The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-16
EXTRACTS FROM OUR CORRESPONDENCE.


Jaeksonbttrg, Wayne co.. la, Nou 90, 1852
A word relative ~ the Free Democratic vote
at this precinct Dackonburg) Up to this fall,
only some five or six votes could be gwen AT
the State election in October it rose TO thir-
teen but at the Presidential election it went
ND 70 twenty three-so you see we are moving
somewhat progressively here.
Large streams from little fountains flow,
Tall oaks from little aeorns grow
Well who knows what Free Democracy may
vet do in the world.
Conneam p. o., AshtabdG co., Ohio Dec. 2,
lS52-There never has been time since the
Era started, that subscribers could be obtained
as easy as they can be at the present time
Now is the time for Anti-Slayery men to work
mean that you shall hear from me again with
another club before long.
Butler, Butler co.. Pa Dec. l. lS52.-Butler
is rather a poor soil for FREE SOIL. believe
we never have taken more than three copies
Of the National Era 10 this place before. But
having become convinced that whoever taxes
the Era year is certain to be a Free Demo-
GRAFT we proposed to our county committee TO
raise clubs of ten all over the county, or at
have raised one in Butler and | hope you
will ere long get one from every borough and
town in the county.
Nov. 81. lS52.-In Groves Us. Slaughter, 10
Peters r., sol, if have a correct report OF
the case the following decision is made " Ii
NaUeS are considered in some of the States as
merchandise. that cannot diyest them OF the
! leading aud controlling quality OF persons, by
which they are designated in the Constitution.
/ The character Of property is given them by
! the local law This law IL respected, and all
/ rights under it are protected by the Federal
authorities bit the Constitution acts upon
daues as persons and not as property
! Now, if it be true that the Constitution OF
the United States only respects the character
of property given to slaves by the local law OF
the States where it exists, does not the Constl-
tuition in ali our Territories and in the District
of Columbia, where it is the supreme law, give
freedom to all slaves, by "acting upon them
rs persons, and not as property" especially as
there is not in such places any sovereignty be-
tween the Constitution of the United States
and the peculiar institution having the
power to create slavery
In regard to the District, it may be said
! Congress has re-enacted the laws OF Maryland
and Virginia, by which slavery existed there
in but the truth il, the moment the cesslon
was completed the Constitution itself made
the slaves "persons," and as Congress has no
warrant to make slavery by direct enactment,
much less can it give validity to laws sustain
! ing slavery, which have been abrOgated by the
| Constitution Would not then the writ OF
hGbeas corpus give freedom to every slave with
in the District Of Columbia
Respectfully yours, i.
Jacksonville, M. Nor 70, lSj2-The cause
among us is advancing gradually This town
gave about on. hundred Free Soil votes Pro-
lessor j. b Turner took the stump, and chal-
lenged the other parties to a public debate,
but they did not accept it, They knew him, if
they did not bis principles He is a ready and
powerful debater Richard Yates, Free Soil
Wing, is reelected from this district 10 Con
gress. We chose to support him rather than
nominate one for ourselves. He can be trusted.
Lewiston, Name, Dec 2, l852.-I think it is
not best to hold National Convention till the
spring or summer Of 1856. Let those who |
choose, place The name Of John p Hale at the |
head Of their columns-he is every oay worthy !!
We have Platform - on which we are |
willing to stand, and for which we are willing |
to fight till So, at least And it seems to me |
that our time may be better occupied in per.
teGting our State organizations, and extending |
them TO every toWA aud school district And |
let it be remembered by every Free Democrat. |
THAI now is the very best time for making con- |
yerts to our CAUSE
Perhaps ! cannot better illustrate my idea |
about making converts than by first relating
part of u conversation which | had with a
young man, during the late canvass He
asked" How are we going to know which is
right, when the papers Of each Of the opposing
parties seem equally to prove the correctness
OF their postioust' ! ansWered that we should
best know by studying for ourselves the his
tory Of events ~ they pass.
Now let every Free Democrat keep himself
well "booked up" with reference to these
passing events, which have a bearing on our
cause and let him bring them to the notice
of his friends, as they pass. Let him show them
the true position of parties, and of men, on the
great question of Freedom
Let him place in the hands of his friends
speeches and other documents, which will work
with double power in these days of calm re-
Election.
There will no doubt be plenty Of facts and
arguments furnished by the agitation killers,
for four years to come The mechanic may
thus multiply converts among those with whom
he associates from day to day
The farmer may thus proftably improve the
long evenings with his neighbors Let every
one thus 60 to work with a will, remembering
that I" to him who wills, nothing is impossible"
Converts made thus will stay made.
Pontiac, Michigan, Dec. 3, ls52-The deci-
sion of Judge Paine, of the Superior Court New
York, in the recent slave case of the Lemmons,
is attracting universal attention. Slavery has
always been known and acknowledged to be
local, State institution Eut the Shareholders
have seemed unwilling to give anybody the
benefit of that truth but themselves But they
have forced the question upon MS and into our
law How do they meet the issue The Union
is in danger The Constitution is disregardedl
Abolition agitation is renewed, and must be
crushed - All, sir, here is the point It is
the aim of slavery to crush free discussion,
independent opinion. Failing in that as ever
they must fail, tho old cry of the Union in
danger must be thrust in our ears. The Wash
nton Union dictates terms to free men, as It
would command its slaves Can it suppose we
can be swayed and driven by either its com.
mands or its dengnciations If such is the
intent of that paper, as the great representa-
tive Of the Slave interest let it be assured that
eDry effort of the kind only goes to render
slavery more hated. and our laws more loved
Bqt you will attend faithfully to these matters.
wish simply that you may know these qucs-
tons are not unmatched in this part of the
country. | never have voted for the Free Soil.
Free Democratic, or Liberty party, and don't
know that ever shall would like the men
who conduct those valiant journals that talk
of crushing agitation to understand that
their efforts are doing more against their aims
than all the Abolitonists can do hope, for
this, they will continne to disgust us with their
iniquity and nonsense. Threats made in the