Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-09-18

The public mind has recently made 9
big leap upon the slavery question; or ratii-
er, we should say, people have lately the
holiness to come out and act what has
been in their souls dozen years. Some
say the leap is dangerous one; monarch
lists and tyrants never admired popular pro-
gress by jumps: Louis Napoleon breads IT.
no doubt he dreams of bull-frogs. Ma
nv round have the mysteries about the dan
gerons leap of their opponents; having
driven US to the verge of the preclplee,
where, to walk slowly and submissively
onward is slavery, dark as night in Egypt,
they quickly halt, wheel and beat the
Rogue's Revere, while we charge upon
them to the tune of Yankee Doodle!
Wen, do YOU think we are ever to be
forced near that precipice again! No sir,
by the Inflated Sam Patch.
It will be remembered that in 1850, it
took all the doughfaces in the North, the
.ire-eaters of the South and a battalion OF
New York, Boston and Philadelphia cler-
gy to scare up a reaction of sufficient mag
nitude to sustain the Fugitive Slave Law,
and to reconcile the people to the defeat
Of the Wilrnot Proyiso principle. After
a powerful effort, with the aid of the gen
eral government, peace was restored by
smothering, not convincing, public feeling.
Since then new grievances have taken
place, while the old sore never was healed.
The anti-slavery extension or hberty-lovlng
sentiment of the nation has progressed inn
inensely, and was ready to burst out long
before Douglas and Pierce turned traitors
to their former faith and pledges.
Well then, what is to be the extent Of
that reaction preached by a combination
of demagogues, doughfaces and doggery
fortune tellers? We answer, the public
mind may, probably viii recede somewhat,
but never will the back-action be sufficient
to indorse the Fugitive Slave Law or any
further progress of the slave power. The
principle of the Wilmot Proyiso is as firm
ly riveted on this nation now and hence
forth, as liberty is sealed in fate. All are
aware Of the bare possibility to enforce the
Fugitive Slave Law ever since its adop-
ton; has not the public mind progressed
of late, and is its doom less sea-
led than the positive Endorsement of the
other?
The Proviso principle and an essential
of the Fugitive Slave Law
are the material points now contended for.
IF public sentiment has advanced equal to
five degrees in circle, we believe the
points will be won, Notwithstanding any
reaction probable, or that the doughfaces
may manufacture to order.
We know very well that the cry Of dis
lnion, threats Of civil war, yells of dema-
yyogues for ''peaee and submission and a
thousand little cunning tricks viii be resor-
ed to for effect in producing reaction
hat towards will submit, sham patriots
whine and falter, and that all the revenue
artillery of the Federal Government is to
,e let off in broad side to get up re-ac-
ion-restore to submission, and then an
lex Cuba, erecta negro state in part of CAL
fornia, and reopen the slave trade, accor
ding to the present design.
To know Of danger is to be prepared for
or it, and be able for the combat. We
'oresee the popular back-action works cree
ting for the future, but we shall be able to
spare all from our ranks that the sham de-
are able to get, and then beat
them as our fathers did Great Britain and
the Tories combined.