Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-08-19
oRIGIN.AI.
For the Journal.
Free SOiliSm.

paper, we chance to meet with shot from
your battery upon "Free Soil Abolitionism," !"
ms you term it.
You express your surprise that there are
30 many g Intelligent adherents and sup
portcrs'' to the Free Soil principles. That
this is the case, all well-informed and can
did men must admit, and should you fully
and candidly examine these principles, we
doubt not but the reasons would be brought
TO your mind, also.
We rejoice that you have taken stand
upon this subject, that the world may
know where to find you; and, as soldier,
we have reason to believe that you fear not
to fight face to face the battle you have
commenced. Since you have fred upon us,
we trust you will give us chance for an
honorable defense. Should it be otherwise,
it would show, on your part, a fear to up
hold your statements, or that you are not a
friend to free discussion.
The object of the Free Soil party is truly
(the amelioration Of the human family"
Ire ,ardless Of color; and it is an entire mis-
take that ss the Free Soil and Abolition par
Nties haye been the cause of more excitement
and strife than any other party in our coun-
try, with less useful action" This is
clearly proven from q review Of the past
The time was when the slave trade upon the
high seas was considered rs honorable as it
is now between the States of this Union.
| Was it not the principles of Abolition that
caused this nation to abolish this iniquitous
Nrafic and to consider it as piracy? And
vet she continues o traffic rs foul and abom-
Unable in the sight Of God and justice as
this ever was.
What caused the great nation Of the y Brit ,s
ish to rise in her majesty and pro claim lib
efty to all he. subjects?
What induced New England to throw of
the curse Of slavery and to consider her cit
izens as free and equal?
4 What prevented California from becoming
4 n slave State, while every effort within the
| rover of the South was put forth to make
Wit such
What has made some of the Northern
States to feel tn, shame and disgrace Of
their black laws, and to repeal them?
We answer that it is THESE PRINCIPLES of
Free Soil aud Abolition" that have been
workin, wonders in the world. Steadily,
but firmly, have they been moving forward,
ennyincinr tha minds Of the more intelli-
gent and bringing them over rs their sup
porters.
But why al, this excitement? Why these
fierce debates in the legislative halls Of our
nation? Why this contest for liberty and
equality going On throughout this country
and the whole civilized world? The rea-
sons are obvious. These principles OF
are m le of one. .blo ID, created free and
eoua',--that we should lore each other as
brethren and strive to do each other good
that we should remember taose that are in
bonds as bound Wit them. TKksE are, EN-
pbaticallv. the principles of tke g Free Sail
.Ab litionis.s" which are undermining th
founittiens Of error ami tespotlsm, both
in Church and State, causing them to shake
to their very center. This eanses excite
D
ings Christ and his Apostles cause excite
mcnt?
When Paul was preaching at Ephcsus and
declaring the truths Of the gospel, there was
parfect confusion among the people: seeing
,tha; their craft WIS to be set at naught and
their great goddess, Diana, to be desplscd, !
thew ali or out. s.Grcat is Diana Of the
Ephesians," as il to ctfect some great thing
by 50 powerful an argument. This reminds
us of the believing of the South in refer
ence to this g Uni IN, which is only, as, in
this case before US, to influence the minds
,of the ignorant and time serving.
You say that the Free Soil party is n
I" one-horse party, having but one principle, |
and the whole import of that is--niggers."
We should like to know what two horse
party is. Let us see If we can get an idea
OF two horse party. The Whig and the
Democratic parties met ut Baltimore to I
nominate candidates for the Presidency |
On comparing 6 horses" they find that
there is not so much diifereuce after all
that both are about as black ms they can be,
and match very wellr-so they concude to /
hitch in together. Looking around for an
omnibus by which to ride their candi-
dates into Office, they find ono to their
notion, fitted out under tho admins
tration of President Fillmore. Pleased
with the idea, thay both say, "hitch on"
thinkng,-at the same timo and in the same
carry-all, (the principle of which is the
catching of negroes,) to land their candl-
dates safe in the Presidential chair. But
the horses don't work well together, and a
part Of the passengers, Becoming irritated,
thrust their fiery darts upon the old hero OF
Vera Cruz, and him, falling from the We
hicle, they leave to his own fate. A dam
ger0us experiment, truly, for men that
claim to be citizens Of this free and intelll-
gent republic.
We are certain that no party has taken
broader view of the wants and necessities OF
oil men than ours. Stimulated alone by
we have not feared to speak out boldly In
the sight of all men, and to plead the cause
of the oppressed of every land, of every
color.
When bill is to be brought forward for
hbolishing whipping in the United States
Navy, it is done by Free Soier, and by
Ihis influence and arguments, this shameful
practice is put down. isd
As to the fate of the Ua;on, We have no
Fears. Our motto is no compromise with
bin in any form, or under any circumstances.
I'VE know of no other doctrine taught be-
tween the lids of the Bible. We are COM
Imanded to do right under all circumstances,
land leave the consequences in the hands OF
IGod.
As pcrty, we aim only to free ourselves
from national guilt, to abolish slavery with
in the jurisdiction Of the constitution, and
to regulate public opinion upon this, as well
rs upon all other subjects within our power.
This, we think, can be cone tuithout "the
dissolution of the Union," and toithout
shaving our stars and stripes torn to
pieces,' which, rs true as there is a God in
heaven. are now stained by the blood OF
millions.
Should We refuse to cleanse ourselves
from national guilt; we sincerely ask God
not to unvcil to US the awful calamity that
must inevitably come upon US. But engaged
in the cause OF right and humanity, we fear
not the s'haughty and tyrannical sway Of an