The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-27

nothing you may hear about Kansas. Every
Misrepresentation imaginable will be told to
discourage you from coming here; and even
after you arrive, find Ant-Slavery men, as you
will learn nothing of the Territory by inquiry
Yours for the right S. N. WOOD.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE Doth coxeREssIoH-
AL DISTRICT OF OHIO.
FELLOW CITIZENS: [ am led to address you
at this time, in consequence of inquiries made
by many sincere friends of freedom, as to cur
duty in view of the position assumed by the
late Convention, held at Columbus Although
nv opinions can be of little Importance, yet
have long been in the habit of expressing
them frankly.
In considering this subject, we should bear
in mind that all national issues between the
old political parties have disappeared; that
there is not now, nor has there been for the
past five yearp, any question of Congressional
legislation on which the Wing and Democratic
parties could be aTrayed against each other J;
that, since the year A. ID. 1913, the question
of Matchmaking or denationalzing Slavery,
and questions connected Herewith, have cor
stituted the only bjeots of deep or general
interest on which Congress has legislated.
The present Executive, in his Inaugural ad-
dress, went far beyond bis predecessors On this
subject, declaring his opinion that Slavery in
the Southern States OF this Union is based upon
the same principle as other recognised rights"
and entitled to protection from the Federal
power.
For the frankness with which he avowed his
opinion and policy he is entitled to our respect
He has lefsSs in no doubt on that point. Nor
has he left his followers any chance 10 deceive
the people. If they sustain him, they cannot
deny his policy. They cannot uphold the one
aud discard the other. To let the country IN
derstand that his practice would conform to
his theory, he recommended in his annual
message an appropriation from our National
Treasury to indemnify the Cuban slave-dealers
who lost their cargo Of human beings on board
the Amistad in 1899 In pursuance of the
same policy, in his message upon the "Blsck
Warrior" he suggested TO Congress the pro-
priety of clothing him with authority to COM
mence war with Spain, to prevent the eman-
cipation of Slavery in Cuba, and lent his utmost
influence in favor Of the repeal of the prohi-
bition of 1920, excluding Slavery from Kansas
and Nebraska. We believe the same objects
to have produced the Gadsden treaty Of which,
however, as yet We have not sufficient iniorma-
ton to speak with certainty 1t is also appar-
ent that the restoration of the African slave
trade, the annexation of Cuba and Hayti, the
alliance with slaveholding Brazil, and the re-
fusal to annex Canada to the United States,
ere all of them connected with, and constitute
part of, this policy Of making Slavery sub
ject of National protection.
1t is therefore most obviously the duty of
every man who would oppose this nationalist
tion of Slavery, to mite in one grand phalanx
for the support of Freedom, for its restoration
to Kansas ard Nebraska,s sand in all places
under Federal jurisdiction, thereby rendering
Freedom national, and driving back the in
stitution of Slavery to the States in which it
can alone have constitutional existence.
The President and his supporters would per-
vert the powers.of this Government to the pro-
lection Of Slavery: we would exert them in
the support Of Liberty. He would make Sla-
very national: we would restrict it to the
States where the trainers of the Constitution
left it, He would confne Freedom to our
Northern States we would spread it wher-
ever the Federal power has exclusive jurisdic
ton.
We arc all conscious that the avowal Of the
Presidents policy, followed by his annual mes
sage, his message upon the Black Warriorp
the repeal Of the Missouri Prohibition, and the
attempts now making to restore the African
slave trade, have awakened feeling in the
free States more deep and strong than has ex-
listed on any subject since the close of tho late
war with England.
Eleven Of the free States, by legislative action
or by State Conventions, have taken issue with
the Executive upon his avowed policy All
these States, except Ohio and Indiana may be
said to have repudated, in detail the measures
proposed by the President while Ohio and In
diana have contented themselves by taking
issue upon the extension of Slavery over Kansas
NJ L L ~
more SlGve States. Had have penned the resO-
lutions of our Convention, would havo used
other language. | would simply have pledged
ourselves to the plain ard obvious purpose Of
separating tho people OF oUr free States and the
Federal Government from all support OF Sla-
very, and the employment of Our energies to
the protection OF liberty yet others may well
doubt whether my language would have been
more acceptable to the people. The policy
adopted by the Convention strikes ct the very
existence Of that avowed by the President, and
supported by his followers If the policy
avowed at Columbus be sustained, the Presi-
dent and his party must be Overthrown, and
the doctrine of supporting oppression By Fed
eral power viii be discarded by the nation.
/ am therefore prepared to unite my efforts
with those Of all honest men, to achieve the
objects set forth by our Convention. care not
what have heretofore been the political assooi-
atoms Of those who unite with Us; | will Only
inquire what their views nOw are. If they will
honestly act, and labor, and vote, to restore
freedom in Kansas and Nebraska, and to ex-
clude all slave States that may hereafter apply
for admission, shall not ask whether they will
vote for free trade or 6. protective tariff for or
against all banks, when such questions come
up. On those subjects | feel but little interest
when man. in the essential elements of his moral
and political being, is under consideration.
The restoration Of liberty to those Territories
will be regarded as the strongest possible dec
laration that "our Federal Government was
constituted to support Freedom, and not Slave.
ryn By uniting with those Wings and Demo-
Gratis who are willing to form party for that
purpose, we shall surrender no principle. On
the contrary we shall unite for the support Of
one Of our most vital dOctrinee-a doctrine that
constitutes on essential element in every Demo
cratic Government--one that can only be car.
ried into practice by Democracy of the
People: - for it is plain that the same principle
which would exclude Slavery, with its crimes
from Kansas, would exclude it from every foot
Of soil under the exclusive jurisdiction of Con-
gress. and leave it to perish within the States.
No man who has examined tie subject, believes
il can exist any great length of time, after
Northern labor, Northern honor, and Northern
influence, shall be withdrawn from its support
The popular feeling of Indignation now per-
vading the free States will secure the election
Of majority Of members to the next House Of
Representatives favorable to the restoration of
Freedom to tho Territories. Nothing but jeal
ousies divisions, and bad management on the
part of these favorable to that object, can pre-
vent such result. If we succeed in electing
members devoted to that measure, they will
not wait for the Senate to DO changed, or for
another Presidential election, but they will at