True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-01
D@-Neyer has there been period sine

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60
b1-Never has there been period since
the Declaration Of Independence, when
the friends offreedom and humanity were
more loudly called upon to be awake to
American interests, than the present time.
We are upon the eve of great political
contest, which must result in a revolution
for veal or for woe. Who will venture his
reputation for intelligence by denial of
the fact, that it was one of the primary
objects of the founders Of this government
and the framem of the American Consti-
tuition, that equal rights should be the
great ruling principle. Does not the his
tory of our National Legislation record the
fact that the Slave holding portion of our
confederacy, have not been contented to
leave the question of freedom where it is
left by the Constitution, satisfied with the
enactment of local laws in Slave holding
States, but have been trying, at every ses-
sion of Congress, to enlist the General
Government--with all its strength, on the
side of oppression, and a humiliating con-
eession we are compelled to make, that by
stratagem, Southern politicians have been
able to acquire strength sufficient, added
to their own, to accomplish their object.
And thus, to pervert the original inten-
ton of the trainers Of the Constitution, by
extending the mildewing and blighting
curse of Slavery, over many of the new
States, and have by their infamous fugi-
tive Slave Law endeavored to force free
men of the Northern States to stand as a
guard around the God dishonsring, and
man degrading institution. We assert
without the fear of successful contradic-
tion, that the tyranny of the Slave power
and Slave laws is almost infinitely more
oppressive and incompatible with human
rights and the liberty of man--created in
the image of God-than was the yoke of
British tyranny, which our fathers cast
Of, by declaring the thirteen American col
ouies "free and independent States"
Thank God that the time has come
when noble minded, liberty-loving Ameri-
can freemen Of the north, cannot be coer-
ced by the threats of tyrants, into the
mean and contemplate business of negro
catching.
Within the last year, the North has
been talking to the South at the ballot box
in language too plain to be misunderstood
by the friends of the peculiar institution"
Many champions of freedom have been
elected to>the National Legislature within
that period, whom we trust will not be de-
tered by the threats Of power, nor bribed
by filthy lucre,
The North is saying to the South, our
jails are erected for the confinement and
punishment of those who are convicted of
crime against the laws of the Common
wealth, and we regard the love of liberty
as one Of the most noble attributes Of hui
man nature-consonant to the very nature
Of man-and therefore our jails shall not
be appropriated to any other purpose than
that for which they were originally inten-
ded-to speak without any circumlocution,
you shall not have the use of them for the
confinement of your fugitives from slavery.
Every man with a soul in him, abhors
the abominable law which takes away his
liberty, and robs him of his property
Our position is, to give Slavery no other
protection than that which it acquires by
virtue of the local laws where it now ex-
lists. Let Slavery depend on its own
strength, or more properly, on its own
weakness, and the Slave States stand alone
responsible for its perpetuity. We would
not interfere-by any act of national legis-
lation, with the institution of Slavery,
where it exists by statuary law, but we do
claim that it should have no national pro-
lection. The General Government ought
not to foster nor protect the greatest curse
which rests on the fair name of our repub-
lie. We say with the COshOctOn Progrss-
sire Age, "let the people Of the North stand
together, as they have done for the las t
year, on the side of freedom, and the VIC
tory will be won in the redemption of the
nation from the disgrace of lending its aid
to the protection of the foul stain of sla-
very. o
g The American Union contains a
most classic article over the signature, j
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