Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-15
THE REPUBLICAN, MASS CONVENTION.

right for which we are c~ontendlng, is neither
crushed out by the power and patronage and
denunciation of the General Administration,
nor is it to be hereafter bound down and Grip
pied by the shacklcs of party. The pure fame
upon the altar of Liberty burns clearer and
brighter and ioftier than ever. proclaiming the
great and undying truth, that resistance to
tyrants is obedience to God" The Freemen
OF Bradford have arisen in their independence
and their strength, and declared that they will
present an united and uubroken front in the
great struggle which is now going on between
Slavery and Freedom. They have spontaneous
y and solemnly declared that the issues and
contentious of the past, have no longer vitality
that the continuation of past party associa-
tons can only have the effect to divide and
weaken those who are struggling heart and
mind for a common purpose-and they have,
with singular unanimity, resolved to break the
letters of party, and under the glorious banner
OF their common principles, do battle in unison
against the uSurping and lawless power which
threatens to subyert the principles for which
our forefathers poured out their blood.
In another column, will be found the pro-
ceedings of the Republican Mass Convention
held at this place, on Monday evening last
The record will show the character and stand
ing of those who participated in. it. 1t was a
gathering which by its enthusiastic and deter
mined action, and by the outspoken and man.
ly expression of its principles, may well cheer
and invigOrate to active e~xertions the friends
of the good cause. 1t is gratifying indeed, to
see active partizans, arrayed for years past in
antagonism, at the call Of principle lay by the
prejudiceS and recollections of old conflicts. and
come up shoulder to shoulder, in a common
cause. Such a spectacle will give new courage
to the friends of Freedom everywhere. 1t
shows that the people are honest and indepen-
dent-that they have conscientiously differed
on questions of principle, but that now when
reason for differences no longer exist, they are
ready to unite in defence of the liberties thew
hold so dear.
The meeting of Monday night shows how
strong a hold the principle of Freedom has in
the hearts of the Freemen of Bradford-that
it has a lodgment there, which the arts of DO
ltIcal demagogues and the wiles of selfish and
ambitious men can never shake. The timid
may hesitate, the corrupt may oppose, the as
pirant may doubt and cavil, but the course of
our true yeomanry is onward and upward,
guided by the polar star of Freedom, and ac-
tuatcd by a determination to oppose on all oc-
%casionS, and in every form, the extension of
slavery.
10 the proceedings of this meeting we invite
the attention of our readers. Look at the
names OF those participating in it. Are they
not those who, belonging to both the late DO
ltlcal parties, have always been the determin-
ed opponents of slavery-extension =? Has there
ever been the shadow of a variation upon this
question, in the course of those who now erect
the Republican banner, and under its broad
folds, emblazoned with the glorious principles
OF Freedom, are determined to fight on, fight
ever, as long as slavery shall have designs up
on the Free Soil of the Republic ? TO the
principles enunciated, we proudly direct the
scrutiny of all those who have at heart the
cause of equal rights. There will be found no
attempt at deception or double-deaIing no
evasion of the great questions crowding them
selves upon us for settlement no trifing, nor
trucking, nor fawning to party or the slave in
terest ; no attempt to cover Interior designs by
false pretences but in the platform as laid
down by the Republican Convention. there
speaks out the sentiments of the people the
throbbings of the popular heart have utterance.
in manly, honest, significant, emphatic tones,
which there can be no installing. There can
be no misconstruing the sentiments of that par
ty-they are an undying, unceasing, uncompro-
missing hostility to the aggrandizing and aggres-
sive spirit of slavery.
To that standard, all holding similar views
have been cordially invited. 1t will ALWAYS be
found in coming contests in the thickest of the
fray, and rallying around it will be a band of
devoted defenders, whom patronage cannot
corrupt, nor dcnunciations awe but who will
endeavor to effect the purpose for which it was
erected, and which should be the highest de-
sire OF every patriot, to separate the Govern
ment from all connexion with slavery-tok keep
its baleful and prostituting influence from in
vading the halls of Congrcss-and from inAu-
encing the Federal Judiciary to acts of tyran-
ny and oppression worthy of the days of JEFF
REYs-to bring back the Government to the
original and simple design of its founders, and
make it the instrument for carrying out the
purposes for which it was instituted, instead of
becoming a mighty engine to forward the plans
of the slavery-propagandists. In a word, the
design is, to make Freedom National o,l 81,