The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-09-15
The Cry of e:Aboliti0nism. -

The Cry Of s.Abolitionism.''
There is one of Esop's good old fables,
which relates story of the adventures Of a
ravenous wolf and an innocent lamb, who
one day met on the banks of pleasant stream
to imbbe of the cooling waters. The wolf
took position above the lamb, and proceed
ed to find fault with lis harmless neighbor
for troubling the waters, 1t Was in vain that
the lamb demonstrated. "Thc current flows
from you to me-" said he to the Welt; "it is
l who must swallow the mud and filth which
your action mingles with the pure element"
The wolf, incensed at having the truth so
plainly and honestly spoken, proceeded at
once to devour his helpless neighbor. a-
An ambitious demagogue, Stephen A. Doug
las by name, has attempted to play the part
of the wolf in the fable. He and his crea-
lures, in the North and the South, have trou-
bled the waters of the great national stream,
and now cry out to those of us who wefe
content to abide by the time-hallowcd COM
promises of our fathers, cit is you abolition
lists who are creating all this difficulty" He
packs his hirclings into every crevicc and cor
ner of the Free North, and teaches them to
below" Abolitionism" to every conservative
Wing or Democrat who has the manlness to
oppose the spread of Slavery overFrce Terri
tory. Here in Minnesota, he has as his sup
porters a knot of politicians who seem to
know no more about the practical workings
of Slave Labor and the beneficial results of
Free Labor, as the two institutions may have
a bearing for good or evil upon the welfare
and political destinies and economy of great
State, than they do of the unrevcaled history
of past nations. Yet they can cry "Aboli-
ZIONIST" to every man who chooses to cross
them in their attempts to gain political ag-
grandizement. ra .ssa
Take their leader in Minnesota, Henry NJ.
Rice, for instance: He is Vermont Yam
kee who came carly in life to the West, and
learned the art of politics by trading with the
Indians. He has studied human nature in
the camp of the ignorant savage, and he has
practised his knowledge of political tactics
thus acquired, upon only such white men as
could be moulded to his lrv~elices and interests,
which motive combines the whole routine,
sum and substance of his principles. A slave
himself to passions and prejudiccs, l G cannot
conceive how other men can view the great
affairs of the human world in different
light. He is thus induced to surround him
self with men of the same stamp of mind
and character chief organist, Joseph r.
Brown of the Democrat, being fair illus
tration of the class. They can denounce their
opponents as "abolitionsts," and fit associ-
ates for penitentiary consicts, but they have
not the capacity to comprehend why it is pos
sible for those opponents to assume an honest
position upon great principle, which prin-
ciple deeply affects the welfare and perma-
hence of the nation itself.
The continual harping of this charge of
" abolitionism" against the great Republican
party of the country, may for the moment
lead astray some good and honest men who
do not probe the matter to the bottom 1t
is true, the Republican party in many of the
States, and in Minnesota, holds within its
ranks the men who were formerly identified
with the abolition party of the country
Thus, to illustrate, we find Giddings of Ohio,
upon our platform. But he has consented to-
stand upon that platform for the present by
yielding his ultra abolition views, and joining
the great conservative body of Wings and
Democrats, now known as Republicans
That body, as party, seeks only to restore
the Missouri Compromise, and put final
limit to the, spread of Slavery over Free Ter
ritory. No interference with Freedom where
it legally existed before the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, and no interference with
Slavery where it existed by local law prior to
that direful event. This is the great founda-
tion-the cornerstone of the Republican
party.
We publish to-day communication treat
ing of this exciting element which divides the
leading political parties of the country at this
time. 1t is written by young gentleman of
the best of connections in one of the more
HoI CHerH OldVe CCaUS, WncfC ne was born
and educated. Wefear he has become fright
ened somewhat at the .bug-a boo cry of cab
olltionism," which has been raised by the
douglas wolves of the country. We cannot
regard MIR. Sumner as "fanatic,o although
ne is a man of jealous and ardent tempera-
ment. we regard the attack of DIR. Bleck-
enrdge upon his speech of May last at Nj
DOS ineatre, as an unwarrantable ebullition
<,f dvrrnc tod
reply to argument and truth adduced by the
Massachusetts Senator, as potent and Hnan-
swerable as the truth spoken by the lamb to
the wolf in Esop. The only reason, to Judge
by the temper Of his production, WHY DE-.
Breckenridge did not proceed at once to de-
YOUR Mr.. Sumner literally, was because the
plain-spoken Northerner did not happen to
come within reach at the moment of the new
erend gentleman.
we hope our young friend will examine
more closely into the tendencies of the prin-
c G which are now being advocated at the
North. We think he is in a fair way to be-
come good Republican.