Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-09-08

hNu DlOMW w NttluCkNs L Iduklln
nd Stone Of North Carolina, Stevens,
thompson, Mason, and Wilson Cary Mich
las of Virginia, Sumpter Of South Carolina,
nd Wright Of Maryland. The states which
ave grown up under, and in conformity to
hat ordinance have, in a very great degree,
leen settled by emigrants from the slave
states. Thousands Of these hardy
and enterprising pioneers, many Of them a.
the most res pectable of their fellow
citizens, for a series of years IN succession,
left their friends and neighbors in the slave
holding states for what was then the far west,
accompanied by their prayers and benedic-
tions it never entering into the imagination
of either that in doing so they submitted 10
any personal or sectional teproach or degra-
dation. Prosperous and happy in their new
abode, they aud their associates, and the
great enterprise they accomplished, have
been honored and admired by all who have
witnessed their success. Que Of these very
settlers. after assuming and for many years
discharging the responsibility Of enforcing
the ordinance Of 1887, and after enjoying "A
large share ofhis country 3 confidence and re-
spect in other forms. was finally elevated to
the Presidency. and died in that exalted sta
lion. Another highly distinguished inhab-
liant Of one of the territories, subject TO the
same restriction, after having also, for a long
series Of years, borne the responsibility oil
seeing the execution of this now derlded or
dinance, as Governor of the territory, Is, at
present. the favored candidate for the same
high Office, of portions of the citizens ct The
slaveholding as well as Of the other states.
In the face Of facts like these, is it posi-
Bile that the application of this restriction to
New Mexico and California can operate TO
the disparagement of our brelhern of the slave
holding states No impartial mind can, |
think, regard it in this light; and if there be
any other objections insisted on, that
are worthy of notice, | am not appraised
of them. None that are tenable. can, in my
Judgment be offered. The measure is right
in itself. and what is right may always be
done with ultimate safety. The present
generation stand in the same relation towards
those very extensive territories, in which
the sages of 1897 stood towards the north
western territory. II we act as wisely as
they did. results not less glorious than those
which reflect such u~ndying honor on the
policy Of that day, will follow the labors and
perpetuate the memories OF those by whom
it is now upheld.
The sixth resolution which embraces the
subject Of slavery in the district of Column
bia and | observe a generality Of express
ion in respect to the time when, and the cir
cumstances under which, it was the opinion
Of The Convention that it should be abolished
which has not been usual on the part of the
friends of immediate action. Most reflect
inc and philanthropic minds live in the hope
that they will one day see slavery abolished,
not only in that District, hut in the States
also, in the latter through the agency of the
State Governments, to whom the c~onstitu-
ton wisely leaves exclusive power in the
matter, and in the former by Congress.
| may be mistaken, but think | see in the
guarded language of the resolution, evidence
of an apprehension, on the part of the con-
v%enlion, that a difference in opinion, to some
extent at least, existed among its members
upon the point referred to, and of an enlight-
ened and truly patriotic resolve not to suffer
that circumstance, if it existed, to weaken
the moral power of their unanimity on the
great question which had brought them to-
gether.
NV opinion, in favor OF the power of Con-
press TO abolish slavery in the District of CO.
Iumbia, has been repeatedly avowed, as well
when a candidate, as whilst President; and
every u1N 5 IGlleChlOb ndo W fCu ! "
firm nv conviction Of its correctness. ], al
the same time, expressed myself strongly a
rainst the expediency of exercising it; anC
in a recent letter TO the New York delega
lion at Utica, | referred to my continued op
p~osiiion to that measure. The subject wa
only incidentally introduced, and there was
consequently. but little care taken in regar'
to the terms in which The suggestion wa
made.
The form Of expression which i employ
ed, has, it appears, led many honest and II
telligent men to assume that the remark II
lated exclusively TO the past, and was not ID
tended to convey my present views On lh
f matter. This construction, though, perhap:
= not unwarranted by the words employed, is
: in fact, erroneous; and it is due TO truth, t
: fair dealing, and to all who lake an intere,
/ in the matter, that the subject should no.
: be placed in its true light.
S 1t is not TO be denied that many of the rel
: sons which in 1897 and before, operated
d produce the convictions | then expressed, I
longer exist; and if, when writing TO ii
New York delegation at Utica, | could ha,
anticipated what has since occurred, | shou
have felt it my duty to discriminate betwet
l. the reasons which had passed away, al
those which yet remain. But when my ],
ter to them was written, nothing could ha
been further from my expectations, than tn
e | should ever again be a candidate for t
.e Presidency /; and, of course, it was not II
intention to say what my conduct would
10 on this or any other matter, if again an
IS cumbent of that place.
o. have spoken in a former part Of this !
10 ter, of the three leading features of the pc
at cy, in regard to slavery, adopted by the Fa.
Iy ers Of the Republic. History, if true, mi
record the fact, that the North has hilhe
,h faithfully sustained her part, 10 the maint,
.e, ance of this policy, an! in none more so tt
ed in that which inculcates lorbearance on
nj point now referred to. | wish to SEE the
ri bearance which has so long characterized
re- conduct in this matter, still farther c~ontinu
Ia Approving of the Platform which the C
MS vention has adopted, and conscious, from