Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-22
REPUBLICAN, CANDIDATES.
ELECTION TUESDAY, OCTOBER Q.
IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESENT CONTEST.

IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESENT CONTEST.
Never have our Freemen been called upon
to exercise their most inestimable privilege. un-
der circumstances which so loudly demanded
that they should rally to the support of their
principles, to stay the tide of unlawful usurpa-
tons which threaten to overthrow their liber-
ties, and to make them subseryient to the
Slave oligarchy. Never was there Il time which
more strongly demanded united and vigorous
action on the part of the North. Not indeed,
to elect a few county officers, but to yindicate
those principles, the faithful observance of
which are the safeguard of our free institutions,
and to beat back the advance of slavery-propa-
gandism, which bids fair, unless speedily check
ed, to re-establish the peculiar institution"
upon the soil Of the Keystone.
Fellow-citizens, the issue is upon us. 1t is
not of our seeking but it must nevertheless
be met. Shall We meet it as becomes Ameri-
can Frecmen, or shall we quietly and supinely
permit the bounds of slavery TO be extended,
the institution to be forever perpetuated and
strengthened, and this Republic Frustrated and
humbled beneath the feet of this great and
overbearing power? 1t rests with you to de-
termine this question. The answer must be
speedily made, or it will be too late. Slavery
will fasten itself upon every foot of available
territory-will stretch out its arms in every d.
rection and strangle our liberties in its en-
brace.
Look back, we beseech YOU, upon the his
tory of this attempt to extend slavery. OBJ
serve the alarming progress which has been
made. See low domineering and i~nsolent has
become the language and actions of those who
are openly declaring their purpose to make this
Union a slave Republic. Mark the excuses
and pretences set up by their adjuncts, the
Northern dough-faces. When the Wilmot
Proviso was offered, said they, WYATT until
We shall acquire territory, and We will be
ready to apply to it the Jelfersonian Ordi-
nance" But when, in concluding peace with
Mexico, We came in possession of territory Suf-
fcient to form a vast Empire, these same men
opposed the application of the Wilmot Provi-
50, because slavery was prohibited by Mexican
laws that it could only exist by positive en-
actment, and that those territories must be
free, until slavery was introduced and sanction
ed by the voice of the people, which it was
contended would never be.
But the most fragrant violation of National
faith, and of the obligations of honor and of
duty, is found in the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise. Which of you, Democrats of
Bradford, when you voted for Franklin PIERCE
could have been made to believe, that the Mis-
souri, Compromise would be repealed during his
term of Office, and the infamy consummated by
force of the patronage and power, you were
coGflding to his hands? Who was there ready
to believe, that such a gross outrage was to be
perpetrated upon the good faith Of the country,
and upon the rights of the North :? With what
doubt and d~erision would the prophesy have
been received, which then foretold this act of
gross injustice and the disgraceful and lawless
scenes which are its natural consequences.
Il is in vain to attempt to shut our eyes to
the overwhelming truth that the great struggle
is upon us, Step by step has the slave power
trespassed upon the rights of the North
gradually, but surely, have they made their in
sidious approaches to undermine and overthrow
our most cherished privileges. We have fore
borne, until further forbcarance becomes sheer
cowardice. If we now fail to assert our rights
we shall be dcrelict to our duty, and unfaith-
full to those to whom We should bequeath our
liberties untarnished and unshackled. We have
already acquiesced in too much wrong, and
compromised too often the right. Shall we
now, as Freemen, rise up to vindicate the III
tegrity of our free institutions, or shall We
quietly permit our liberties to pass from us,
and the chains of bondmen to be put upon our
limbs?
Ereemen of Bradford You have a promi-
nent part to play in this contest. Upon you
falls the brunt of the battle. The eyes of the
friends of Freedom in the State, and through
ont the Union, are turned with great anxiety
to Northern Pennsylvania. If she fails, then