The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-12-26
TERMS, So PER YEAR.
VOL. ky. 80. II.

rior intelligence, bat can scarcely belieVe that
he is willing to claim for hiHlSeifand his coriSi-
tnents superior judgment, patfiotism, and sovt-
reignty, over those enteFprlsing and hardy pio-
neers who have gone into that country 10 fell
the forest, cultivate the soil, 10 deveope IFS ma
tural resources, advance the arts Of peace, the
ends Of civilization, and finally, and very short
", 10 add another member 10 oar happy COME
deracY, The Senator concedeS the right OF the
people Of State 10 have slavery or not. Are
not the people ola territory just as wise as those
of State? Why should they enjoy a less
rneasure of soveregnty2 Is the sovereignty re-
served for the Il. S. Government 10 the people
not as good for a citizen of territory as for him
VINO resides in The State! Is not the political
StatuS Of the latter equal in every particular TO
that Of the former! Most certainly. Then
why not permit the power which all agree IS
conclusive in a State to operate in a terrIiorys
Thus it IS seen the guardianship which the Sc
nator would SCI up can, al most, only exist du-
ring the territorial probation Of State. So
soon as the ppople become State, congressional
Shackles will be severed. What ] mean is this;
that the people, when State, will have the
right to change the local policy as often as they
please, ard no power ON earth can Interfere
Should Kansas come into the Union as free
State, It viii be perfectly competent for the
people afterwards 10 establish slavery, and usce
rsrSq. Thus il is seen that This absorbing and
angry controversy, which at times seems 10
menace the peace 9! the country, i not the ex-
iStence Of the government, IS quite limited IN lis
practical effects. Ii the rule Of decision by po-
puiar viii be a slavery rule as alleged by some.
how are we 10 get clear OF il? 1t makes the We
ry }oundation OF our whole Republican system.
It underies the institutions Of each and all of
the States: ii Is the very essence Of true fepub-
licanism; il is neither mere nor less than self
government.
But, Mr.. President. deny that it Is policy
or rule 70 iavor he extension OF slavery. Those
who make the allegation know better. The vast
emigration 10 the territories ftQn the northern
States, sustained by a constant Accession from
all parts Of the wofld. cannot favor the propa-
cation Of slavery. Why, the Senator from
Maine has told US what we know to be true,
that the owners of slaves in the =. s. DO not
number half million, whilst those who have
no slaves count not less than twenty-five mil
lions. How then, / would ask, are the five
hundred thousand 10 rival the twenty-five mil
lions in the occupation Of the territory, 10 say
nothing of e.nigrants from other countries who
indres against negro slaveryl The idea Is pre-
posterous The accusation has been made to
snbSerye partisan ends, and not because the ex-
TENSION Of slavery was frared. For one, think
this mode Of adjustment SAFE, wise and just
oae. II respects the constitutional rights Of
the people OF the south, whilst il imposes no re-
stricti2ns upon the judgment and feelings Of
those 0! the north. It will at no very distant
day rriiere the country from the dangerous
controversy.
shall not charge HAT The Republican speak
ers aad writer's DO rot come up to their plat
form. a!ege the reverse, and the facts prove
The allegation. i 70 hostility TO slavery, they
not only come up to, bu: went far beyond It
The press, The puipis, and the rostrum, in the
interests Of this party in The north, vented un-
qualified denunciat;on against the institution
wherever found. lis prfiudicial effects upon
the growth and prosperity Of the country, Its
wrongs and aggres>ons, its usurpations and op-
preSsIonS, and HE Ear3ships endured by the
poor African, were thelc constant ard ayorte
themes. and il is idle Tor Senators to pretend
tiat the Arguments oi Republicans were confu-
Cd to the mere question OF the extension OF sia-
very into The Territories: OF that the rights of
tie Institution " here il now exists were spoken
OF in terms OF even he coides. liberation 1t
was discussed in its political, moral, social and
in even It's Christian ASPECT; ard almost univer-
sally N such manner as 10 eSCIte the hitterest
preudices against il aud the States where it ex-
IStyd. Just sncA sentiments were uttered as
We're best calculated to aiiena;r the feelings OF
the people of one section Of the Union from
those OF another. Ii does not become them,
then, to complain that the democratic party did
not meet the issues. They made far more bv
tanning The unhOly flames OF PASSION and prejU-
dice, and BY invec;ves Of trauSienty occurring
events in Kansas. and personal difficulties be-
tween members of Congress, which had no ne
cessarv connection with The real issues, than
We could possibly have gained by evasion, had
we 50 desired. We met the issues, and we met
them fairly, and 10 attest The truth Of this, and
that which | have asserted against the opposi-
ton, could produce speeches and newspaper
writings almost without number, but imagine
that il is unnecessary 10 Offer them here.
Who, would ask, ever heard of Republi-
can speaker upon the stump tempering his de-
uGEciation against slavery By expressing his re-
gard for the constitutional rights of the slave
holding States, or tor the feelings oi those who
held slaves? Some nav have done it, but l
bad not the pleasure OF hearing them. IT is
true that when driven 10 the wall, they would
admit the right Of the States 10 have such an
institution, bu' the admission was SO made as to
generally leave the impression that, in some
way or other, the institution was TO be every
where abolished through the agency Of the re-
publican party. Senators may qualify and ex-
plain, and lay claim to entire loyalty TO the
Constitution and the Gnion--they may discard
Garrison, Philips, Spooner, and all ofthat school
Of disunianists, as much IS they please; bu, no
nan In the north rnllld fail in discover that a