The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-07-18

| hoct tnut 0ou 10 just. tidt MS justice canno
sleep forever; that considering members. ma
ture and national means only, a revolution o
tie wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation
is among possible events: that it may becom
probable by supernatural interference! Tn
Almighty has no attribute which can take side
with us in such a contestl'
And as 10 which another eminent patriot O
Virginia, at tho close of the Revolution OK
claimed:-
Had VIC turned our eyes inwardly, whel
we supplieated tho Father of merces to nj.
tho injured and oppressed, when we invoke,
tho Author of righteousness, to attest the pu
rty of our motives and the Justice Of our cause
and impiored the God of War to aid our exer
tions in its defence. should we not have stoo,
more selfconvicted than the contrto publ
can!'
We beliveve these sentiments to be as trut
now they were then.
| ResoIped, That Slavery is violation of III,
rights of man as q man; that the law of nature
which is law OF liberty, gives to no man
right superior to those of another; that Goo
and nature have secured to each ndividua
this inaiienabie right Of equality, and violation
OF which must be the result of superior force
and that slavery is therefore perpetual war
upon its victims. That whether we regard
tho institution at first originating in captures
made in war, in the subjection of the debtor as
tho slave OF his creditor, or the forcible seizure
and sale of children By their parents, or subjects
by their king; and whether il be viewed in this
country as necessary evil" or otherwise. we
find It to be like imprisonment for debt, but n
relict of barbarism, a. well as an element of
weakness in the midst of the State. inviting
the attacks of external enemies, and ceaselcss
cause of external apprehension and alarm
such are the lessons taugh us, not only by
the histories of other commonwealth. but by
that of our own beloved country
Rosofred, That tho history of the formation
OF the Constitution, and particularly the ens c.
ment of the ordinance of July l3, 1887. forev-
or prohibiting slavery north Of tho Ohio abun-
dantly shows it to have been the purpose of
our fathers not to promote, but to prevent the
spread OF slavery. And wo. revering their
memories, and cherishing their pure republican
faith as our richest Inheritance which we vow
at whate7er expense to defend here publicly
proclaim our determination 10 oppose, by ail
the lawful and honorable means in our power.
now and hencelorth. all attempts, direct or in
direct, to extend slavery in this country. or
permit 1t to be extended into any reqion or To-
cGlity IN which it does not now exist bv posi-
i've law, or to admit new slave States in tho
Union.
Resotped, That tho constitution Of tho Uni
ted States give to the Congress full and com
p!eto power for tho municipal government of
the Territories thereof--a power which from
It's nature, cannot be eiiher aienated or addi.
Gated without yielding up to the Territory an
absolute political Independence which involves
an apsuFdty. That the exercise of this powor
ncpessarily looks 10 Tho formation of States
to bo admitted into the Union: and ON the
question whether they shall be admitted as
free State or siGVe Statcs Congress has a rirbt
TO adopt sneh prudential and preventive meas
as fha nri... :, ~
of ihe whole country require. Thgt this cues
tion is one of tho gratest Importance to the
free States, nasmuch as the Constitution itself
creates an equality in the apporlionment of
great, TO tho detriment of tho
free and TO the advantage of the slave States
This question, S, vital in the ntorestets of
the free States, (but which we are told by cer-
taih political doctors of modern times is to be
treated with indiferonce) is one which we
hold it to be ever right to discuss--which we
hold it the duty of Congress, in every instance
TO determine, in unequivoca. language, and in
n manner to preUent the spread of slavery,
and The Increase ofsuch unequal representa-
ton. In short we claim that the North is a
party 10 The neto bargain, and is entitled 10 hare
a rofce and Influence IN settling its teFms-
And in Wow Of the ambitions designs Of the
slave powor we regard tho man or tho party
who would forego this right as untrue to the
honor and interests OF the north; and unworthy
of its support.
Resoired, That the repeal of the missouri
Compromise contained in the recent act of
Congress, for the creation of the Territories of
Nebraska agd Kansas thus admitting slavery
into region until then sealed by law, equal
in extent to tho thirteen old States is an act
unprecedented in the history of the country,
and one which must engage the earnest and
serious attention of every Northern man.
And as Northern ireemen, independent ofal
party tics, we here hold this measure up to the
public cxecration for the following:
That it plain departure from tho policy
ofthe fathers of the republic, in regard to slave
ry and wanton and dangerous Illustration
of their purposes and their hopes.
That it actually admits and tcos intended 10
admit slavery into the torritoriesl and thus, to
US the words applied by Judge Tucker of Vir-
ginia 10 the fathess of that Commonwealth
"thus sows the seed of an evil which, like
leprosy, hath descended upon their posteriry
with accumulated rancor, visiting tho sins of
tho fathers upon succeeding generations:"-
That it was sprung upon tho country steal
thiy and By surprise, without necessity, with
out petition and without previous discussion,
thus violating the cardinal principle of repub-
lican government, witch requires all Legislation
20 accord with the opinions and sentiments of
the people,
That on the prrt of tho South 1t Is an open
and undisguised breach of faith, as contracted
between the North and the South in the set
tlemont Of tho Missouri question in 1920, by
which the tranquility of the two sections was
restored! A compromise binding upon all hon.
orable men:-
That il is also an open violation of the COM
promise of 1850, by which Cor the sake of peace
and to calm the dstcmpored impulses of cer-
tain enemies OF the union at tho South and
North, accepted and acquiosced in the odious
"fugitive slave law of that year:-
That it is also an undisguised and unmanly
contempt of the pledge given to the country
by tho present dominant party at their nation
al convention in 1852, not to 'agitate The sub
ject ef sfarery in or out Of Congress
the same convention which nominated Frank
lin Pierce to tho presidency:-
That IL is greatly injurious to the FREQ States,
and to the territories themselves, tending to ro-
tard their settlement and to prevent tho i'm
provement of tho country by means of free Ia
b0r: and to discourage foreign emirrants from