The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-31
{ THE NATIONAL ERA. WASHINGTON D. G. AUGUST 81 1854
From the Montross Ps., Democrat, Aug. lol

AN xIoQuEHr AND HAsLr LETTER.
From the Montsoss Pal Democrat, Aug. IoI
TowANDA, June %, 1854. /
DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 27th has just
come to hand. would be much gratifed to
be with you on the 5th proximo, and raise my
feeble voice In an earnest appeal to your citi-
zens to united action in defence of our free in
situations of Government. am under an en-
gagement 10 address the citizens of Toga coun-
~, on she subject Of the Nebraska outrage, on
the 4th, and shall 60 from there to Potter
county.
! rejoice that you are to have with you 90
able and jealous champion of freedom as
Mr.. Greeley. In making the disputes of party
subordinate to the interests of freedom and hui
mainly, he has nobly fitted himself to render
the most eminent service to his country in this
crisis. The people must come up 10 the like
high and patriotic elevation of purpose, or there
is no hope for our country's liberties The
policy of slavery cannot DO mistaken-indeed,
it is boldly proclaimed The recent high hand
ed outrage is but the precursor of a series of
measures designed TO give the slave oligarchy
absolute domination, to crush out forever the
policy and prinoieles of freedom in this Gov
and to establish on the American con-
tinent the most powerful and mighty slave en-
pire known in tho history of the world. Sub
in the policy ofslavery-
is fatal; and he who breaches it, breaches
treason to liberty. Acquiescence in the legis-
lation of 1850, emboldsned slavery to invade in
1854 the guaranteed rights of freedom in Kan
sas and Nebraska; and to-day, slavery looks
forward with exnlting confidence to the acqui.
stion of Cuba-the absorption of moro Mexi-
can States--the re establishment of Slavery in
St Domingo-the revival of the foreign slave
trade-and to an alliance offensive and defen-
sive, with Brazil, for the protection and az
grandizsment of slavery, and to enable it to
defy the public opinion and power Of the world.
Ia proof of all this, have but to point to the
in Congress, and to the leading
public journals of tho South. In this vast pro-
gramme of slavery, where do the submission
lists of to-day prepare TO make stande 1t
must be made now-fo-day. The freemen of
the Republic, thank God, have still left in their
hands peaceful and constitutional remedy, if
they will use it wisely and irmly--the ballot
box. The power and designs of slavery must
be checked and the original policy of the Gov
on this subject restored. To this end,
we must lay aside--postpone for o time-the
strifes of party over minor points of controvert-
Gu pUiiOy, dilo uuitO III tiiio SLOas WIN VI pAS-
serving our free institutions from impending
destruction.
The first blow must be aimed for the over
throw of the present National Administra-
mere tool and puppet of the Slave
Power. Through the competing influence of
its patronage upon the Peoples Representa-
tives, freedom has been betrayed. 1t must be
overwhelmed at every point with ignominious
defeat. We cannot shorten its constitutional
term of Office, but we must strike down its al
lies in every State, district, and county. 1t
must have no props in tho State, upon which
to lean, for the support Of its inquitous policy.
No man should be elected to responsible Office
Governor, member of Congress, Representa-
tive-whose relations of friendship and alliance
with the National Administration are open to
suspicion. We must accept of nothing in the
presented for our suffrages short
of undisguised hostility to the ultra Pro Sla-
very Power at Washington. Anything short
of this is folly, idle trifling, shilly-shaly non
sense and designed in the end to lead the
people, step by step, into acquiescence in the
policy and plans of slavery. Let no candidate
pretend to condemn the recent legislation of
Congress, and yet hold himself in party ALI
ance with the present Administration. He
cannot be trusted and so sure as he IS trusted,
50 sure aoiu the people and their rights again be
betrayed The man who will not face, in open
and manly resistance, the sggressions of the
Slave Power to-day, cannot be relied upon to
do so on the occasion of future provocation
He ia hopelessly rotten-unsound to the CORE
and viii sacrifice his country's highest interest
and glory, for some paltry partisan considers
tons.
Slavery is deaf to the voice of our rcmon-
co. t. tn tha hictnr,y of tha
country-in vain We invoke the names of
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and their
compatriots, in defence of the early policy and
settled maxims of the Government-in vain
we appeal to the eternal principles of justice
and right--all, all are unheeded, unavailiDg. In
the absorbing selfshness of a great interest,
slavery pushes onward in its barbarous and
destructive policy; subyerting every principle
that gave life, vigor, and success, to our Revo-
lutionsry struggle, and defeating all the great
ends for which the Government was establish
ed. 1t has broken down the highest prece-
dents of constitutional law, in opening to its
ingress the Territories of the nation. To-day,
slavery is prostituting the hottest functions of
Government-endanger the public peace,
and provoking on the country the horrors of
war, for its extension and aggrandizement
Now, at this present writing it is insidiously
undermining one of the most valuable and sa-
cred constitutional rights Of the people, in its
efforts to put the National treasury, through
the treaty making power, at the virtual dispo-
sel of the Executive and Senate. The Consti-
tuition designed that the immediate Represent
atives of the people should be the especial
guardians of the treasury of the nation; now
(as mere matter of form) they are called
upon to vote, in the dark, enormous sums of
money in fulflment of treaties for the acquisi-
ton of foreign Provinces and States, without
even having laid before them the instructions
and correspondence under which the treaty
was negotiated.
When, | again inquire, are the encroach-
ments and aggresslons OF slavery to be resisted,
if not now! The Constitution is invaded-sub-
pretations put upon it from time to time, to
meet the growing demands and audacity of s,a-
very and enforced on the country, under
threats of disunion, and the corrupting applian-
ces of Presidential patronage. The independ-
enee of the House. of Representatives is un-
blushingly assailed, by promises of Executive
favor to such members as would betray their
cor stituents On question vital to the institu-
ito, IS of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS enactments the
mt It solemn and binding, after being enforced
uF n the country by the power and votes of ella
ves /, are repealed under pretences false in fact
anE insulting to our intelligence. Party plat
forms are erected at the bidding of slavery, and
when upon the faith of their honest observance
its candidates are elected, they are PREACHER
ously violated, and new and more degrading
tests of party fealty imposed.
L am Dsmocrat-docply imbued with the
ideas and doctrines of that political school
My principles are safs-I have no fears of losing
them. know what they are, and whittier they
point, and, when assailed, shall defend them
With the earnestness of q thorough conviction
in. their soundness and truth. 1 repcl with