which they are founded
that those reasons may be cOntroverted il
they are not sound. This you have done
In other important respects your positions
V are unassailable. The movement to ad
vance the principle you desire to promote
S was commonwealth the rightplace thougl
! perhaps, not at the most desirable mo
ment, aud was not accompanied by par
tizan measures or founded on politica
designs of any description, as far as
: know or have reason to believe. fl un
9 derstand your course, your delegate
v went to the Convention prepared to ac
. cept the nomination of any sound Demo
8 crat who had not actually submitted to
!. test which implicated the we'll know
l. and repeatedly expressed opinion q
e your State, without interrogating him il
: regard 10 his opinion on this particula
6 question. In taking this ground, yo,
g pursued the only course by which thu
/ Democratic party of the Union as hith
= erto organized, can be perpetuated; an'
l. the Just and fair minded men of the par
J. ty everywhere, will, when the presen
u excitement has passed away, approx
n your conduct. One thing more, and you
O whole action will, in the end, attract al
e tenlion and enlist the good feeling of a
1t just and generous minds. Let your fartt
h er proceedings in this whole matter, b
j. distinguished by moderation and forbeal
{. ance.
h Injustice must be resisted-indignitie
y repelled; and all this can be done wit
o decency, and without impeachment ofth
d motives of whole communities, on az
,r count of individuals. The situation G
g your political brethren in the slave hold
ing States, is not as favorable to calm dit
s, cussion and dispassionate considerable
n, as yours, and much will therefore, in th
{; i resnect ha exnecfed at vour hands