Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-11-28
The Great Question.

the institution to their bosoms, and who would be
the last as We supposed, to make this candid ack-
nowledgement. Their address, and the result OF
their proceedings, may be seen on our first page.
The address is Observation-Disclosures
earnest. II the maority-if the masses OF the
South were not deeply attached to the Union, this
address is adroty calculated to loosen their attach
ment and win them over to notification and rebel
lion. But we did not commence this article to
comment upon the proceedings Of the Nullitiers at
Nashville. We have ssaid our say'' already; the
tone of the address is so desponding that we care
not to veil upon it. But as said before
slavery is doomed in this country. Sooner or
later it will cease to exist. There is one elemental
principle at work that will effect this has hard
ly been limited at by those who have discussed the
subject. II is destined to become more potent,
more certain, more death-dealing to the system of
American Slavery than any other-than all others.
1t is principle that is difiusing itself like leaven
through the country. 1t has been nurscd and cher
ished by politicians-not for this purpose TO be
sure-and its strength is already acknowledged and
invoked at every political gathering and at every
election. 1t can even now make and unmake Pres
idents, Senators, and Legislators. II is increasing
anc multiplying, and although men have combined
to stay its progress and curtail its influence, such
combinations have been futile and in vain.
We allude to the foreign population throughout
our country. They are, as mass, opposed to sla-
very. They had enough Of it in their fatherland
They came here to enjoy freedom. AS an index to
their feelings more sure and significant than
any other on this subject, is the fact that
they take up their residence in the free states
Ask the more intelligent Of them the reason, and
they will not hesitate to declare their adherence
Of slavery. Hdemocracy would retain the bulk Of
them in its ranks it must not ask them to vote for
aperpetuation Of slavery. Count and catechise the
immense German population in the free states of
Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana,
Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, to say nothing of
the Irish in Massachusetts, New York, and other
free states, and thus may be demonstrated the lit
raltruthfulness Of our statement.
The tendency of the system has been downward,
downward, for the last thirty years. Its struggles
for existence have been growing weaker and weak
er every year. To quote the language of another
s'But few years ago mobs tore down printing
presses II they dared boldly to proclaim anti slave
~ doctrine, and dragged them to the river; now,
almost every press in the North is as anti-slavery
as those were which mobs demolished! Once, the
suspicion Of abolition would bring any man home
from Congress and keep him there. Now, for the
most part, no one can go who cannot show some
zeal for antislavery doctrine. Once, legislatures
resisted every mention Of the subject; and he was
deemed scarcely less than q maniac who. in the
legislatures of free states, dared introduce the
topic. Now, legislatures are anti-sla-
very batteries, and give annual foadsides Of anti
slavery resolutions. Once, pupits dreaded and de-
fled the dangerous doctrine; but the pulpit to
great extent, is the exponent of and there
fore the odium and hatred Of all who dread the ad
vance of freedom. In other days, mobs broke up
anti slavery meetings, destroyed the houses of
colored men; but now mobs defend fugitive slaves,
and girt about their hiding places with sure de-
tense. All things are changed. All things are
still Changing, and in one direction.'
crisis has arrived when all, and politicians in
particular, will have to look this subject full in the
face, without dodgng or prevarication. The North
as mass, will submit TO the law that is now SO OBJ
nox,ous to them, but they will not cease 10 employ
every constitutional method to secure its repeal
Or such modification as to exonerate con scientious
men from aiding in sending their feliow-men into
hopeless bondage. That there many such men
oil over the country we have no doubt They
know that whoever breaks the law, while i. is in
force Is transgrcssor. If they decline assisting
the officer when called upon to aid in retaining
and sending back to bondage fugitive slave, they
do it in full view of this grea. fact and its conse-
quences. Such disobedience is the MARTYR spri, of
conscientiousy suffering wrong rather than doing
wrong. The same as the Quaker manifests in re-
fusing to bear arms, even in the defence of his
country.
The great struggle now going on, and the vast
interests involved In the Issue to the South should
create no wonder at their opposition to every at.
tempt made to repeal or modify the fugitive slave
law. The interests, and even the preudices of the
South should, under the circumstances, be re-
spected as far as consisten, with right and the
claims Of humanity. Their education, their asso-
Citations, their domestic policy, throw kind of
sanctity about the institution, that makes all inter-
terence with, or even refusal to uphold il as akin
70 sacreiige. They neither know or care to know,
as mass, why it is that free are more prosperous
than slave states. In short they do not see how
they can get along without slavery. Were it not
for this great struggle at the present time and that
there was reason for it, the fugitive slave law
might be disobeyed with as much IMMUNITY as it
has been since the enactment Of l793 or as is the
license law, the law for the observance OF the Sab
BATH or the law against blasphemy all actually in
volving in the sight of God climinality hardly
SpPeSAsseo VI unoeEStooo py the nulllherS of such
laws.
We sympathise with the South to such an extent
a. to be willing to advocate the appropriation by
Congress oftwo or three hundred millions OF dol
lars to DO applied in giving the slaves their liberty
Freedom would be cheap ct such price. We say
not that they should be forced leave the country
We think they are as much entitled 10 live on A.
merican coil as are the foreigners who come among
US, and il they prefer to have separate territory
assigned them, they as much entitled to that,
even, a. the Mormons. But if all would leave the
country, Of their own free will, and 20 to some
more congenial CLINE, where their color would he
no bar to their citizenship and re spectabity, we
would much prefer it.
IA benevolent, fraternal regard for the South
were fostered by the North-if the North would
no" magnanimously step forward and saw TO the
South, while it feels itsefcrrshed and forsaken NV
the majority--s'We appreciate your situation. we
sympashise with your loss of power and authority;
we think 1t beat for you as well as for the cause Of
humanity, that slavery should come 10 an end. we
will not deprive you OF that which con stutes ro,r
wealth without an adequate pecuniary remunera.
ton. We will aid you in obtaining fair ralus FIR
your slaves" Some such course as this We think
the times call for. Benevolence would dc,irb, !,
saen sacrihce. would be like Oil cast on III.
t'ouoieo waters. II would be a cement tina, wo,,a
ioie'e1 oind the Union together. Let il he tried.
anu we should become Union. not ho..,s.
~ q Rn~A