The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-08-19
THE PERRYSBURG JOURNAL.

tions Of right have been outraged, answer !!
These politicians will, if necessary, en-
deavor to prevent you from free expression
of opinion and independent action. We
know they are formidable power, enjoying
as they do, patronage and position. For
the truth of this, we need only call your at
tention to the large number of men within
your own knowledge, who have been subsi-
died, and are now controlled by this power.
The patronage of the general government
is enormous, and it has been unsparingly
used wherever and whenever policy demand
ed. Presses, once vociferous and earnest in
the defence and service Of freedom, have
been converted into instruments Of the slave
power by the disposition of patronage. We
suggest to you that politicians who have III
years past made all kinds Of political pro-
fessions; and for years to come divided all the
Offices among themselves; and presses whose
opinions are bought by lucrative Offices,
whoever and wherever they may be, are alike
unworthy Of your confidence and support.
We are aware that your attention will be
diverted if possible by the presentation of
false issues, by arousing your prejudices, by
reviving the racollections of old rivalries
and animosities, and by industriously propa-
eating among you the grossest falsehoods.
We adiura you therefore, to forget and
bury all minor differences, and regard only
the future destiny and condition Of your
glorious country, and the trust committed to
YOUR care, to preserve the freedom we in
herit
This vast question, involving in itself the
questions Of what kind of institutions shall
u, 60 I1;-b,1 ,,,,-o+4Iol
and all the policy, the laws, The well being
of the inhabitants Of an almost illimi-
table area, is surely Of more importance
than the personal rivalries of yesterday,
and the local policy Of the hour. 1t
is true that men viii be called to cooperate,
who will differ on minor topics and freely
express those differences. This is right
that every one should hold sacred, the vim
dcation of his individuality republican
right, which all ought to assert, and none sup
press. Let us then, on this great question:
the livin2 and most vital question of the age
in which we live, be united in singleness o.
purpose, and unity Of action. We are not
called on to merge our convictions on minor
matters. but to maintain them. Let us be
single like the ripples, but one like the
stream, which they help to make irresistible.
We wish to fill the halls Of congress with
men bound by no alliances with the slave
power, guilty of no such atiinities, live men,
men Of thought and action, brave men,
who will be unseduced and unawed on the
floor of congress, men animated by all the
ideas Of rational and enlightened progress.
To the representatives of ideas that look
only to the freedom and development of man,
you can safely trust your interests. To the
representatives Of a policy that would de-
grade our new territories, paralyze their in
dustry, and render them an unfit home for
freemen, and populate them with slaves, and
curse them with the institution of slavery,
and pack the hall of congress with its rep
resontatives, you cannot trust. Let us then
cooperate together in common cause, and
for common object.
Fellow Citizens in conclusion, we ap-
peal to you to examine thoroughly and can
.didly the various considerations that present
themselves, to induce you to unite with us
in the coming contest Dissolve for once
old party ties-and discard for once party
pride, for a crisis such as this country never
saw, is presented, and slavery or freedom
must triumph. All compromises are now at
an end. Constitutional obligations, in the
destination of the south, are but ropes OF
sand. The constitution, the laws, the cour-
tcsics Of life are all trodden down, in mad
career, to propagate an institution which
civilization has outgrown, and which is