The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-08-04
7 HE MINI ESOTIAN,
TUESDAY MORNING, JULY 81, 1855
The Issue-Freedom or slavery.

IS The Issue-Freedom Slavery.
The coming election is one of unusually mo
mentous import. 1t will determine the polt-
ical opinion of Minnesota in regard to the ex-
sion of Slave Territory. This is the main. and
it may be said the only great issue of the time.
In the settlement therefore, of a question SO
decisive, it is our duty to act altogether from
Individual preference. 1t matters not to us
what may be the particular demerits of the
opposing candidate. We would not stoop to
the meanncss of disparaging man of the &C.
knowledged ability of Mr.. Rice. in order to
bring out in bolder relief the substantial char
acter of Mr.. Marshall. We would not decry
the one. nor fatter the other. We would treat
them both with an equality of personal regard.
But as representatives, of popular sentiment.
we claim the privilege of examining closely
and critically their respective claims to our
support. Mr.. Rice. by his asowed principles
while a Delegate to Congress. stands upon the
platform of the Pierce administration and
Slavery extension. The Douglas Democracy
no doubt will extend to him their united sup
port. The Anti Douglas Democracy. however,
will do no such thing. They would stultify
and dishonor themselves if they, did. They
will vote for their principles, whatever may
be the name of the. party which espouse and
adopt them.
We invoke then every sincere Anti-Nebraska
voter in Minnesota, to sustain with his heart
d. ,,.b; oh boc
jnst been commenced in this Territory. The
nominee of the Republican party is man in
whom the lovers of Freedom. without regard
to the paltry names Of parties, can repose the
most implicit reliance. We know that he has
the capacity and energy, moreover. to serve
the people Of this Territory in the National
Halls. as we'll as they have ever before been
served. His modesty and unostentatiOus worth
are qualities which especially commend him
to the people. His strong common sense, ard
intimate acquaintance with the wants d re-
quirements of our Territory, point him out as
one OF the best men we could have selected as
the champion of Liberty at this crisis. Upon
the opposite side the side of Slavery exten-
sion-its advocates could not have chosed an
ADLER man than Mr.. Rice. He stands upon
their pla. a.lorm with the dark banner of Slavery
above his head. He will fight manfully under
that banner. He must lerish beneath it's
shade.
| Thus the question is not, shall we elect Mr..
Marshall or Mr.. Rice? 1t is larger. and gran
der. and deeper, thousand fold than this
1 ~ nd froo
fmen of .'she svess, gise our support to the
principles Of Liberty or Of Slavery? That is
the issue, and a sublimer issue never was raised
on earth. Shall the conspiracy between South
ern propogaudsts and Northern doughfaces, to
introduce Slavery into the fertile prairies oi
the West be encouraged, or shall it be crushed
| by the voice of freemen? Shall we endure the
lash upon our backs, and laugh at the suffer
ings of those whose souls are as immortal as
our own? Shall we cring and bow the knee
to the slave iLflence, or shall we stand up
boldly and lift up our voices in behalf Of the
principles ofFrecdom?
The Republican movement, which is now
spreading like wild-fre through the States and
Territories of the West. is no weak outburst Oi
fanaticism. 1t is founded upon the most solid
conviction otjustce and of right. 1t comedies
| to Slavery the utmost limit which has been
given to it by the Constition. 1t is dctermin-
ed that it shall not pass beyond this boundary,
and that it shall never be introduced, either by
stratagem or force, into the free regions of The
mighty West 8"
Can any Western man, who has any regard
for the future. refuse to sanction so righte Gus
and just principle as this? In our Terrific
rial condition, it is of comparatively little
Importance whether we call ourselves by the
name Of Democrat or Wing. 1t is everything,
however. what our position and opinion may
be in regard to the extension of Slavery. This
is the great point in which our prosperity and
character for the future are involved. We
would not modest the institution of Slavery
where it now has hereditary erisfence. We
would not disturb the Shareholder in his home
or take from him property to which be has a
legal right. We would let him and bis slaves
alone. We will wait in patience for the insti-
tuition TO die natural death. We would not
abolish it if we bad the power. But upon one
thing. let us be resolved Let us stand fast
by the columns of Liberty let us meet the foe
as he comes Westward I; and with the power of
a real, firm and invincible Democracy. let us
assert the rights Of man. and crush forever the
monster of Slavery b meath our feet.
~ .---A--s--a-z- -
FALSE 1--we do not expect to be able to con-