The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-02-17

not, and should not, work beside slaves.
Labor csnnst be respected where any class
Of laborers is held in sbject bondage.
We earnestly request the enlightened con-
ductors of newspapers printed in the German
aud other foreign languages TO direct the at
tention Of their readers to this important
matter.
tits of immense consequence, also, to
scrutnize the geographical character of this
project. We beg you, fellow. citizens, to OBJ.
serve that it will sever the east from the west
Of the United States by wide slayeholding
belt OF country, extending from the Gulf of
Mexico to British North America. 1t is a
bold scheme against American liberty, worthy
of an accomplished architect ofruin.. Texas
is already slaveholding, and occupies the
Gulf region from the Sabine to the Rio Gran
de, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Red
river. North of the Red river, and extending
between Texas and Arkansas, to the parallel
of36 deg. 80 min, lies the Indian territory,
about equal in extent to the latter State, in
which slavery was not prohibited by the act
of 1920. From 36 deg 80 min. the boundary
line between our own country and the British
possessions, stretching from west to east
through more than eleven degrees of longi-
tude, and from south to north through more
than twelve degrees of latitude extends the
great ;errtjry, the fate of which is now to be
determined by the American Congress
Thus you see, fclow-citizens, that the first
operation of the proposed permission Of sla
very-in Nebraska, will be to stay the progress
of the free States westward, and to cut off thu
free States of the Pacific Gom the free States
of the Atlantic. 1t is hoped, doubtless, by
compelling the whole commerce and tht
whole travel between the east and the ives
TO pass for hundreds Of miles through slave
holding region, in the heart OF the continent
and by the influence of a Federal Government
controlled by the slave power, to extinguisI
freedom and establish slavery in the State
and Territories of the Pacific, and thus per
mainly subjugate the whole country to tn
yoke of slavehodng despotism. Shall
plot against humanity and democracy, s
monstrous, and 50 dangerous to the interest
of liberty throughout the world, be permitte
to succeed!
We appeal TO the People. We warn yc
that the dearest interests OF freedom and tn
Union are in imminent peril. Demagogu,
may tell you that the Union can be muinta
ned only by submitting to the demands
slavery. We tell you that the safety of Il
Union can only be insured by the full recci
milton of the just claims ofireedon and ma
The Union was formed to establish justic
and secure the blessings of Liberty. Wht
il fails to accomplish these ends it will
worthless, and when it becomes worthless
cannot long endure.
We entreat you to be mindful of that fu
damental maxim of democracy, EQUAL RICH
AND EXACT JUSTICE FOR ALL MEN, Do n
submit to become agents in extending lega
zed oppression ard systematiGed injusti
over vast territory yet exempt from the
terrible evils.
We implore Christians and Christian mi
listers to interpose. Their divine religion :
guires them to beholdin every man brotht
and to labor for the advancement and rege
Grafton of the human race.
Whatever apologies may be offered for t
toleration of slavery in the States, none C
be urged for its extension into Terrtor
where 1t does not exist, and where that c
tension involves the repeal ofancicnt Ia
and the violation Of solemn compact. l.
all protest, earnestly aud emphaticaly,
correspondence, through the press, by N
morials, by resolutions of public meetin
legislative bodies, and in whatever 9th
mode may seem expedient, against this enc
nous crime.
For ourselves, we shall resist it by spec
and vote, and with all the abilities which G
has given as. Even if overcome in the /
pending struggle, we shall not submit. '
shall 60 home to our constituents; erect mt
the standard Of freedom, and call on the pc
pie to come to the rescue of the country frt
the domination of slavery. We will not dc
pair: for the cause of human freedom is
cause Of God.
=. p CHASE, Senator from Ohio.
CHARLES SUMNER, Senator (rom Ma
J. r. GlDDlNGS, Representatives from Oh
EDWARD WADE, do
GERRITT SMITH, Rep. from N,o 70,
ALEX. DE WITT, Req. from Mass.
AN ENEMY'S ADVICE.