Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1855-12-26
Mr.. blair on the Question of the pav.

mr. oiaiT ou tHe SCtStlou VI ti.e LAY.
In this sheet we publish Il letter from Francis
P. Blair the distinguished journalist of former
years, who still preserves unabated interest in
public questions. Mr.. Blair, southern man by
birth and residence, representing noble though,
we fear, not numerous class in the slave states,
whom the friends of human liberty in all parts
OF the Union should hold in honor. His rchcc-
tons on the great question of the day are emil
tied to respect, not only on account of his inde-
pendent, upright character, his long experience
and his acknowledged ability, but, beyond that,
by their liberality, wisdom and forecast.
The great object of those who desire to make
our country in reality what it is in name the
irecst on the face of the earth, is to prevent the
extension of slavery, that fruitful source of dis
cord, to which Mr. Blair jnstly attributes our
most dangerous political dissensions. As these
quarrels became more yiruent with every ad
vantage obtained by the friends of slavery, the
check should be applied at the earliest moment.
Mr.. Blair is for treating this great evil as you
would pestilence-conflningi within the limits
Of the spot of which it has taken possession, and
suffering it to invade no new quarter Within
these limits like the plague or smallpox, it may
endure its appointed time; beyond them, it should
never be allowed to pass This, rs Mr. Blair
shows, was the policy of the founders of our po-
litical institutions; policy earlier than our
constitution, and continued underit, till a new
school of political philosophers led the country
astray. BY restoring that good old policy, We
shall obey the dictates not only of the most en-
larged iberaty, but of the safest conservatism.
There are many who arc in favor of placing
the controversy which now agtates the country
upon thequestion whether we shall admit into the
Union anv State which presents itself with a con-
stitution legalizing slavery. That is not the
question at present; it may not be question for
many wears to come; and if the people of the
free states do their duty--if they act with una
| niinity, firmness and wisdom-it is question
which viii probably never come up. Let slave
ry he excluded from the territories, as Washing
ton and Jefferson desired it should be, and there
is no danger that any of them will ask to be a6-
! mitted, with constitution tolerating slavery
| Let the infant communities which are to form
futare states, while in their pupiage, be trained
| up in the way they should go, the way marked
out for them by the wisest and best men whom
| our country ever saw, and there is no danger
| that in their maturity they will wish to depart
| from it..
The true present questionable great practic-
| al question of the moments, whether slavery
shall be allowed to overflow into the territories.
1t is not there yet or if it has entered it has en-
tered timidly, and in fear-it exists only in suf
| fcrance--it is not yet established. We must
shut it out-reSolutely and cffectually must we
exclude from those regions of which it has not
taken possession, and drive it from those into
which it has partially intruded. The territories
are mighty field on which is to be fought the
great battle of liberty. All future contests
should be postponed to this urgent, unaroida-
| ble imminent one
On the question of resisting the extension OF
slavery, there are many who agree with us and
| would zcaiously act with us, from whom VIC
could not hope cooperation in the attempt to
exclude from the Union state which has already
adopted the institution of slavery. We should
contend against the admission of a new state un
der such circumstances, with smaller party ant
i with less chance of success than we can nov
contend against the introduction OF slavery intt
the territories 1t is our wisdom TO make tht
party Of freedom as large and as formidable a:
| possible, and to bring forward no premature is
sues that are likely to make it'll less numerous, o
that give our enemies the advantage of new
ground from which to assail us. In dealing
with a confagratioH in a great city, we do no
waste the means OF extinguishing it en the build
ings which are already glowing coal from th
foundation to the roof We strive TO prevent III
flames from seizing on the neighhoring houses
In states which have once Incorporated the inst
tu,ioM of slavery into their constitutions, tn
d evil is already beyond remedy. The work "
have TO do must be done before the lniseiet hi:
i grown to that hopeless magnitude. ~