New-York daily tribune., 1856-04-22
THE ISSUE FOR 80.
LETTER FROM THE HON s. COLFAX OF IA.
Hogsy OF REPRgsySIATTvEs

WAsHISGIos, Monday, April 7, 1856.
GESTLENEs; Ii had not resolved to remain at my
post of duty here throughout the Session your kind
invitation to address the Republican Mass Meeting in
your city next Wednesday would eertaisly have at
tracted NE away. But though cannot be present in
peron, shall feel the less interested in your
| proceedings which will have important bearing
on the impending canvass.
No man shut his eyes to the fact that the fsture
historian vii look back to the year 1856 the turn
irgpOnt, from which to date the ascendancy in our
! Government Of the principles of Slavery OF Lib
| ery. Heretofore, Southern statesmen have talked
! of adjustments, of conces ions. Of compromises
but at last the vail Is lifted; the himsy pretext OF
Popular Sovereignty having accomplished its pur-
pose in securing the repeal Of a time honored COM
pact, is discarded the South demands that their
claim, to FL a the Territories with their human
chandise, shall be recognized as their constitutional
| night; and State after State threatens almost as
with voice, that Congressional legislation, hostile
to this claim, shall be met their part by "a dsrup
tiCn Of every tie which binds them to the Cnion." Ii
s indeed, period when those who believe that this
Government founded to secure the blessings Of
Liberty, the preamble to National Constitution
so emphatcaly declarest0 protect the ins.ienable
rigtt Of all men TO life and liberty, "a our immortal
Declaration of independence solemny asseverates
and prOclains-eannot, even if they would, refuse to
mt ct the issue. II is forced upon the country by
sskedfor Congressional egislation-by Southern plat
forTsby Judicial decisions, striking down the sover-
eighty OF the Free Sates-by Presidential Messages
by unrebuked invasion of defenseless Territory.
which, worse than tramphng the baot-bo1 in the dust,
the utmost tyranny that Car Emperor would think
Of peTpetrang, crowds IL with fraudulent surages,
and with a refinement of cruelty actually converts it
into potent instrument of despotism, those whose
nights it intended 10 protect. When oursges, ike
the last have alluded TO, have been again anu again
repeated, accompanied by violence, ynching and
unpunsEed murder, and a whole Territory lies
quoIed and tyranpized over for other than
force Slavery upon its unwilling settlers, and when
such scenes-sO dsgraceful and dishonoring 10
national fame and reputation-are alluded to in the
Presidents Message merely iTegularite., and in
the recent elaborate report of the author of the Nebras
ka bill by the mllder designation OF alleged r
regulartes il is indeed painfully evident that there
are but two alternatives for the people of the NORTH
the one j. abecs submission, Ldering the Terri
tories to the rule Of the Saye-owner yielding up the
right of the States to exclude either permanent tran
sent Slavery from their midst, and renOuncing even
the distant hope OF ever limiting the advancing march
of the peculiar the other III that which
tonal Territories in 1856 as in l7s7 no Interference
with Slavery in the States but calm vet nfexlble
sstence TO the further extension Of its bhghng infu.
ences; an incorporation of the great central truth of
the American Declaration Of Independence in Terri
toria legislation; and restoration especially, of that
ancient landmark of Freedom which reckless hands so
ruthlessly removed in 1854. Thus graphing as you do,
feares with the great question of the age humanity
hope, will both achieve and crown your victory.
fou will know, regard the opprobrious epithets
which opponents apply to US as political dengna-
tons with the same utter Indifference with which,
eighty years ago our foreathers treated the contempt
uous nicknames that showered upon "the defend
of liberty" In this land of schoohouses, OF free
presses, and-but one Territory excePted.0f free
speech, the intelligence OF the people will sufficiently
rebuke those who attempt to sneer down great cause
and correct principle by title intended to be OBJ
dRh the % Of aSss .s. ss sI
SHAREHOLDERS themseves insist-nay, more, depand-
blacks" in their houses and kitchens in their fields
and their nurseries, their menservants and maid
servants about their persons and within Their sight,
while we, on the contrary, demand that instead OF
making the new Territories black" " with plantations
of slaves they shall be preserved for homesteads for
white freemen forever.
What il 10 be the result next Fall Of this great strug
gle remains to be written You are yourselves "rIng
by your acts pant of the history of this eventful year.
nnion of freemen for the sake Of the Union cannot
fail TO achieve success to gladden. the hearts OF the
brave men on our frontiers, who have delended
against such overwhelming odds the Cnmea OF Amer
cen Freedom; TO restore the Government to the policy
of Washington and jefferson, the first OF whom de-
elared 10 Robert Morris in 1856, that there was not
man living who wished more sincerely than ne did 10
ace a pan adopted for the abolition of Slavery, and
tbe latter of whom sought, il well known, to pro-
cure the passage in l7s4 OF an ordinance Gated ana
reported by himself prohibiting Slavery ID all the Ter
riioes of the United States then owned or aterward
IN be acquired South as well as North. Every Con-
ve ntion which ike yours indicates that, II Freemen
do fer ON other questions they are willing 10 recog
nze that this great alternative, not OF our out
forced upon us by others in 1854 and 1896 Is the para
mount oyershaowng issue of the day, and preoks Oh
no DELAY; and which declares that ID the presence Vi
this emergency we will cast behind us az dd our hevo-
nouarv ancestors all other differences and their causes
and unite together defense of Whist we recognize es
M. obt-every such declaration cf the people IN the
urinary capacity aids promoting that unon and se-
curing that success which will inevitably follow our
harmonious action. That il il not impossible, the
y,pts of the year have told you already lhe second
month of this wear opened with victory Tor Freedom
In this Hail. remarkable for the length OF the contest
which nreceded H. for the magnitude OF It's importance
"a recognized and declared by all parties Throughout
The land and still more for the fact that was the hfst
time In our Congressional history in whicha phalan1
of Northern men upon this issue hsd renamed I'M
movsbly frm faithful, unbroken, and come o1t OF
nine weeks struggle with their ranks as iuI ana lI
uoe united than when they entered upon "; Inc
second month before the closing of the year VIII OPEN
az | trust and believe, with another victory oi slu
more national importance, which will place the Gov
en- ment in the hands of men pledged 10 restore 70
the policy of its puTer a3d earlier era, Then ~as oI
felony as in Kansas 20 day, TO speak a. ashngt0h
and Madison and Randolph did on Slavery; when the
exteu sion and diffusion of Liberty was regarded as
ore OF the great objects of Government atd wLeh an
earn, Il and energetic attempt prohibit the extension
of slavery did Doi bar up Jefersons pathway TO the
Presidency. Very iTuy yUutSi, vp corr.X
Messrs. Pausou Tucs.r, Fsouie and bHe"iA ''ihn's"
Irtifsiior, Newark, v. }.