Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-07-07

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 self government, OBJ
tanned for us by the valor and discreuonot
our ancestors, we, their descendants, are
called upon to doom, or if that is too strong
a word, to expose the inroad of slavery
into a territory capable of sustaining an
equal number of new states to be added to
our confederacy-a territory in great part
(which slavery has never existed in fact,
and from the residue Of which it has been
expressly abolished by the existing gov
eminent. We are called upon to do this
at a period when the minds of nearly all
mankind have bern penetrated by a convic-
ton of the evils of slavery, and are united
in efforts for its suppression--at moment
too when the spirit Of freedom and reform
is every where far more prevalent than 1t
has ever been, and when our Republic
stands proudly forth as the great eXemplar
Of the world in the science OF free govern
ment.
Who can believe that a population like
that which nhabits the non slaveholding
states, probably amounting TO twelve mil
lions, who by their own acts, or by the
foresight &C others, have been exempted
from the evils of slavery, can, at such mo-
ment, be induced, by considerations of any
description, to make a rctrograde move
ment OF character so extraordinary ana so
painful! Such a movement won q, IN my
view of the matter and | say it with un-
feigned Difference to the conflicting opinions
Of others, bring rcproach upon the influence
of free institutions, which would delight the
hearts and excite the hopes of arbitrary
power throughout the world.
Holding these opinions You have duties
TO perform rs important as they are deli
eate. In the first place you should adhere
in0exibly to your opinions, as long as you
believe them To he right, and no longer
This YOU will do. In the next place YOU
should present your views ,inrcgard 10 them,
calmly and distinctly, but firmly, to your
political brethren of the elayehoding states,
with full statemcntof the reasons on which
they are founded, that those reasons may be
controverted il they are not sound. This
YOU have done In other respects vourpo-
sitions are unassaiIabc. The movement to
advance the principle YOU desire to promote
was commenced in the right place though
perhaps. not at the most esrabIc moment,
and was not accompanied by partiZan mca>
surcs, or founded on political designs olany
description, as far as | know or have rCa-
son to believe.
If | understand your course, your dele
gates went to the convention prepared TO
accept the nomination of any sound demo
crat, who had not actually submitted to a
test which implicated the well known and
repeatedly expressed opinion of your state,
without ntcrrogatng him in regard to his
opinion on this particular question. In TAX
ing this ground, YOU pursued the only course
by which the democratic party of the I'M
ion, as hitherto organized, can be perpctu-
ated; and the Just and fair minded men Of
tho party everywhere, will, i'll the end, at
tract the attention, and enlist the good feel
ing of all Just and generous minds. Let
your farther proceedings in this whole mat
ter, be distinguished by moderation and Tor
bearance.
Injustice must be resisted, lndlgntIeS re-
PEELED; and all this can be done, with de-
ccncy and without impeachment OF the mo-
tiyes of whole communities, on account OF
the conduct of individuals. The situation
of your political brethren in the sIaychold-
ing states Is not as favorable to calm dis
cussion and dIsPasslonate consideration as
yours and more VIII therefore, III tlllS re-
sPect' DC expected at your hai"S' o"'
differences must commute 90 20" d. i''9'
unnecessary eycitements Of anv descrip-
ton. Excmnlirv vour Grmness and your
confidence in the Justice of your cause in
the host of MI tcsis-the diUnitv and mod
ar.,;o, NH ,,l,;.b ,.o, uoLoIj i Whom
the election is over. and reason '.rcsum IS
her empire. the ground which has been talk.
en- bv ycur southern brethren will be re.
viewed with calmness. and if found to be
untenabIe. Won are hound to believe it will
Iva abandoned If in this Won are disap
pointed. il will still be a consolation &c
know that Won have d ,ne nothing unncces
sarilv. which could serve to exasperatC
alterations which may then become incur
able.
Accent. gentlemen. nv warmcst acknow