Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-02-04
ADD Es 8
To the Friends of Freedom in Massachu-
sets.


to be repeated. 1t is not, however, the time, nor
Is it now our purpose, TO discuss the means by
which Massachusetts has been defrauded of an
equal and democratic frame of government. 1t
is enough now TO say that among the ncongruous
elements so recently combined against Reform in
this State, the slave power towers pre-emnent.
1t is chiefly owing to the arrogant interference Of
that power in our local affairs, through its
pulous tools in the Federal Administration, that
we are this day living under the rule Of mInori-
y party, and under the antquated provisions of
an obsolete Constitution. The upholders of sla-
very at Washington and in the South, hate and
dread reform and progress everywhere. and un-
happily possess sufficient power TO check them
even in remote New England.
But, feow-citizens, this alarming and success
iul assault upon the sacred principle Of State SOW
ereignty by men protesting and dshonorng The
Democratic name, --insolent as it was in concep-
ton and humiliating in result, sinks into COM
parative unimportance before the stupendous
scheme Of slavery usurpation, whose outlines are
now unfolding at Washington, and which eclips.
es in guilty audacity every thing that slavehodng
ambition has heretofore attempted in America.
Our object in addressing you at the present
time is to call your attention to the bills recently
introduced into the Senate Of the United States,
and TO implore your immediate action there
upon.
Nebraska lies in the heart of the Continent.
and comprises the central region Of our Republic,
embracing within its limits nearly all the unor-
ganized territory Of the nation. Ii contains 1885,
900 square miles, and is therefore more than six
ty times as large as Massachusetts, and is equal
in extent to all the free States put together, with
the exception Of California. 1t is destined 10 be
the home of millions. If peopled as denselY as
81.
aton three times as great as the present popula-
ton of the United States Upon the borders of
this magnificent domain-the property ofthe Am.
erican people-ihe tide Of emigration is now
pressing, ready TO overflow and fill its plains and
valleys with civilization, wealth, and ever y form
| Of human prosperity. Its restless waves are
stayed, waiting only till the momentous question
is decided whether Congress will respect and re-
| new the ancient settlement and decree which
consecraied those vast realms to perpetual free.
| dom, or will blast them forever with the mildew
| aud pestilence of slavery
| A generation has passed away since our ia.
theirs soleunly dedicated this territory to freedom
| in the following unmslakable terms. In the act
| of Congress which admitted Missouri as slave
State, in 1920, are these clear and noble words /:
" In all that territory ceded by France TO the Uni
| ted States under the name Of Louisiana, which
lies north of thirty six degrees and thirty minutes
| of north latitude, not included within the limits
Of the State contemplated by this act, slavery
and involuntary servitude otherwise than as the
punishment of crimes shall be and is hereby for
ever prohibited
For thirty years the whole nation has rested
| upon this grand declaration as fundamental and
| 6nal. Slave States and free States, slave-hold-
ers and slavery haters, all sections and all parties
| throughout the Union have agreed in this: that
oc 1aU min FL and
| forever prohibited. The conservation of ibis
| territory to freedom was reafirmed and guaran-
iced in the most explicit mannel by the act adj
| hitting Texas into the Union, and by the Com
| promise acts Of 1850.
| The opening of the present session Of Congress
! affords new proof-if any more proof be need
| ed-of the insatiate ambition which charac,erizes
the slave power, urging 1t necessarily to grasp at
fresh fields for devastation. In the territorial bills
now before the Senate, it unblushingIy demands
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and in
sists on license from the American people TO
extend its desolating sway over regions to which
it long ago renowned all claim, and from which,
with It's own consent, il has been formally exclu-
ded By solemn and time honored compact.
1t is on this Tremendous ssne Involving the fate
of the whole nation the welfare of countless mil
lions, and the history of ages yet 10 come, that
| you are now called upon to act.
The slave power has always opposed the organ
ization of States and Territories in the region
made free by the Missouri Compromise. 1t has
tried 10 give it away to the Indians. 1t has har-
raised and impeded the emgrants who have set
tied there, For nine years past II has directly or
indirectly withheld its assent TO the organization
I of Nebraska as a Territory, for no other reason
than that it would be the germ of new free
State At the last session of Congress bill for
that purpose passed the House of Representatves
by a large majority, but was defeated IN the Sem
ate by the Vaccinations of the slavery propagan-
dis,s. This year they perceive that mere opposi-
tion to its organization will no longer avail them.
Nebraska has become the great highway through
which will pass the traffic of the continent from
East to West, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
and it must therefore have territorial govern
ment without further delay.
Convinced of this, embroidered by the success
Of the last ten years, especially by thai of 1850,
and relying on the decentralization of public sent-
ment at the North, the Slave Power with Its usual
boIdness and promptness has resolved TO organize
the territory Of Nebraska and legalize slavery
there. The bills Of Mr. Douglas are the first fruit
of this determination. If they pass and do their
work. slavery will oyerrun Nebraska and all the
other Territories of the United States. Nor will
It's aggIessions stop there. Strengthened by such
an acquisition it will easily consummate its long
cherished designs upon Mexico, Central America,
and W est Indies. And when it shall have OBJ
tanned that uncomfortable dominion in the coun-
ellis of the nation at which it aspres, there is no
reason to doubt that it will not be satisfied until
slavery is re-establisted in the free States them
selves. There 10 in fact no depth of degradation
to which the free States may not expect to fall if
they have moi now the moral courage and politi-
cal wisdom TO successfully resist the most auda-
cious attacks upon their rights and interests.
We are glad 10 perceive signs of wide spread
alarm pervadlng the entire North, from Maine 10
Iowa, at this new outrage on solemn compact, on
ancient laws, on our ensaved countrymen, and
on everlasting right and justice. The people of
the free States are beginning TO discover, what
they should long ago have known, that slavery
bears no curb, keeps no compact, regards no oath,
and knows no law but its own fierce and brutal
will Ii will break all bargains, set aside all COM
promises, and overleap all barriers whenever ii
has the force to do so. Force is lis only measure
of craftsmanship, its only standard Of justice and
of honor.
The slave power to day, exists and prospers
only by the sufferance Of its enemies. united