The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-10-13
The National Issue.

now IS, shall 1rceOOm OF slavery pfcuOm
mate? At the origin of our Govern
ment, Southern as well as Northern
statesmen regarded slavery as sectional
This indeed was the prevailing sentiment
No intimation was given from any quar-
ter that its character was national. j
was treated wholly as local institution
As political evil it was to be tolerates
within certain limits, but 10 be removes
rs soon as in the nature of the case j
were possible while as moral evil NJ
limits could of course be assigned Il
moral influence against it; for human
authority may not thus interfere, since
this is field for the free exercise of con
science. for the wise and diligent culture
of which responsibility is due only t.
God. The universal feeling and the
uniform testimony were that slavery was
an evil in itself; its existence being ev.
Ierywhere deprecated, and the determin.
ate expression being general that all ap.
propriate measures should be adopted
for its speedy and final extinction. The
languageof Washington, Jefferson, Mad
ison and the great body of worthy com
patriots was distinct and unqualified in
condemnation of the institution not only
as present evil to the bondman and the
oppressor, but as fraught with fearful
peril to the future liberties OF the eoun-
try.
These are historical facts, of the high
est importance and the utmost signit,
canoe. Slavery was regarded as an evil
and slavery was deemed to be sectional
AS an evil it was of course to be removed
and as sectional it was consequently moi
to be extended. Nor, at the adoption o.
the Constitution, was it even recognized
in terms, lest the mere recognition, in the
light of our professions as a free and in
dependent people, should involve an in
consistency and absurdity. which would
expose US to the derision of the civilized
world.
But how is slavery now regarded? Is
it not regarded as National institution,
not only by the entire South, but also to
some extent at the North The evident
determination ofthe South is, to preserve
what she is pleased to call the Equilibri-
um of the States. Hence she claims for
every free State admitted into the Union
another slave State. And in order most
effectually to accomplish this result, she
appeals at once to Northern ambition,
which under the garb of conservatism
renders prompt and decisive aid. The
administration of Texas, the passage Of
the Fugitive Act, the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, are mournful instances
of the political prostitution of Northern
representation.
But the case of. Kansas furnishes the
most open and daring evidence of the
purpose of shareholders to extend the
area of slavery and nationalize it as an
institution. Here the plan is unfolded,
the determination avowed, to secure that
Territory at any and every cost; and
this base design is distinctly encouraged
if not decidedly aided by the National
Admin istration.
The issue, then, and the only material
issue before the country is freedom or
slavery. This is the battle ground. Here
is the contest. In this warfare, quickly
girding on his armor and readily enter
ing the field, will every true friend of
freedom cheerfully engage. And if the
contest were strictly between the North
and the South, the result would not be
doubtful. But unhappily it is otherwise.
By force circumstances, party claim
ing to be Democratic, but without the
shadow of a reason for the appropriation,
has allied itself to Southern interests I'M
der the miserably hollow pretence of
special regard for the Union, while il is
apparent to the most casual observation
that the partizan domination and person
al ACKNOWLEDGEMENT constitute the ruling
motive of leading spirits.
Of the blessings of freedom and the
curse of slavery, in all the varied rela-
tions of human life, it were superfous to
speak. On this subject Northern theory,
it may charitably be hoped, is now COM
paratively sound. But on the question
of open resistance to the aggressions of
slavery into territory consecrated to free
dom, there is unhappily a division of
sentiment at the North, of which the
South is ready to avail herself. and by
means of which she has been enabled
hitherto to conquer.
To meet this growing difficulty, and
turn back the current of perverted North
ern sentiment, demands not spasmodic
and periodical, but constant and unre-
hitting effort. Nor should it be confined
to the larger places, nor to large assem-
blies. Every village and plantation and
hamlet should be visited, and into every
ear the living voice of truth should be
poured, and before every eye should be
presented the inspired page of freedoms
claims to the highest services and the
largest sacrifices of her devoted sons.
Nor should we be misled by the sense
less clamor that the Union is hereby en-
dangered 1t is republican measures
alone, which, under God, will save the
Union, if her doom be not irrevocably
fixed. 1t is republicanism, not slave
holding Democracy, nor Northern dough-
facism, which is the true conservator of
the Union. 1t is republicans more than
others, who consulting the welfare of the
Union by careful study-of the constitu-
ton, insist upon a rigid application of its
principles to the administration of the
general Government. The false charge
of the slaveholding oligarchy and their
Northern Democratic confederates, of
want of fealty to the Union, should be
met by renewed endeavors on our par. to
secure the observance of its just claims
upon every portion of our wide domain.