The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-25

organization of numerous and highly respect
able Fremont party in all the Southern States.
1t is humiliating to think that, in this boosted
land of Liberty, free white men are denied all
the rights of freemen, and cannot even vote for
the candidate of their choice.
Philadelphia North american.
PENNSYLVANIA IN FORMER YEARS.
Extract from Speech of Mr.. Allison, in the
House of Representatives, August 6, 1856.
On former OCCASION in this House, I showed,
by reference to the speeches and to the acts of
the patriots who founded this Government, that
it was not their intention purpose to permit
Slavery to spread the Territories of the coun-
| try. | will not, on this occasion, do more than
say that, in permitting Slavery to spread beyond
the limits to which it was confined by the fathers
of the Republic, we have widely departed from
their policy.
In my own State CPennsylvania,) the noble
band of patriots who then controlled its desti-
mics were not content with giving expression to
philanthropic sentiments, but they gave more sub
| stantial evidence of their philanthropy by abol-
| ishing slavery in 1880. cannot give expression
to the feelings produced on reading the preamble
to that act, better than by reading paragraph
from a speech delivered by Mr.. Webster, in Octo-
her, 1874, in which he discussed the policy of
alluded to the policy of Pennsylvania:
| @Iwas DESTROYS of saying a few words you about
| Texas. [Cres of go on. Go onn Tell us about
Texas! Well will only say in relation TO Texas, that
is far more important than all say upon the SUBJECT
But DO say that me annexation Of Texas WusSd e and
tend eEend the duration and extent Of African
Slavery this continent have long held that opinion,
aud would not now suppress II for any considerations on
because il will number of slaves and extend
the duration of their bondage-becanss it does all this
oppose tct0ut condition and lcifhom 9Lalifedorat
| this time and al all tinleS-Now AND FOREVER.
ain $780, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed the
act aboishing Slavery in this State. 1t introduced
by a grateful acknowledgment God, for the achieve
ment American Liberty-for that assistance by which
people had been enabled to break the chains of
duty comfortable to that to all they could 10 break
| all other chains, and set the world free
"That preamble was the work of your fathers they
sleep i'm honored graves there is not believe, man
living who was engaged in that most righteous act
There words in that preamble tit to be read by all who
inherit the bloodby all who bear the namely all who
cherish the memory OF hOnored and viruous ancestry
And ask every of you now present. ere eight and
forty hours pass your heads to turn 10 that acto
read that preamble and if you are the
blood will stir and prompt you to your duty There are
in that document far surprising anything that
my poor ability could advance on the subject and there
| I leave it,"
/ will now give the preamble to which Mr..
Webster so eloquently alluded
"when we contemplate adherence condition
TO which the arms and tyranny of Great Britain
erted to reduce u.s. look back upon the variety
of dangers 10 which we have been exposed and how
miraculously our wants in many instances have been
supplied and our deiverances wrought when even hope
and human orttude have become unequal to the conflict
we re- uno led TO a erous and grateful sense of
the manifold blessings which W have undeservedy
ccived from the hand of that Being from whom every
good and perfect gin comeh Impres.o with these IDEAS
conceive that is duty, and rejoice that is
in power, TO extend portion of that freedom TO ohe
which hath been extended TO us and release from thai
| state of thraldom to which ourselves tyran-
ncaly doomed, and from whchwe have now every pros
pec of being delivered 1t is not for us to inquire why,
fhan ms QnfS
parts of the earth were distinguished by difference in
| feature or complexion
"It is sufficient know that all the work of
Almighty hand. We find in the distribution of the human
species that the fertile well the most barren
of the earth inhabited by of complexion diff
fereut from ours and from each other; from whence
may reasonably well regously infer that He who
equally his and all; and it becomeh not
us TO counterfeit his merces. We esteem II peculiar
add more step universal civilization, by
moving much possible the sorrows OF those who
the assumed authority of Kings Britain,
efectua legal relief could be obtained Weaned by a
long of experience from those narrow preudces
and partialiies had imbibed, find hearts en-
larged with kindness and benevoence towards men OF
at this particular PERIOD extraordinarily called by
the blessings which we have received TO manifest the
sincerity of profession and to give substantial PROOF
| of gratitude
| sAnd whereas the condition of those persons who
have heretofore been denominated negro and nuiao
slaves has been attended with circumstances which not
only deprived them of the common blessings which by
|
deepest Affections by an unnatural separation and sale of
husband and wife from each other ana from ne chill
ceived by supposing that we in the unhappy
case In justice therefore, to persons 30 unhappy CIR
Wherein they may rest their and their hopes
have reasonable inducemcnt to render their service
grateful eommemoration OF our own happy deliverance
from state of unconditional submission to which we
doomed by the tyranny OF Britain: therefore, bs
it easeed, &c"
Then follows the act which gradually eman-
| cipated the slaves held in bondage in Pennsyl-
| vania-a noble deed, worthy the noble patriots
| who performed it, and worthy to be had in ever
/ lasting remembrance by every true son OF that
philanthropic and patriotic State, founded by
| Penn.
| A recurrence to the great deeds of our fathers
| increases our generation for them, and should
| incite us to emulate their example. Is there a
| son of Pennsylvania who does not feel the kind
lings of a patriotic pride, when he calls to re-
| membrance the noble example set US by Frank
| lin and his coadutors? Is there one SON of that
great free State who does not rejoice that there
Is not the footprint of slave upon its soil2 If,
then, the contemplation of the act which bid the
bondmen 90 free, and prohibited Slavery forever
within its borders, affords such unalloyed
pleasure, can it be possible that any of her sons
will lend their influence to establish such an in
| stituton in the plains of Kansas? Alas alas
for our degeneracy. ] cannot say that there are
none such. The teachings ana example OF the
patriots of the Revolution long continued to in
fluence and control the action of the people of
our State. In 1918, 1919, and 1920, we find the
same patriotic devotion to the pure and philan-
thropic principles of our fathers; and the State,
through her Legislature, protested, in the most
solemn manner, against the admission OF MIS-
souri, with Constitution tolerating Slavery.
She instructed her Senators and requested her
Representatives in Congress to resist the admis-
sion of Missouri. They did so with persist
ence and fidelity never surpassed BY any body of
public servants. They never faltered in their
duty; and we find that twenty-one out OF the
twenty-three members of Congress then repre-
senting Pennsylvania in this Hail. utterly refused
admission to Missouri with her slave Constitu-
ton. Surrounded as they believed the Union to
be with perils, they planted themselves immov-
ably upon what they believed to be the position
taken by the founders of the Government not 70
extend an institution admitted to be great evil.
Upon this position they took their stand, and
were supported by the unanimous voice OF the