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-Sla-
very men, while the North might regard him
~ an Anti-Slavery man But this would not
do, and the meeting here TO day was a proof
that such a 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
lites iitiul 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:
Resolved, That the Free Soil party is pre-emi-
nently the party of the Union and the Consti-
tuition, OF law and Of order of freedom and of
progress-that it is opposed, in its principles
sentiments, and aims to sectionalisn secession
and disunion-is equally regardful Of the wei
tare ct every part of the cOuntry-mantains
the right Of all men to liberty, equality before
the laws; and may, therefore Justly claim to
be the true Democratic party Of the Union
Resolred That the Wing and the Democrat
lc 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 a. against free soil ;
and, on the most important question now be-
fore the people have bound themselves to IA
disgraceiul silence, more appropriate to the
subjects Of despOtsm than to the citizens of Il
republic
ReSOired, That slavery is n sin against God
and Il crime against man and that Christiani-
! ty, humanity, and patriotism, alike demand its
abolition by those who have the constitutional
and legal right to abolish it.
| ReSOlped, That the Federal Government
| ought to exercise its constitutional power to
prohibit the American slave trade, to abolish
slaveryin 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
10 any more slave States thus limiting and
restricting slavery to its present localities, and
! placing the National Government where it
ought to be, openly and actively and prepetu-
| ally on the side of freedom
RcSOlUed That we cordially concur in the
continent expressed by the ataolhr1aSS . Ratio
mr9t-'9 oy IGs hnntIgnat tie Federal Govern
lcu. rs 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 iug-
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 $780, |
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
ReSOlDed, 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.
RESOLVED, That o due regard to the princi-
pies and spirit of the Federal Constitution de-
mands that the funds Of the Government should !
be kept separate from banking institutions
that inland and ocean postage should be re-
duced to the lowest possible point-that no
more revenue should be raised than is required
to defray 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
sstent with the prompt and efficient transac-
ton Of the public business
Resolved, That the Constitution vests in
Congress the power to open and repair harbors
and to remove distractions from navgable
rivers and it is expedent TINT 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
RcSoiDsd, ThHtthe public lands Of the United
States should be held rs . trust for the benefit
of the people and should begranted in limited
quantities. without charge to actual settlers
| ReSoiped, That every nation has u right to
| choose its own Government and arrange it, 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 1t the duty Of free nations to pro
test against and prevent the Intervention of
despots to suppress Republican or Constitution
al Governments.
ReSoiued, That we the Free-Soilers of MaSsa-
chuetts, in Convention assembled, cordially
approve Of that policy by which Massachusetts
has been saved from the degradation of giving
her support to the pro-slayery administration
| of Willard Fillmore and has been kept in her
old and proper attitude of opposition 10 the
slave power by which she has been enabled
TO put the brand of her condemnation upon
| Daniel Wcbsters treachery To freedom by
which sh6 has sent Ia 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 large number of acts, Salutary in their
effect and truly democratic in their character
Resolved, That we heartily approve the call
for the Convention 10 be holden ut Pittsburgh
on the ] It'll of August next, 10 nominate such
candidates for President and Vice President
ns may be worthy to receive the votes of FREQ
men; that, whether the Convention nominate
Hon. J. p Hale, Of New Hampshire, whose
long tried abilities and faithful services have
endeared him to our hearts, or Hon. Salmon Z.
Chase, of Ohio the sentiments of whose letter
10 us today entitle him to the party confidence
of the Free Democracy, or any other wel-hied
4 Al Il 4. A.
our undivided, enthusiastic support
NEWS FROM THE PR0vlsO DISTRICT.
An intelligent gentleman residing ut To-
Wanda pnnnsvlvnnia In tha proviso d,str;,t "a