Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-02
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
1t is but little over two years since Chief
Magistrate of this Republic was inductcd into
the Office to which he had been called by the
people with uneXampled unanimity and who
amidst the pageantry aud enthusiasm of the
Inauguration, declared to his fellow-citizens,
the spectators of the scene, in regard to the
slavery question: fervently hope that the
question is at rest, and that no sectional or
ambitious, or fanatical excitement may again
threaten the durability of our institutions, or
obscure the light Of our prosperity"
And in his first message to Congress, Presi-
dent PIERCE congratulated the country upon
the sense of repose and security which existed
in the public mind in regard to this delicate
question, and gave the assurance, "that this
repose is to suffer no shock throughout my Of
fetal term, if have power to avert it, those
who have placed me here may be assured" In
like manner, the National Conventions, speak
ing for the two great political divisions of the
country, had resolved to discountenance the re-
newal of the slavery agitation in any shape
and emanating from any quarter The couu-
try generally, at the time of which we speak,
was quietly "acquiescing' in the recent settle
ment of the protracted controversy, and peace
and quietude seemed to have settled upon the
Nation.
hpr 81 ha In fox
short months the fire has kindled with renewed
ferceness the question Of slaveryeXtension
again obtrudes itself into the National Coun-
ellis, producing animosity and ill-feeiing and
loosening the bonds of brotherhood between
the States The Nation is shocked by the
conception of foul design to outrage the rights
of the free States, by repeating solemn COM
pac- Of Lh.rty-sour years standing by pro,
position to break down the barriers of freedom,
and give free access to slavery into fair por-
tion of the National domain-and by the ap-
pliances of power aud patronage welded by
the General Government, this great wrong is
consummated. Despite the fluctuations of the
President, and the resolves aud reiterations in
National Conventions and in Congress, that
this delicate and exciting question was finally
at rest and the country safe from all danger
in the future, it is again thrust into Congress :;
and for what purpose? By fanatical abolition
lists to invade the Constitutional rights of the
South BY persistent Free-Soilers to prevent
the aggrandizement of Shareholders and the
perpetuation OF the curse? Oh, no but for
the purpose of repeating a Compromise passed
years ago, and cheerfully acquiesced in, to give
new fields to slavery extension
The excitement which the last year has wit
messed has been produced in the same manner
in which all slavery excitements have arisen
by the desire and determination to extend the
area of slavery. When the Disunionists have
no plans to carry, to acquire new territory for
slave-labor, the country becomes quiet and no
excitement or discussion takes place. But the
leaders of the powerful party desirouS of max
ing slavery universal over this Continent, are
not content to remain in the quiet possession of
the rights guaranteed them by the Constitu-
tion-they are constantly engaged in plans by
which to strengthen the slave-power of the ma
ton, to extend its territory and perpetuate its
existence Presidents may congratulate us
that quiet has settled upon the country-we
may be assured from high sources that the
question is at rest, but such assurances are de-
lusive. Northern freemen may be certain that
there is to be no peace, until Freedom or Sla-
very is dominant. This question will never be
at rest, until bound is put to slavery, its linn
its defined, its power circumscrbed or until
the North shall bow in the dust before the
Moloch, and confess that Slavery is Nation
al blessing, its perpetuation and extension the
object of our free institutions and the desien
of those who achieved for us our Indepen-
dence.
This is the question which is now to be solved
There is no longer an opportunity to evade it.
Cowardly dough-faces, can no more "bend
the suppiant hinges of the knee" before the
slave power, and in the same breath, declare
to the North that they are not in favor of the
extension of slavery. The matter is now to be
met, when there viii be no skulking or dodp-
ing. The recent outrages in Kansas have de-
velonea the plans Of the shareholders. Slave