The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-10-27
The ciCrtiOn-What we Vote for.

Cicclloh III tulo county, IL Is true, we sIOulu
dislike exceedingly to see man of as warm
heart, open and generous nature, and Of
the sturdy honesty and political consistency
of JARED b. FORD defeated for county Urea
surer by S. r. LEWIS, who at best is but po-
ltical trimmer, Boosting now Of always hay
ing been an aboitionst although three years
ago he lecturcd us for putting him down as
such in the list of Supervisors, claiming to be
democrat, aud who, although making loud
professions of hostility to IindooiSm, took
year ago the first degree in know nothing
lodge. So Of Mr.. BELroRD, Mai lIlrr and
Mr. JONES, always consistent outspokcn, and
straightforward as poiticians-wc should be
be panied to see them defeated by men, two
of whom were good enough democrats
while the party was everywhere in the ma
jority, but who could embrace abo,ilonism
and even proscriptvc lInlooism whcna pet
ty Office seemed most atilinaJlc in that direc.
ton; and the thrda Clay whis until the &ms
could offer higher bid. Men generally pre-.
fer consistent, straightforward political oppo-
ncnts to wcathcrcochS, although tor the uoncc
agreeing with them. But aside from such
considerations, the election Of either set of
candidates would give us competent officers
and the peoples affairs in tie hands of ci
thcr would probably be equ2'ly safe.
But the result of the election in this coun-
ty will have political bearing, to which
we attach great deal Of importance. Gen
Washington said, when about to cast his
last vote, 81 vote for principles, not men,.
If ever there was a time when the same
rule should be observed here, it is now
There are at present substantially but two
parties in the Countrywide democratic and
the opposition; and they are divided on
single issue, and that disguise it as we
may, is the plain question, SHALL THE coz.
srlIUriON BE PRESERVED:
The constitution is at present assailcd by
the Republican, fusion, or opposition party
at two points. First, an attack is made on
not only the constitutional, but the sacred
God given right of every man to worship
his Maker according to the dictates Of his
own conscience. 1t is true all the members
of the fusion party do not admit this t4- LIE
a part Of their aim but not only in this
county and state, but in all the states,
north and south, it is well known the know
nothings form the larger wing Of the oppo-
sition party, and should they attain power
will they not claim the right, as they will
have the might, to enforce their odious dog
ma in legislation: Have they not done it
in Massachusetts, and but for sturdy dem
ocratic senate, would they not have done it
in Pennsylvania?
But secondly, a more vulnerable point of
attack on the constitution has been found in
its compromises on the subject of slavery
And what are these? Every school boy
knows them. They are first, the rendition
of fugitivcS; 81, an agreement on the part
of the Union to place the institution of slave
~ on level with the other local and do.
nestle institutions Of the states, with which
congress, or the Union, should never inter.
fcrc; and Sd, the thrcc-iirthS allowance Of
slave representation in congress. On these
compromises rests the structure Of this
Union but for these, the Union could not
have been formed Being thus an essen.
tal part of the constitution Of this Union,
their open and successful violation and
tramping under foot can end only in its dis.
solution.
That they are assacd by the Republican
or fusion party, argument is scarcely ncccs-
sary to prove. In reference TO the first, is
it not inserted as the first article in the plat.
form of the fusion party of this county a.
well As the entire north, "Ib, unconditional
yYDi ctHr fugi'irt stare ir" Wchuow
it is said by the iusionists that the states can
pass laws for the rendition Of tugitycs from
slavery. But is this carrying ont the con
stiulioual provision: Suppose the states,
instead Of obcyiug the constitutional injUuc.
ton would, a, Massachusetts, has actually
done, make it penal offence 70 arrest Il lu.
gitjye slave within their borders, what then
would become OF the constitutional provi.
sion; Could congress compel the states TO
repeal their lawsy The doctrine is absurd.
ty itself The constitution cnumcratcs Ger.
tain p0wcrs-amOng them the rendition Of
fugjtycs-oui winds up with general grant
to congress Of all the necessary powers to
carry out those enumerated. The fugitive
slave law was passed to carry out one Of
these enumerated powers. Its "uncondi.
tionai" repeal would be equivalent to multi
flying that provision Of the constitution. 1t
would be n violation o! one Of the sacred
compactS Of this Cnion-bad faith to the
states that entered the Union on that as one
of the conditions, and just ground for, as
it must inevitably lead to, its dissolution.
The second compromise of the constitu.
ton we have named is violated 10y the fusion
party in its constant unwarran,cd attempts
to drag the subject Of slavery into congress
The basis Of the original compact was rigid
non-intcrycntion. As tho word slavery
was never named in the constitution, SO the
agreement was it should never be named in
congress. II was to remain forever local
domestic institution, with which congress
should no morc interfere than with the IN
sGtution of marriage or the collection O
debts, aud the right of no man as a either
of the Union should ever be abridged or i'm
paired because be held slaves or lived in
slave state Yet in violation of this funda
mental article OF our national compact ",
now sec inscribed on every fusion banner
"Thc admission OF no more slave states int,
the Union" Congress, which, in the orie
inal compact, was to regard slavery as
strictly local institution which should ncye
Lonau.ed in It's halls. is asked 10y this fusion
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