The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-02
NORTHERN ANNEXATION.
To the Editor of the National Era:

NORTHERN ANNEXATION.
To the Editor of the National Era.
In perusing the Washington Union of the
eth instant, find copied and approved Sc
ries Of objections to General Scott which origi-
nally appeared in the Nashville Banner--the
third of which is, that he favors the " annexa-
ton A., of the several Provinces Of Great
Britain on this continent" Canada, New
Brunswick" &c. | am no admirer Of Scott.
have no great confidence in his professions on
any public question but that the only indica-
ton Of liberal policy in his declarations towards
individuals or people, not native, should thus
subject him to censure before the American
people, exhibits party servility to Slavery
that is, to my mind, monstrous. 1t is surprising
that, in Republic professedly the most free
the asylum of the oppressed, the home of the
children of the republican fathers-it is boldly
urged, even at the seat of the National Govern
ment, by the organ of a great and powerful
party as disqualification for eminent official
station, that the candidate is in favor of adding
free States to the Union. have some recol-
lection of the Canadian contest, which years
ago began and failed some with the movers
connected with it and recollect that they as
serted, at that time, that the influence Of this
Government was then wholly in favor of Eng
land, was in deadly hostility to annexation,
and had been most potent in aiding Great
Britain, by the position then assumed, in crush
ing the efforts of Northern and Canadian lib
erty Subsequent observation has satisfied me
that what they then declared was true and
that the people of the Provinces Of the North,
because they do not hold slaves, because they
offer an asylum to the tramped and abused
African race, because they hold to no hypo-
critical pretence of a liberty they do not prac-
tice, are to be denied the hope of independence
from European domination so long as the slave
lords of the South, and subservient Northern
partisans, are willing to bend all considerations
of national character, prosperity, and policy,
to the one idea of promoting the profits OF the
slave master and dealer. How long this shall
be is beyond my ken.
British America, in the character Of its ter
ritory or of its people, affords no reason for this
policy. Blessed with a rich soil on our frontier
for nearly thousand miles, and with advanta-
| gees OF timber and other great materials of COM
MERGE on that part of the frontier less inviting,
with rivers and lakes furnishing navigation TO
almost every part Of the Provinces, without the
aid of artificial channels; surrounded in part
with the most valuable fisheries in the world
with a people already familiar with liberal
and partially democratic institutions; active
energetic and possessed of fair intelligence
one in language, in origin, habits, customs, and
history; it certainly is not for any favorable
contrast that Mexican territory, people or in
situations afford, that all ideas point Southwark
for the realization of that continental destiny
which, if it were to spread liberty and knowl
edge among other people, would be glory t.
our republican character; but which, wheI
limited to the spread, in the nineteenth cen
tury. of Slavery, and to the diffusion Of an a,s
hori-ed and compelled Ignorance, can only be
viewed with regret by every American anxious
that his country shall accomplish truly noble
and elevated destiny
do not ask that Canada New Brunswick
| Nova Scotia or Newfoundland, shall have the
aid, in any struggle they may hereafter undsx
take of materials and munitions of war; such
as this Government received from France, ant
which, with money and fleets, rendered such
glorious service in the Revolution, at and before
Yorktown, and elsewhere; but | do ask thai
scorn, and disqualification for civil Office and
public station, shall not be visited on American
statesmen who have eyes to see the material
prosperity which the connection would bring
and who have a sympathy with freedom and
would extend it everywhere in the highest de-
gree. whether that extension should be North
ward, among hardy and virtuous people, OF
Southwark, among more effeminate and less
vigorous race.
| can well conceive that the Canadians, and
the British Americans generally, have offended
the South, and am somewhat surprised that
in retaliation, they are not anxious to extend
the virtues of that Wanted ally of Freedom
the Fugitive Slave Law, to these frontier shores
which now form barrier to its efficacy
Nevertheless, to excuse the Canadians would
say that presume that rs they have not had
the advantage of republican education, they
therefore are unable to appreciate how the
doctrines of our Declaration of independence
can be reconced with the enactment of law
which refuses every practical safeguard to civil
liberty and individual freedom, and places both
at the mercy of abandoned cupidity without
the wholesome checks in its qualification usu-
ally visited on those who war upon and outrage
humanity Surely this in them is now excu.
sable. Annexation might possibly cure this
defect
As a member Of the Democratic party, | am
greyed at the selfish and slavish tone of it,
: leading press, and, whether Pierce and King
succeed or not cannot but feel that party de-
mocracy ought not long to be successful with q
great and intelligent people, if it is bound Il
national selishncss, to hostility to the extension
of all outward freedom and the spread of like
institutions. And if TO advocate prosperity I,
our free States, and to desire their extension, il
still to be visited with prescription from Office
in my opinion
! The post of honor is private station
Yet trust that may live long enough in tn,
United States to find it practical for an emf
J nent public man to advocate Freedom, at HON,
and abroad, in New Mexico or British America
Utah or Hungary, and do it without the penal
ties which now attach to the expression of sucl
sentiments. j. Nj.
J Northwestern OHIO, Aug. 10, 1852.
DEATH ScENEoF ROBERT RANToUL.-Horac
Mann, in his eulogy on Mr.. Rantoul, relatet
the following touching instance of conjugal al
lection, in connection with the last illness o
the deceased:
"Yet Mr. Rantoul even amid the agonies o
his disease, had lucid intervals. There wer
convictions in his mind 30 deep seated, and al
} fections in his heart 80 strong, as to stand un
moved by any tempest Of delrium On bein
autographed respecting the illness of her hun
band his devoted and excellent lady then has
tened to his succor. She arrived here ut 81
o'clock on the morning Of the day he died. Ia
stantly her voice wooed back consciousness an
Q reason. He seized her hand in his and held
until he bresthed his last. Even when his min