Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-04-11
GREATGAM.

| n GAEAT GAIN
The results of the attempt of the south.
ern slave aristocracy, in alliance with north
ern doughface democracy to place thi:
Union forever under the domination of thu
slave drivers lash, are worth studying. Il
was supposed that the agitation Of the slave
question had been settled by the compro
mises of 1850. These compromises were
deemed complete and final; and so without
doubt they would have been regarded by
the great body of the northern people,
Had these compromises, unpalatable as they
were, been undisturbed, we do not believe
it would have been possible to have arrayed
a party of anti-slavery men of any influence
in any State. But when the south with
the aid of northern traitors, attempted by
one bold stroke to repeal the most sacred
compact between freedom and slavery ever
made, and to throw open our territories to
the desolating hand of slavery, the following
results were sure to be wrought out.
l. All future compromises were made
impossible. When one of the parties to
any contract is found utterly faithless, the
other will certainly enter into no further
agreements. The south has shown that the
most solemn obligations, are like fax in the
fire, when opposed to the interests of slave
ry. They have repealed the compromise
with the cool villainy of felon who casts
will into the flames, that he may inherit
over the true heirs. They have made it for
ever impossible that the north should trust
them in another compromise. This is a
great gain.
2. The battle between freedom and slave
ry must now be fought to its end. One
party or the other must be not merely de-
feated, but annihilated. In the war nc
quarters can be given. The question long
STAYED of, must now be finally settled,
whether freedom or slavery must give laws
TO this nation. This, too, is great gain
We have had enough of sham truces and
hollow compromises. We would fain know
whether $4,000 Shareholders are TO give
law to 3O,OOO,OOo of free people.
8. The contest between freedom and
slavery has been and is great national
school of liberty. 1t has done and is doing
moro to define and establish the principles
of national freedom in the minds of the peo-
pie of this nation, than any thing else since
the Revolution. There was need of this
training. When a great party can be found
at the north to maintain the sentiment that
the people of territory have the right to
introduce slavery as part of their domestic
institutions, it is manifest that there is need
to establish once moro the great truth that
liberty is the birthright of all men; and
that majority can never have the right to
enslave the minority, because they are black.
1t is time that men were made to see that
when such a principle is established, it will
speedily carry itself to another conclusion,
viz: that majority, or even minority, if
wealth and position give them the power,
may deprive the weaker and poorer of their
political and civil rights. Give despotic
principle foOthold and it will soon make
its power felt. 1t is well that the people
have been reused to sense of their dan
ger. They will crush the viper in the egg.
4. Finally, the victory for freedom is
certain. Truth and liberty are slowly
reused, but when once the contest is begun,
falsehood and slavery must go to the wall.
The slave aristocracy has ovcrreached itself
In grasping at the whole, slavery will lose
the whole.