Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-18
There is no reason why the independent and

There is no reason why the independent and
honest portion of Northern voters should not
act and vote in unison. There is not ques-
tion nor a shade of principle which should sep
arate them. They are united in sentiment up
on the only question which has life. They may
be exhorted about departed questions-they
may be invoked to sustain dead parties-but
obeying the demands of their principles, and
the convictions of their judgments the voters
will deposit their ballots in manner most like
ly to advance their principles. The slogan of
parties has lost its power-the defunct carcass
of partizanship cannot be galvanized into exs-
tence though interested demagogues and office
seekers may strive to their utmost. The issues
which once arrayed community in antagonsm,
have passed away, or are forever settled /; no
thing remains but the names which distinguish
ed the advocates of different views, unless it be
horde of greedy place-seekers who look upon
the organizations as their only hope for office.
The action of the Wing Committee, is not
only liberal, but it is timely and appropriate.
Ii is the only course left for Northern Free
men, unless we are willing quietly to submit to
the Outrages and aggressions Of the minions of
slavery-or what is worse, by disagreement
and division here, to permit their schemes to be
carried out There is moral, political and
numerical power in the North, sufficient to
bring the Government back to the original de-
Sign of its founders, carefully observing all the
guarantees and compromises of the Constitu-
ton, and sacredly respecting the rights of our
Southern brethren-but emphatically and sol
emnly determining that Slavery shall not be
the ruling and dominant power in the govern
ment-controllng its administrative, legislative
and judicial branches. Such power, if once
exerted, would accomplish all that the patriot
could desire. When it is once known that
there is North, the South will quietly submit
to the advantages guaranteed to her by the
Constitution-the security of her peculiar pro-
perty, and not be seeking by constant encroach-
ments on free territory to extend its area.
But to effect this, the North must be united
She must not fritter away her strength upon
abstract questions which have no practical bear
ing upon the present. Shall we pursue the
spectres of departed issues rather than embrace
those which have life, vitality and Importance !?
Shall we permit ourselves like vassals, to be
driven, at the beck of leaders, into contests at
which the mind and heart revolt? Are we
not Freemen, loving our Country, and desiring
her prosperity If so, how shall we best ac-
complsh the object of our desire? Certainly
not by being tickled by old party names by
being divided, and thus shorn of our strength.
while Slavery, compact and active, continues
to WELD her influence and monopolze the 60
vernment, bending everything to its propaga-
ton and perpetuation.
The North is like CULVER in the tolls of
the Lilputians Giant as she is she is bound
down by thousand bonds which though con-
temptble singly, in the aggregate are sufficient
to render her powtrless She has slept so
long, than the minions of Slavery have fasten-
ed her down, hand and foot. Her interests are
widespread, and her antagonism to the aggres-
sions of slavery, has not that pecunary inter-
est which makes the slave-power so effective.
We cavil and carp about minor questions, while
we have common object in view. We cling
to party, until from very offensiyeness we are
obliged to cut loose from the dead carcass
We permit the "glorious recolectons of the
past" to obscure the threatening darkness of
the future. God grant that a common plat
form may soon hold all who are for concedng
the constitutional rights of the South, but op-
posed to the extension of slavery, and to its
political aggressions That day shall be a
proud one for the United States which wit
nesses an united North, and determined ex-
preston which shall say to Slavery, so far
shalt thou 60 and no further This is in the
power of the North if she will only put forth
the strength she possesses.