Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-02-28


following smcn,lment 10 il. in substance
"Thh, the people Of tho Tsritorie,
through their appropriate representa-
tives, may. if they see fit, prohibit sla.
very ,hercin,"
Which from last advices wns under
discussion In the Senate. twill be oh.
served that, Of the nine Senators from
the free States, who voted in favor Of
tho principles Of yokine q, least three
fdurths Of the constituents, beside the
negro slave, in the Territories Of the
West, are Broalhead, Of Pennsylvania,
Cas and Stewart, Of Michigan, Dodge
anil Jones, Of Iowa, Douslns, oflllinois,
Gwin aud Weller, of California. Will.
ans and Norris, Of New Hsmpshire, and
Petit, Of Indiana. There were eleren
Senators from the free States, absent
when the vote was takenj whether II
was the result Of an accident, or OF o
dodge, we do not pretend TO Judge.
At the head OF this uncoled for asila
ton, this dark and porf.lious conspira.
cy against the workingmcn Of the ma.
tion, are engngel men who have stool
high in the confidence Of their country.
men; men who have been enrolled in
the army Of the worlds progress, and
counted noble chie(tains in the cause ol
democracy. But they have deserted
heir standard, and unfurlcd the black
banner Of slavery, and are now voci(er.
ously calling upon the people TO join
them in planting the African lacc upon
the "unshorn fields Of nature" the
'gardcns ofihe desert" in the far west;
which the hardy and industrious work.
ingmcn of the country are looking on:
upon, with longing eyes, and hopeful
hearts, in the expec tation soon to possess
it. through the operation Of the promised
"Homestead Law"
The only hope Of defeating this game
of the poi,ica! gamblers at Washing
ton is with the House Of Representatives.
II the discussion Of the question is pro-
longed few weeks more in the Senate,
the House, unler the influence Of the
popular Indignation, which is looming
up sullen and strong. will perhaps have
sufficient frmness to resist this iniquit.
Gus aggression. lu the Senate these fol.
lowers Of Douglas, hi We been trying to
slmo tl,er the protests Of the people, which
are pouring in upon 'hn. body; by or.
dering them to bc laid on the table with.
out any reading or reference. Undoubt.
edly it is .lisagreeabls 10 such men as
Douglas, Dixon & Co., to sec the peo
plc so pfesumptuous, as TO "intermcd.
die with high matters Of State"
We orc among those who arc ever
ready to conccde TO slavery all rights
that Justly belong TO ii; where it has
been adopted by State in the Union;
we would oppose all exterior interfer'
ence with it. There are many gool and
Just men in the South, who feel that they
are doing the best they can with the le'
gacy left them by their colonial masters.
But when slavery is sought to be made
aggressive by act Of Congress, either di.
rec,ly or Indirectly, it then invites dis.
cussion and critic: SIN; and neither the
spasmodic rawlings Of Senators, nor the
tremendous powers which the govern.
ment may employ for overawing mem
nor yet suborned press. will be able to
terrify the people into silence, nor TO
calm the storm which is now reigning.
To extend slavery is to extend mo.
nopoly Of the soil. and il there were no
other reason in existence why it should
be curtailcl, this would be all sufficient.