Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-10-30
who are Abositionists.


This question is assuming animportanct
that bids fair to eclipse the famous inter
rogatory concerning the injury inflicted up
ON Chilly Patterson" Originally it was
applied to such persons as were in favor O
the immediate and unconditional freedom
of all the slaves in the United States. eli
Their through the action of Congress or the
State Legislature. This definition embra
ced very limited number.
Afterwards it was applied to such as adj
vocated the abolition Of slavery in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, the prohibition of tbs
Interstate slave trade, and the severance
of the general government from all respon-
sibility in its existence, except SO far as the
constitution recognized it. This definition
embraced a much larger class than the
first.
Later in the day, it was applied to al
who opposed the extension of slavery into
free territory, to which principle the House
Iof Representatives committed itself in lS4e
by by dsGijfiSe ,paai88SH lty and the u s Sen
of Honest john Davis" 8
Massachusetts, who defeated it by speak.
ing against time until the moment for q
sine die adjournment had arrived. This
definition increased the number of .sAbo-
litionists'' largely, including, we believe.
nearly every Legislature in the free States
that Of Illinois not excepted.
Still later it has been applied to all those
who opposed the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise. This definition so greatly
increased the number of Abolitionists al
to make it the preponderating power in the
free States and a highly respectable one
in the slaveholding States.
One would have thought that the poll
Ical photographers would have stopped fal
short Of this-for, be it remembered, as 6
class, they were decidedly hostile to the
"'ssn." But they were true enthusiasts il
their calling, as the sequel shows, and con
tinued the work of defining until they have
made abolitionists Of large majority o
the American people. m ea
Here, at the North, it was intended b,
the word-mongels to stop with the last de
Ifinition, because if it were made anv more
comprehensive, it must of necessity EN-
brace themselves. They forgot, however
that their conferees at the South cod pusl
lit another step further without any person
Ial danger to themselves, or, if they remem
bered it, they trusted to the magnanimity
of their southern friends not to do it.
But the confidence was misplaced. Ths
Richmond Enquirer is out with a new de
Ifinition. According to this oracle, all arr
Abolitionists who hold that s1ogeyy IS Z
creature Of municipal laso or who hold tina
Judge Douglas Kanzas-Nebraska bill doe
not teglstate s1acery into those Territories
That sweeps the platter in the free States
1t puts Judge Douglas, Gen. Cass, DAME
S. Dickinson, Jesse D. Bright, the Chicag,
Times, State Register, and all the mel
and papers that support the repeal of thu
Missouri Compromise, upon the Abolition
platform. There they stand, and there i
no help for them. Great is the power Q
political photography
Who are Abolitionists? Every man re
siding in the free States-Democrats
Wings, Free-Soilers-old Hunkers, Wool
1ly-Heads, Silver Grays, Hards, Softs-al
are Abolitionists. So the Richmond Fin
Iqalrer, the highest standard known to thc
Idetinltlon-makers. What do the Times
State Register, Mr.. Douglas, Gen. Cas-
and the other repealers think of that p
Gentlemen, You have come to it at last =
THE chalice which you have so repeated,
commended to Others lips, is now places
to your own, and the bitter stuff must Q,
down. Unhappy word-tinkers = Chica
90 Democratic Press.