Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-09-16
From the New York herald.
ire Campaign-The Test Question
Shall Kansas be Free or Slave Stats3

GAlk1L Ad.133S W q = 1CS VI 0les9C 0t<4tof
For the first time since the adoption OF
the federal constitution, we have u Presi-
Dental election depending upon the test
question of slavery, IN clear, distinct,
and sharply defined issue. This issue is,
shall African slavery be excluded from or
established on the soil of Kansas And
the solution of this problem, one way or
the other. is to be determined with the
election of Fremont or Buchanan. IF
Fremont shall be elected it will be equiv
alent to verdict from the American peo-
pie in behalf Of the admission of Kansas
as a Free State; if Buchanan is elected,
we have no doubt that lie destiny of Kan
sas will be her admission into the Union
as slave State.
The contest is thus between Fremont
and buchanan, and for Kansas as a free
State or Kansas as slave State. The
position Of Fremont and the party sup
porting him, is the admission of Kansas
into the Union as free State; and so well
satisfied are our southern politicians that
Ffemont's election Will be tantamount to
the exclusion of slavery from Kansas,
that they have forewarned Us of the north
that his election s'will and ought to be the
end OF the Union" Mr.. Fillmore and
MIR. Buchanan have both adopted and re-
commended this alternative of soutf ern
secession lii the event OF Fremonts sue
cess; SO that both NJ Bu-hanan and Mr..
Fillmore stand upon the same identi al
i'atform with Mr.. Toonbs, to wit-the
Omission OF Kansas as a slave State or
the dissolution Of the Union Fremont
occupies the more manly, honest and cor
serva,lve ground OF Submission 10 he will
or the people. whether IL .cted or defeat-
Ell, bu; if elected, he is dyed TO carry
out the policy OF free WEite "A Dor for Kan
saS, to the exclusion OF black slave labor.
He is out of the fight in the southland
Fillmore in that section, is bat a man OF
straw; for upon this single issue OF Kan
sas, we presume that the vote of every
southern State will be cas-. for Buchanan
every one.
There can be no mistake in regard to
this solid concentration of the south upon
BucaaHan-it is for Kansas as 2 slave
State. The overwhelming furore for FREE
moat throughout the North is but the re-
verse Of the picture-it is for Kansas as
a Free State. Every man voting for
'SAto IOt tiic tAtitSluII VI DldCk
slavery from Kansas, and the establish
snent OF free white labor; every man yo-
ing for Buchanan, or his = good man Fri
day" Mr.. Fillmore, votes for the excu-
sisn Of free white labor from Kansas and
the substitution of African slave labor
Kansas at present IS a neutral or debate
able Ierrrory-Afriean slavery does no,
exist there except as undtr an armistice;
and he matter 10 be determined is whcth-
er this southern institution shall be exciu-
Died from or permanently spread over a
Territory OF the Union heretofore free.
This Kansas imbrogio thus comes be-
fore Us In new, striking and peculiar
shape. Kansas Is a Territory already
wlsaln the Union; aud the issue pendinu,
therefore, IS wholly independent Of our
foreign affairs. Ii IS pu1oly domestic
question, social and political. The cues
uon IS, shall Kansas be a free State or a
slave State, and shall we vote for Ere
i-oa: or Buchanan! The South have ac-
oe.pted the test, and are united against the
North. Shall the North be divided
The high northern latitude of Kansas, It's
climate, soil and productions, and its ante
cedents. are all in favor OF making ii a
Tree State. 1t can never be developed to
much advantage TO the industry or COM
lnercc of the country as a slave State; but
i may become very important producer
and consumer as a free State. Admit it
as such, and field will be opened for
hundreds of thousands of Northern Ia
borers and Europ5 an immigrants, who viii
otherwise be driven away, bat who, With
the State opened 10 them, would probably
In half dozen years make ii equal In
weight 10 Missouri in both houses Of Con-
gress. This IS d practical political view
OF tie subject, excepting the secession al
tentative. We had that threat in refer
ence to the admission of California as "A
free State; and we had a couple of Nash
vile conventions and various Southern
elections upon the matter: but where did
they all end! In the crushing defeat OF
the secessionists from stem to stern. in
acqmescence to the law, ana III the fusion
Of the secessionists themselves with the
Van Buren, Buffalo free soilers In 1882.
for the spoils.
In any case, the cry of secession in the
event OF Fremont'e election Is a hunbug
He is in favor Of making a Tree State OF
the free Territory OF Kansas, and that is
all which the South can urge against HIM
In every other respect Mr.. Toombs him.
self must admit that the platform of Free
mont Is safer for the North. the South
and the Union than the vogld-defvinp
filibusiering policy Of Buchanan. We
are not afraid of the consequences Of this
direct Presidential issue upon Kansas and
Slavery. Politicians have been using
this thing of slavery. and abusing aud
lodging II long enough. All honest men
should be glad that they have reduced ii
al length into a shape from which there
can be no more lodging.
All that we ask is that the ues,ion up
On which this Presidential election hinges
shall be clearly understood. 1t Is Ere
mont and Kansas as Free State, OF Blu
chanan and Kansas as a slave State; and
a vote for Fillmore is a vote for Buchan- !
an-nothing more. Let the people de- /
eide and the nallticiapS