The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
THE "oLD GIBRALTAR"-sTILL TRUE TO
FREEDOM

To the Editor the National Era:
Give thanks to the brave men of the Granite
State They have fought nobly. and nobly
triumphed. Ne have put the ball in motion
for the coming campaign. Now, let the glori-
Gus West straighten up her backbone, and com
plete the victory.
The recent Anti-AdminiStration victory in
New Hampshire is not only most significant
one, but victory that may we'll cheer the heart
of every friend of Freedom throughout the
country. Here has been the old "Gibraltar
of Democracy"-shdm Democracy though it
often was. New Hampshire has been deemed
an impregnable fortress by the Slave Power.
She has been the scavenger of that Power for
a series of years, bearing its burdens, and
fawning at its feet Her doughfaces have
stopped the lowest, and been the meanest in
the land-the meanest, because not neceessa-
ly called upon to play the asinine part which
they haze played. Only think Of their history
in Congress What record of unmitigated
treacheryi But, thanks to the Northern nerve,
Congress has been purged of these traitors
Their political bones are blanching upon our
hills.
In addition to all the old poison cf subservi-
ency which has been infused into the veins of
the masses by cunning demagogues, we have
had to bear up against the present influence Of
the President. he was, too, a popular man
with his party. He held the rein of that par
ty, and bid it turn at the crack of ais whip.
State pride, old associations, generous frater-
nal feeling, all contributed to bind the State
to his chariot wheels, drice whittier it would.
Now, we have had to contend against these
things in the first place and, in the second
place, against all that concerted and well-plied
rascality which Run and MONEY could devise
Yet, against the aUhole of these Influences
against all the Satanic Vaccinations of the
Internal trio, Slavery, Rum, and Bribery-we
have come out Of the late contest victorious,
and carried the State triumphantly for Free
dom. 1t is prouder victory than that of last
year, though our majority in the popular vote
is not so large as it then was. Still, we stand
before the nation, and proudly point to our
present majority of $500 against Border Ruff.
6anism-against the old Slave Power itself
against, even, our own Franklin Pierce. Even
Maine faltered last September. But New
Hampshire bows never! The old Granite
Shaft still looks up heavenward, with the sun
light of Freedom playing around it. Be it a
constant landmark for the free--a pillar of
fire, even, for the advancing hosts of Liberty.
Let our sister States take heart, and GRID ON
their armor for the coming Presidential strug-
gle. New Hampshire has again "borne her
testimony for the Right,
-" from all her gTRniie pesks
once more the voice Of STARK and LANsDoN Speaks
lmperllled as we have been by combina-
uop Oh influences, potent for evil ; meeting the
minons OF despotism at every pass, naughty,
confident, desperate, yet prevailing against
them, we feel that we now have cause for re-
joicing. We feel that the friends of Freedom
IN other States will as reioicingly tender us
their congratulations. We accept them as the
assurance of their devotion and hope-their
faith in common triumph. Away in the
sunset land" we catch the generous "All
hall" of our brother freemen. Here are our
hands and hearts. There, streaming above the
white mountain-tops, is our banner Of victory
Courage, then, Western hearts! BE firm be true:
Whal one brave State hath done ys also do,n
Excuse my seeming enthusiasm. When the
Slave Power is endeavoring, both openly and
stealthiy, to strike its fangs, everywhere, into
the flesh Of the living; when coward lips lick
inc dust at its feet, and craven hearts quail in
its presence; when traitor Statesmen, forget
ting their trust, their country, and their God,
would surrender every post to its all-grasping
tyranny, we'll may we exult at every indica-
ton of Patriotism and Manhood at every
stand firmly taken and successfully maintained
against Power heretofore omnipotent in the
country. Such is the inspiration which my
own heart feels, when | remember that New
Hampshire, shaking off the thraldom of the
past, stW stands erect and unsubdued, true to
the hopes of her early patriots. May she never
falterI Most truly, thy friend,
Moses A. GARLAND.
North WeGre, N. H., 81 mo. 81, 1856