The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-07-27
Address of the Whig State Committee.

The State Committee appointed by the
Wing Convention at Harrisburg, deem it
their duty to state to their fellow citizens
of Penns ylvania, the principles which are
involved in the approaching contest, and
by which it will, in their opinion, be
mainly decided. They mean to speak
earnestly and explicitly, and very few
words are needed to define their views
Never, in the history of Pennsylvania
was there a cleaver and stronger line
drawn-never a more distinct definition
of principle. Question of moral and So
cial responsibility, of infinite moment to
us and to our posterity, have arisen, and
the opponents of the n ational and State
Administrations in Pennsylvania are u
pited on the common ground of resolute
onnosition to the sectional strife, encour-
aqed and stimulated as it has been by
the policy and conduct of the Admins
tration at Washington, to the interference
of the G Government in controlling the leg
islation of Congress to this end, and to
the further extension of the institution of
domestic slavery in the territorial domain
of the nation.
On these national questions, the Wing
candidates appeal to the people of Penn
sylvania with confidence. Their opinions
are those which Pennsylvania asserted in
ancient times, and which still are in the
hearts of her people. Those opinions
have never been Extensively expressed.--
Had the public mind been allowed to en-
JOY the repose which less than two years
ago, existed throug ghout the land, or had
spirit Of forbearance been manifested by
those who have the most reason to invoke
it, the contest which now asitates the
country would have been averted. The
passage of the Nebraska bill by Congress
at the instance of the Administration, and
through its undisguised influence, and the
repeal in express terms of an ancient
statute, plighting the nations word OF
honor that the Western territory was to
be forever exempt from slavery and the
domestic slave trade, compel the Whig
party of the North, and especially the
Wing party of Pennsylvania, to break
the silence they might otherwise have
kept, and to speak out again, in langu-
age not to be misunderstood, their an
cicnt and fixed opinions.
To the doctrines of the act of 1850,
which relieved us by constitutional means
from grievous social evil-to the great
ordinance of 1877, in its full scope and
all its benefcent principles-to a resolute
determination to effect the absolute and
entire repeal of the aggressive portions
of the Nebraska bill-to the protection Of
the personal rights of every human being
under the Constitution of Pennsylvania,
and the Constitution of the United States
by maintaining inviolate the trial by jury
and the writ of habeas corpus-to the as
sertion of the due rights of the States, Of
the North as well as Of the South, and to
the integrity of the Union, never so much
endangered as when wanton wrong Is
inficted-to these principles the Wing
party of Pennsylvania and its candidates
are solemnly pledged. On this strong
ground they are content to stand, and to
the support of these principles we invite
the eo-opperation of every freeman in
Pennsylvania.
The Congress Of the United States,
soon about to disperse, and the admins
tration of the general government have,
in the passage of the Nebraska bill, (the
only measure Of the present session. and
in their criminal neglect of the great in
terest5 Of the nation, and especially Of
Pennsylvania, made this single issue, and
on it, till the will of the peo P la shall de-
eide it, we are content to meet them. 1t
is not an issue that we have made. 1t is
forced upon US, and we meet it calmly
and resolutely.
We arraign the National Admnistra-
ton aided and abetted by the present
State Executive-for in opinion and ac-
ton they are identifed-before the peo-
pie of Pennsylvania. We hold them re-
sponsible for the revival of sectional agi-
tation. They have, by the abrogation of
the Missouri line, by which, north of q
certain parallel Of latitude, slavery was
forever prohibited, aroused spirit of re-
sistance to aggression which it may be
difficult to appease. They have done
this wontonly, and on them rests the re-
sponsibility. We urge upon our friends
throughout the State, in every county
and township, to organize, and, waving
all minor differences, to elect such a leg
islature and representation in Congress
as will give decisive rebuke to those
who have anew involved us in agitation.
Should such representation be Sc
cured and James Pollock be elected, (as
we doubt not he will be- to the Chief
Magistracy of the State, we may look for
ward to the time when Pennsylvania, her
interests and cherished economical policy
will be no longer sacrificed, or postponed, +,
or made dependent on the aspirations Of
men alien to her in heart and feeling,
when the improvement of her navigable
streams and defence of her harbors and
protection Of her industrial resources will
be no longer denied, and when, at no We
ry remote period, the Administration of
the general government will be intrusted
to those who, frowning down all useless
agitation, will maintain the supremacy of
the law, the integrity of the Union, and