Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-10-07
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE
SLAVERY QUESTION.
From the I0t;onoI E,o

induces the suspicion that those who max,
1t are like the boy who whistled to keep his
courage up. How can the election of Gen
Pierce, or of General any BODY else. pre.
vent the freedom of thoug ht or of speech:
Did the enemies of liberty ever ask them.
selves this question? We are aware that
they would, if they could, confer on the
Presidentthe despotic power over the press
and the rostrum, which we have recently
seen exercised by the usurping tyrant of the
French nation. But the genius of the Anne
rican people will tolerate no such encroach-
ment on natural right. In particular loca
llties or sections, where some deeply rooted
prejudice exists, the mob may interpose to
preventfree discussion; butthe mob is grow
ing every day more enlightened, and conse-
quently prejudice, passion, and bigotry are
continually losing their influence over it.
There was, perhaps, never greater liberty
of speech enjoyed in the United States than
at the present moment-certainly not since
the earlier days of the republic. The days
of martyrdom in the cause of Anti Slavery
is past.
Fifteen or twenty years ago. it was dan
| = il,
and in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the free
states farther west, it was common to pull
down anti-s avery printing Offices, pelt anti
slavery editors and lecturers with rotten
eggs, and burn down anti-slaverv lecture
rooms. Now, New York, Massachusetts,
and Ohio, are represented in the Senate by
ayowed abolitionists: and all the free states
| have at one time or another sent anti-slavc-
ry men to the House of Representatives.
| Abolition newspapers are scattered over
the north and west, and one has been es-
tablished at the seat of government, having
a circulation equal to that of any three
journals in the city devoted to the support
of slavery. An anti-savery party humble
ring some thousands, has arisen in Ken
lucky: and perhaps a majority of the pco-
pie of Missouri are looking forward to the
adoption ofmeasures for the abolition of sla-
very. Their greatest statesman, and con-
fessedly the greatest statesman of the south
at the present day, is ofthis party; and has
openly avowed his opposition to slavery and
its extension, in the face of his constituents
prior to the election which returned him to
the House of Representatives, by MAORI
ty OF one thousand over his competitors.
The question of slavery is paramount
every where. In the political meeting, in
the religious assembly, in the social circle,
the first point to be decided as the basis and
platform of future operations, is the subject
of slavery. SIS he sound on the slavery
question: is the issue on which every cam
didate for place in every corner of the I'm
ion, from the lowest municipal officer to the
Chief Magistrate of the Nation, has to face
his constituents. And what does this fact
prove? That anti-slavery is dead? or that
it is alive and rampant, presenting an I'M
daunted aspect at every election precinct,
and looking into every ballot box which is
opened from Maine TO California? This was
not the case fifteen, nor even ten years ago.
The omnipresence and the paramount i'm
pOrtance of the question was less felt FIVE
years ago than at the present moment. Yet
we are gravely told that the abolition agi-
tation" has been put to rest by the election
of General Pierce
Mr.. Calhoun announced in 1889, that
Mr.. Clay had put down the monster by a
single speech in the Senate. At that time
the abolition movement was only a speck
in the political horizon, compared with the
gigantic proportions which it has since pre-
sented. Again, we were told that the an
nexation of Texas, with the election of Mr..
Polk, had finally disposed of the question
But those events only gave greater promi-
nence to the subject and the Mexican war
which brought large accessions of territory,
gave it political Importance which it ne
yer had beforein the settlement of the boun-
diaries of slavery.
1.-The Compromise, which was the ba-
sis of this settlement of the Slavery ques-
tion," enjoyed the reputation of putting
Abolitonism TO silence for brief space ;
but the appearance of Uncle TOMS Cabin,
and other simultaneous indications of ad-
vancing opinion, soon called for another
settlement" and hence the credit now
accorded to General Pierce's election
There is no doubt that if General Scott had
been elected, the same merit would have
been claimed for him by his friends, and
with as good reason.
AbolitioniSm, Anti Slavery, Emancipa-
ton, or whatever it may be called, is a
great principle, a great truth, which neither
the violence of mobS, nor the prescription
of time serving Presidents, can put down.
4 MalorltieS cannot vote its destruction; for
like AntcuS, it rises with renewed strength
from every overthrow. The old parties
have time and again vowed its destruction;
but they have only destroyed or fatally
wounded themselves, while the cause of
Freedom is continually on the increase. 1t
never was so strong as at the present mo-
ment There was never before so much
anti-slavery in the country as now, after
having been repeatedly put down = by
Wings and Democrats
The only effect of Baltimore Plat
forms and other s'finality'' measures, is to
silence the politicians, Office seekers and
holders, while the mass of the People re-
main uncorrupt and unbought by the tempt
ing bats which are held out to mercenary
partisans In fact, such measures, by dis
gushing honest and independent men, tend
to the dissolution of the parties which sup
port them, and to drive their members into
the ranks of the AboftionistS The Free