Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-08-19
- Free Soil Abolitionlsm.

some weeks slnce We 'ooN oSe
make few remarks upon the subject tina
heads this arti lie. Since that time we hav
published several communications in reply
and this week we give room to somewha
lengthy dissertation upon the same prolific
tonic. We wish to have it distinctly un
derstood we are in favor of free discussion
as long US decent language will tolerate it
Whenever our paper contains any artici
repugnant to the feelings of my person
we are willing to publish those objections
providing a reply be couched in unexcep
tionable language, and our readers be in
structed by such discussions. Two or three
of those communications we did not deem
deserving more than passing notice, fol
the reason that our contributor in the alb
scnce of argument with which to attack oul
article, resorted to the only remaining
weapon.and turned his .lillipusian' swive
upon our own person. Such warfare is
always considered by debaters rs undenia-
BILE evidence of Defeat, and resort il
had to few hings upon the person OF an
antagonist, while retrcating from the field
of action. From this universally recognized
rule VIC can Judge of the effect our article
had upon the mind Of our worthy and es-
teemed city correspondent. Writing under
the blows Of uncomfortable facts, he res
ronds with simple contradictory assertions,
which any whining schoolboy could ad-
vance. TO say thing is easy, to prove it
oftentimes difficult Our friend has ap-
peared before us on several occasions COM
pletely mantlcd with thick layers of ipse
dfrii, and feels vexed tat we do not reply
to his egotistical and somewhat luminous
effusior 8. But this week it gives us pleas
ure to publish an article from the same in
dividual, in which he handles the subject
with some skill, and certainly with much
candor and fairness. We think the Gem
munication from our Upton friend covers
all the ground gone over by our city COR
respondent, and to that. we shall make brief
reply. We do not wish to enter into dis
cussion of the evils of slavery, for we
admit all that the most jealous abolitionist
can desire, when we say we believe the in
stitution Of slavery the direst curse with
which any nation was ever inflicted. The
manner in which the evil is to be eradica-
ted is the only point of difference between
Our correspondents ane ourself. We. ad-
waneed the opinion that the Abolition party
were riyeting stronger the manacles Of the
slave, instead of loosening their chains. To
contradict this well-estsblished assertion
our correspondent enters into lengthy re-
view Of what, in his opinion, that party has
already performed. But is he backed by
that Gibraltar Of argument-plain, simple,
common place facts? We answer emphati-
cally, mel When was this Abolition party
Established? When did the Legitimate
bantling first see daylight Whoever heard
lof third party until about the year 1885,
when the sslong heel fraternity first made
its appearance and introduced their aboli-
onspetitions into the halls of Congress-
And we ask what have the entire body of
''Long heels'' "Abolitionists" and "Free
Soilers'' done since that time? The gen.
tlemen says they abolished slavery in New
the North. Let US see. As
early as 1915 the people of Massachusetts
resented the importation of slaves into the
colony. In l773 the entire system was
abolished by their constitution. In Con-
.necticut it was totally extinguished by leg
islative enactments in the year 1874 and
,l797. In Rhode Island the constitution
abolished slavery es early rs lisa. Yer
mont and New Hampshire made similar
provisions in their respective constitutions
about the same time. In Pennsylvania by
legislative act in 1880: in.New jersey in
1884. In New York after repeated legisls.
ton it was finally abolished by an act of
1917. Indeed the ordinance ;of Congress
of 1871 ior the government of the United
States Northwest Of the Ohio, abolished
slavery in all the States North of that
river.
Again the gentleman says tina. it was
through'the influence of an abolition party
chat slavery was abolished in England. As
suming tho fact that slavery is actually
abolished there, let US examine how it was
brought about. In the year l54S during
the reign Of Edward VI, an act was passed
blythe English Parliament, which ordained
that oil side yagabonds should be made
Slaves, and fed upon bread and water or
small drink and refuse meat; should wear a
ring of iron around their .necks, arms or
legs, and should be compelled by beating,
claiming or otherwise to perform the work
assigned them, were it ever so yile.' This
law was in existence some few years, and
then repealed. 1t was SO heinous in its ma
ture that the people could not submit to it's
enforcement, and from that day commenced
the abolition of involuntary servitude in
England. We CO not hear, however, Of the
organizations o. an abolition party. The
fact is, the system Of owning property in
slaves does not exist in England ON account
Of substitute being furnished at q much
less actual expense. Where is that Eng
lishman that woald invest $1,000 in a slave,
when the bare interest on that amour
would procure the services Of voluntary la
borer? BY thus paying his servants does
he not save the entiie expense of maintain
ing slave? But do not understand US as
saying there is no slavery in England.
There Is a system of servitude in that coun-
try more damnable than that which curses