Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-03-17
The Slavery onesfion.


existence of our government, when all minds are
awakened to the enormity of holding part ofthe
human race in bondage, when private interests of a
portion of our Union is brought in competition with
philanthropy and humanity, and must ere long
yield to the wisdom and intelligence of the people
No nation at early date of its history was ever
so far advanced in intellect and liberal principles
none ever felt commiseration for the degraded and
oppressed, as do now the citizens of United States,
except few who conceive it their pecunary inter-
est to keep their fellow beings in servitude.
The Roman Empire had existed nine hundred
years. when under Adrian it was first made penal
for master to put his slave to death without trial.
Great Britain was conquered by the Romans, par
tally civilized, and remained their subjects about
four hundred years, when abandoned by them, sub
dued and governed by Saxon powers about the
same length time when Egbert with the seven
Heptarchy A. D. s27) became their first king.
From that period the nation improved in literature,
and increased in consequence and power, being but
twice conquered by foreign nations-first by Sweir
and Canaut (the Danes) and forty two years after
by William of Normandy, (the invasion of William
and Mary may be considered only arevolution,) yet
not until the present century, that they aboI
shed slavery and the slave trade, under the auspi
ces cf the younger Pitt, whose name, were it but
fcx that act alone would shine resplendent on the
page of history.
More than 1s hundred years has it been since
the arts and sciences were introduced into Eng
land; more than twelve hundred since they were
instructed in the principles of christianity, yet they
were not forward of us in prohibiting the importa-
ton of slaves, and had they not introduced them
into the colonies should now be free Of the con
taminatng and fatal legacy. Will it be said that
the Spanish colonies were more magnanimo us than
ourselves in the time of their revolutions in enan-
cipatng their slaves? True there were some phi
lanthropc and republican spirits at their head, who
were invested with supreme power for the time be-
ing; acting as Dictators, Eenuero of Mexico and
Boliver of Columbia, who declared the slaves free
The spirit of liberty generally difusedh little
Opposition was made to their DEGREES, and their
governments subsequently sanctioned them; but in
point of time, those colonies were one hundred
years in advance of US.
1t is now but two-hundred and forty-two years
since our first settlement in James Town, and but
two-hundred and twenty nine since that of Ply
mouth, and we now with coolness and deEberation
agitate the subject of slavery instruct our repre-
sentatves to suppress its extension into territories
now free, and it is a halcyon and auspicious time
for such an exertion. We have truly repub
can Presidents fortune of late has been propitious,
and we should improve the present moment. Pres
ident Taylor viii not shackel Congress with his
vetoes but leave that body free to pass such laws
as in their wisdom they may deem expedent and
proper upon the subject.
While liberty is waving her triumphant banners
over great portion of the European world; the
thrones of Despots crumbling to the dust; the
emancipated rejoicing in their freedom, and the
Republicans of our own hemisphere, greeting them
with loud acclaim, for their Independent spirit and
value, shall we retrograde? Shall we be regard
less of that portion of the human family who have
been 50 unfortunate as to be doomed to perpetual
servitude?
| When our colonies were held comparatively as
slaves to our mother country, we Indignantly and
nobly repelled her claim, and signaly triumphed:
but lamentably for the favor of our country, for
republican government in the compact of the States,
the Southern were too tenacious of their interest in
slaves hence slavery must exist there until they
shall find it consonant with reason justice and hui
manity to expel it from their land; and trust the
time is not far distant when they will find it for their
interest to do So when all new territories and States
shall by an act of Congress be prohibited the in
PRODUCTION of Slavery it is with this sanguine and
cheering hope we earnestly solicit government to
limit servitude to its present bounds.