Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-09-13
Northefn Democracy ON Slavery.

Northern Democracy with Abolitionisn, and
at the North, they are charged by the
Know-Nothings and Black Republicans
with being slavery propagandsts. Both of
these charges can not be true. Both are
false. The Democracy of Pennsylvania
oceG3y a conservative position on the slave
ry question, as is proved by tie annexed
editorial from the Valley Spirit. We do
not expect them to love the institution of
slavery, or to labour to extend it; but all
we ask, as southerners, is our constitutional
rights in the Territories and in the admis-
sion of new Slave States, and this, it will be
seen, they freely accord to us;
II: is standing charge against the De.
nocracy, that they are in favor of the exc
tension of Slavery. Opposition editor.
make this charge daily 10 their papers
| opposition orators shout it from the hust-
ings, and opposition ighoramuses believe
| It. Sensible men of all parties know II to
be a falls. hood, and sensible aud honest
men every where admit its falsity. No
man could assert greater falsehood than
to say that the Democracy OF the Free
States are in favor OF slavery in any
shape or form. 1t 10 true that they are
opposed to interfering with slavery in the
States where it exists, because the Cons.i-
tuition permits it where the people choose
to establish it, 1t is also true that they are
willing to admit slave States into the Un-
ion, should such be formed, because they
believe that they have no Constitutional
~, rrob hit tho o1,,,sce.a,, ~
State which brings to the door of the Un-
ion a Republican form Of governmen..-
But they are neither Slavery extenslonsts
nor slavery. men in any form. They do
no; desire, but would oppose. the introduc.
ton of slavery into the free States, nor do
they desire its extension TO the Territories.
They would prefer to see Kansas finally
admitted as free State. Out Of million
Of Nouhefn Dem0crats, we believe il
would be utterly impossible TO find one
| thousand who, i. residents Of Kansas. would
no, vote against the establishment Of Slaa
very, whei, the question came fairly before
them of the formation of State Consitu-
ton. They would not undertake to keep il
out of the Territory by means of Sharpe S
Rifles, but when the time came for adopt.
ing Constitutc;l and fixiNg permanently
the institutions OF the State. they would
cote it out, This they would do with the
sanction OF the organic act of the Terrific
~. the Kansas Nebraska bill. which leaves
the People, the source OF Power in this
country. perfectly free" as they ought to
be everywhere, ''to regulate :heir own do
nestle institutions" 1t Is not, there fore,
because they are in favor Of the extension
OF slavery, that the Democracy Of the
Free States refuse TO join in tie "shriek3
for freedom" which now make both day
and night h,deous in the North. They
take the Constitution for their guide, and
in tina! instrument they find no warrant
for the exclusion of Southern institutions
from the common property oftheUnion, the
Territories are open to settlement from all
sections, save by the legally expressed will
of majority Of the inhabitants thereof
"The men who charge that the North
ern Democracy are in favor ofslavery, know
very vel that they assert what is false
They are not so deplorably ignorant as not
to know that tie people of The Northern
States are all opposed TO slavery, but they
are, unfortunately, so wretchedly dishon-
est as to ha5itually and wiif,tlly msrepre-
sent the sentiments Of the Democracy
Southerners themselves do not ask North
EN- men 10 endorse slavery. Thes only
ask them to let it alone, aud this is wha,
the Northern Democracy are IN favcr of
doing"