The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-03-21
A NcM Anti-sIavery Paper in Ra.


The last Democrat has quite complain
ing article in reference to the new paper
about to be published in Rsysnna. 1t ayers
that It is a movement to injure them in
their business-thst it will be means Of
forming a nsw party-and winds up, by
charging that "the Sentinel gives the warm
shoulder 10 the new paper" and that, "di-
vide and conquer" is the motto of the Re-
gsncy."
We of course cannot speak from person
al knowledge Of the motives Of those who
are interested in establishing paper here.
We believe however, that they are honesi
men, and that they have no design to injurs
any one in business or otherwise. 1t is
certainly the right of any man to publish
newspaper wherever he chooses; and If
the anti-slavery men of Portage county de-
sire to establish an organ here, which shall
reflect their sentiments, it is unquestionably
their privilege SO to do. Whether it will
be a means of forming new party or not,
of courss no one can tell. Its editor ex-
pressly sfirms in a circular published by
him, that such is not the intention.
Democrats claim to be anti-slavery in
sentiment, but aside from this, there Is no
organized anti-slavery party in Portage
county at the present time. The Free-soll
organization received it's death bloa0 at the
last election. As party, it was entirely
destroyed and "crushed out" by the over
reaching and blighting influence Of secret
and proscriptive order. The proprietors OF
the Democrat, were the most active agents
in affecting its annihilation. Their desire
was pOver; and they determined to obtain it
at all hazard. They were among the first
to join the Know Nothing organization which
in all its objects and movements, is diamet-
rically opposed to the dissemination of an
ti.slavery sentiment. They professed to be
the friends of freedom while at the same
time, they plotted the destruction of the
free soil party. By fusion of contradictory
elements they expected to secure majority
of the voters to their purpose. To this end
they labored and toiled; not openly and in
broad daylight, but under cover of dark
ness-in barnes, saw-mils at the fair
ground and in decaying warehouses, more
like band of ruffains bent on plunder, than
like honest men conscious of the integrity
Of their motives. They succeeded in their
work. After the election, the Democrat
came out and cody declared that "the Free
soil party has fulfilled its mission" Then,
anti-slayery men began to see where they
were. After becoming the unconscious
tools of aspiring demagogues, and by their
votes having places them in power, they
were politely told, that the party had better
disband!
Now this buying and selling, this treach-
cry and fraud may be agreeable to some
persons, but it is not to all. There are
some men, who are yet unwilling to be
chattels in the political market, to be bought
and sold at the pleasure of their masters
We are not authorized to say it, but we
presume this is the secret and real cause oi
the establishment of new paper in Ra-
VIENNA. The genuine friends of freedom
desire to have newspaper, upon whose ed.
itor some little reliance can be placed.
The Democrat intimates that we are in.
terested in "its success, and that it is 6
movement Of ours to divide the opposition
This insinuation is utterly without reason.
We have no interest in the paper either
pecuniarily or in any other way. The
project was started without our suggestion
or knowledge and twas only after the plar
was matured that we were made aware of the
movement. 1t iswell known that in our po
litical views we differ widely from many o.
those put forth in the Prospectus of the In
dependent Press We Published the circu
lar and prospectus ofits Editor because we
ere in favor of free speech; not because
we agreed with all the doctrines put forth.
We respect the character Of its editor ane
those Immediately interested in its success
and are willing that our columns should b.
used by them, as means of reaching thu
public mind.
We have made no special attempt to di
vide the opposition. This is entirely un
necessary. That party will fall to piece
fast enough without any assistance from us
1t rose up in night and will fall as speed
ly. 1t contains within itself the element
of it's own destruction.