The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-15


slavery. The Representatives of Massachusetts,
both Wings and Democrats in Congress, had
given their sanction to all this In the coming
contest, the Democrats based their hopes of
success on the belief that their constituents
were too deeply in the party traces TO be
moved by the appeals of humanity and the
Wings based their hopes Of success on the fact
that the South required Scott as the Pro-Sa-
very men. while the North might regard him
~ an Anti-Savcrv man. But this would not
do. and the meeting here to day was a proof
that such humbug would not pass muster
with the people. lie concluded with an APP
peal to the young men to pause before they at
tached themselves to Wings or Democrats, and
he called upon them to JOIN the party of Free
dom. They had no Office to give, and the
threats OF mob might not gladden. their
hearts but they would be fellow-workers with
God and Christ and all good men, and when
! lie : itiul dream was over in that dread hour
! they would learn the words Of welcome in
/ Heaven Well done thou good and faithful
! servant enter thou into the JOY Of thy Lord
! Hon. Henry Wilson, President Of the Senate
! then reported the following resolutions, which
! were received with the most enthusiastic
cheers
! i""'tt"' uhJ lllt Tltt NOll party ~ bre-eml-
nently the party of the Union and the COnsti-
tuhon OF law and Of order of freedom and Of
progress-that it is opposed in it's principles
| sentiments, and aims to sectiOualism secession
and dlSnnion--is equally rcgardful Of the wei
lare 81 every part OF the country-maintains
the right Of all men to liberty, equality before
the laws and may therefore justly claim to
b" the true Democratic party Of the Union
b, - n,
ic parties by tho platforms which they have
recently adopted at Baltimore, have pledged
! themselves against the national principle OF
freedom, and in favor Of the sectional institu-
ton Of slavery; have pledged themselves
against free speech rs well rs against free soil ;
aud, on the most important question now be-
Tore the people have bound themselves to IA
hlsgracelul silence more appropriate to the
subjects OF despotism than to the citizens of
republic
ReSolred, That slavery is Il sin against God
and crime against man and that Christiani-
IT, humanity, and patriotism alike demand its
abolition by those who have the constitutional
and legal right to abolish it.
ReSOIred, That the Federal Government
ought to exercise its constitutional power TO
prohibit the American slave trade to abolish
slayeryin the District Of Columbia, to guarantee
freedom to the Territories by the enactment of
organic laws forever excluding slavery from
them, and to refuse admission into the Union
to any more slave States; thus limiting and
restricting slavery to it's present localities, and
placing the National Government where it
onght to be, openly and actively and prepetu-
ally on the side of freedom.
RcSOlCed, That we cordially concur in the
sentiment expressed by the Late Be- at;o
National Convention thv - ~ = 1,nocratic
m,,t,,t Nv - "o"t''."at tie Federal Govern
Ieno one of limited powers derived solely
from the Constitution; and the grants of power
made therein ought to be strictly construed by
all the departments and agents of the Govern
ment; and that it is nexpedient and danger
Gus to exercise doubtful constitutional powers
and therefore,
ReSOLUed, That Congress possesses no authority
whatever to legislate for the rendition of fugi-
tiyes from service or labor; such legislation
being II dangerous encrOachment upon the
sovereignty of the States, clear violation of
their reserved rights, and in the form which it
has assumed in the Fugitive Slave Actof 1850, |
repugnant to the principles Of the common
law, to the spirit of Christianity and to the
sentiments of the civilized world We there
fore demand its immediate and total repeal
ReSOlUed, That any future acquisition of
territory by the United States, whether by |
purchase, treaty conquest or otherwise, ought |
to be and must be upon the fundamental con-
ditiOn that slavery shall DO wholly and forever |
excluded from such territory
Reyoived That u due regard to the prnc- |
pies and spirit of the Federal Constitution de- |
mands that the funds Of the Government should
be kept separate from banking Institutions
that inland aud ocean postage should be re-
duced to the lowest possible point--that no
more revenue should be raised than is required
to d6fray the necessary expenses of the public
service and to pay off the public debt--and that
the power and patronage of the Government
should be diminished, by making all executive
officers elective by the people, 80 far rs is con
sistent with the prompt and efficient tranSac-
ton of the public business
ResOiUed, That the Constitution vests in
Congress the power to open and repair harbors
and to remove distractions from navgable
rivers and it is expcdient that Congress shall
exercise that power whenever such improve
ments are necessary for the common defence
or for the protection OF commerce with foreign
nations or among the States
RcSOiUsd, That the public lands of the United
States should be held as trust for the benefit
of the people and should bogranted in limited
quantities. without charge to actual settlers
Rcsoired, That every nation has right to
choose its own Government and arrange its own
affairs and any foreign interference with that
right is dangerous violation Of the law of ma
tions, against which all independent Govern.
ments should protest and which they should
endeayor by all proper means to prevent;
especially is it the duty of free nations To pro
rest against and prevent the Intervention Of
despots to suppress Republican or Constitution
al Governments.
ReSoiuCd, That we the Frec-Soilers of NIassa-
chusrtts, IN Convention assembled, cordially
approve Of that policy by which Massachusetts
has been saved from the degradation of giving
her support to the pro-slavery administration
| of Willard Fillmore and has been kept IN her
old and proper attitude of opposition to the
slave power by which she has been enabled
to put the brand of her condemnation upon
| Daniel Wcbsters treachery to freedom, by
which she has sent tO Congress one Senator
and several Representatives, to utter her true
voice and to uphold her free principles and by
| which there has been placed upon her statute
book Il large number OF acts salutary in their
effect and truly democratic in their character
RrSolred That we heartily approve the call
! for the Convention to be holden ut Pittsburgh
on the ] til of August next 10 nominate such
candidates for President aud Vice President
ns may be- worthy to receive the votes of free
men, That whether the Convention nominate
Hon. J. 2. Hale, of New Hampshire, whose
| long tried abilities and faithful services have
cndearcd him Ia our hearts or Hon Salmon Z.
| chase, Of Ohio the sentiments of whose letter
Ia as to-Iay enttle him to the party confidence
Of the Free Democracy or any other we'll -tricd
and faithful man such nomins tign shall receive
our undivided enthusiastic support.
NEWS FROM THE PROvlsO DISTRICT.
An intelligent gentleman residing at To-