Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-03-13
Paper from Francis p. Blair.

I Paper from Francis P. Blair.
! Mr.. Blair was seat to the Pitsburg r.
publican Convention, by an Association il
Baltimore and he read the following docu
ment 70 that body. 1t is an excellent re
futation Of the charges ol "Abolitionism,
l"Sectioualism,'' &c, &C., made against th,
Republican patty
There is a gtest body of thinking mer
10 the Southefn Sia,sfaTnany I ksow ID
Maryland, considerable number, my neigh
b1rs IN Montgomery county, who deplort
the repeal Of the Compromises in relation
to Slavery, VIII ch all hoped had terminal.
ed the distractions, growing out OF this dis.
turbing subject forever. It is true ,hese
people have not hitherto manifested by
public demonstrations their solicilude. The
violation of good faith in the breach OF
tnese compacts Of peace between the sec
ions, and the fatal consequences likely to
follow, were not at first obvious TO The
mass OF the Southern people, because by
the art CT the politicians who conducted
the passage of this measure through secret
caucus, where all The personal interests of
the leaders in Congress and their partizans
making up the majority in both Houses ne
cessary to elect it, were previously arrang-
ed-the repeal was made to apl ear, as the
voluntary tender of the North. There had
been no consultation by the mcmbers of
Congress, in any ,luar:er with their con.
stituents, either BY issues made before the
people. during the Canvass or afterwards, or
by address, petition, and votes in public
meetings or 5y resolutions.
Among US extraordinary changes, 'safsc,-
ing large interests, and reaching tho feel.
lngs, the prejudces, the religious and po-
Utica. principles OF men, US well as the
political power OF the States had hitherto
always been preceded or attended by every
mode of forming and eliciting the pubic
opinion, which is the vital lmJ, ement ia
Kepub lean Government. but in the late
overthrow of all the adjustments of the
most anxious question which Cong e.s hls
had to deal with, from its first to the
present session, plt a .whjsper of the de-
sign was permitted to reach the public ear
until its success was sealed by the private
arrangements Of The politicians in Congress
IN conjunction with the President. The
measure when publicly presented was at
first Velled in the Committees Report, as
being bu; a reference to the Supreme
Court Of question involving the con5,itu-
tionaIlty of the Compronses--ihe ,.s a
conclusion thtt the compromise Of 1870
was superceded BY the compromise of 1850
but this Interpretation of the Dill. covertly
cOntuncd the repeal Of the co npr1mise ut
lS20--that of l350--and also the compact
with Texas; by which all the Territory re.
served by each of them a, free from Siav-
cry in the territorial condition, was opened
up to its admissions
This Bill OF Intrigue, passed in concIay,,
BY the aspiring politicians to subserve per.
sonal interests WAS well understood by
themselves and their partizsns to be
bonus for the Southern vote in the elec.
ton of President, put it was ushered into
Congress as the voluntary Offering of the
North to the South to principle of equality.
1t was thus divested in the eyes Of the
s nth, of being a breach of faith on their
side. 1t come as free gilt to them from
the Chief Magistrate and other leading men
Repres es.ntatves of their Northern brethren.
lhey were not aware Of the tre1chery Of
these Representatives to their constituents,
nor did they anticipate the excitement which
has ensued from the wrong, aggravated by
the betrayal by which it was attended nor
the dangerous consequences likely to follow.
MuliiIudes of honest patriots in the Slave
hnIuiun Stntas ,rbA l,va LII;
will ng'y restore the compromises, the work
of the great men of ihtir own reaion-
They are sensibes of the fatal effects Of
its dissolution upon the peace and pros
peritv OF the confederlcy, and of the IL
evitable destruction Of the security in which
they hold the Slave Inslitution-of the
frightiu scenes OF civil war and Slave in.
surrection which might arise out Of the
collisions between the two sections--on the
one side wearing the aspect of war o.
conquest, for the extension of Slavery,-on
tho other a war of defence TO preserve the
rights Of the enigrants who have gone
from their boscm, But these men of good
faith who respect engagements, and above
all, the engagements which have produced
concord and happy ties between the States
of the Union, ind their section, already
embarked in strife by the combination of
politicians, who seek personal advantages
by the power il gives them over the masses.
Warfare always commits the power and in.
terests OF the many, 10 the few chiefs who
manage il; and 50 the whole Soulh is at
This moment in the hands OF politicians
who have conlrived the movement, to strip
the North of it's interests, as provided for
ia the several compromises: and the best
men Of the slave holding States. who are
s,nsibe of the inquity lcannot venture TO
declare their sentiments, lest they nclir
the imputatiun r5f dsserting their own sec.
tiou ia contest IN which defeat would be
huu,ilstion, and for which The leaders who
have produced it. would subject Them To
tn. charge Of ia ling TO stand by the cause
OF their peculiar institutions.
! The persons who have sent me- TO this