Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-08-21
SHALL WE ABANDON MINNESOTA TO
Slavery:

SHALL WE ABANDON MINNESOTA TO
SLAVERY:
In common with every true citizen, we arr
deeply interested in whatever may concern th'
future prosperity and character Of our Territory
1t is this impulse alone which prompts us to tn,
use Of our pen at the present crisis. We ar,
anxious to see the principles of impartial liberty
continually and universally promulgated among
the people. Liberty is our interest as well al
our right. The question of Nebraska Or Free
dom, which creates the only issue which we o
Minnesota are TO try at the approaching elec
tion is not an imaginary question, as some peo
pie thoughtlessly suppose; it is a matter which
involves our absolute welfare for all coming
time. Our character as an independent commu
nifty depends greatly upon the choice which we
are shortly to make of a Representatives
Slavery or Freedom is now the question.
has been forced upon the West, as well by north.
ern fanaticism as by Southern interes, and Di.
plomacy. 1t has become the great issue of the
day and must be treated as such. We have
"gone it blind" long enough. The South has
gradually been gaining victories, while the North
has complacently looked on-gving way step by
step, until with its back to the wall, it can give
way no more, sriihout becoming Nave itself!
The politics of the Northern States are in a
most degraded and chaotic condition. The
people have been tricked and cheated and pull
I'd and hauled and twisted, by the selfish and
designing wire-pullers Of party, that they
seem scarcely to realize whether they are stand
ing upon theii: heads or their heels. This is
certainly no exaggerated picture of the condi-
ton of affairs in the State of New York. Itin
fact bears no slight resemblance to the state of
things in our own midst. Our great men, in
their zeal to promote their own success, seem
to have lost sight of the great principles by
which they should be guided. Each one goes
for himself and seems disposed to let the Devil
stake the hindmost." Rice and German and
Sibley, for all we know, advocate precisely the
same principles-but personal animosity, Cup
on which the people should set the seal Of their
disapproba,ion,) appears to have controlling
influence upon their actions If they are DEM
ocrats, as they profess to be-why don't they
act DemocraticaAy towards each other-it is to
be feared that such Democracy would scarcely
stand the test of a rigid examination. The
people are instructive in their judgment of men,
and when their eyes are not blinded by false
lights, they readily distinguish the sham from
the true! Drop your private differences,
friends, and then you may be able to organize
a party! For the present there is but one party
in the Territory, y,--.4aai-.Nebrdska and Free
dom! There are factions enough it is true, but
factions are not parties. Factions represent
individual interests ts-great principles alone gire
us thu. parties! No man can go far astray in
voting for the principles of freedom! Our an
Northwestern Territory should be free Terrific
ry forever! Their demoralized defendants in
the North and South think otherwise however.
They would introduce Slavery, where Slavery
can never consistently exist, until the Ameri-
can Constitution is destroyed. These destroy
ers and self.seekcrs would violate the pure in
sttutions Of the West! We are thrown there
fore upon the defensive. 1t is our duty to con-
front these enemies Of our dearest rights. We
should drop for the time every minor distinction.
Do we love freedom! Let us form great par
ty therefore and declare ourselves unanimously
for freedom! How insignificant in comparison
is the success of Rice or Olmsted, or any 9TH
er supporters of Slave Democracy, with the tri-
umph of the sublime principles of freedom,
which at this crisis are ably embodied in the
character of the Republican candidate--WIL-
LIAM r. MARSHALL!
Mr.. MARSHALL although at this time the
candidate Of the Republican party-is true,
honest and capable Free Soil Democrat, and as
such will receive good Democratic support
He is not a seeker Of office and on this account,
the better entitled to the support Of the people.
1t is foolish idea entertained only by those
who presume that Government Is trade, that
a new Delegate cannot serve the Territory as
we'll as one who has had more experience =
No man could accomplish more for Minnesota
than Mr.. MARsHALL-no man would apply
himself more thoroughly to the discharge of his
public duties, or be less actuated by private in
terests or personal considerations. we
elect him at this crisis, or abandon Minnesota
to Demagogues and the principles Of Slavery
COMMON SENSE.
ca The surplus wheat of Canada is estimated
over home wants at l2,OOO,OOOO to $4,000, 900
bushels.