Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-05-23

sayeholding States would gradually perceive and
| acknowledge the lncony yenience and the danger Of
Slavery and would take such measures as they might
deem wise and cafe for its ultimate removal. They
have feared the effect Of agitation upon this subject
relied upon the good faith and honor Of the savehold
ing States and believed that time, the natural growth
of population, and the recognized laws OF political and
social economy. would gradually and peacefully work
out the extinction Of a system repugnant TO justice
| and the national character and welfare. ~ has
seemed to them incredible that in this late age when
Christianity has for nearly two thousand years been
| filling the world with its light, and when almost every
| nation earth but Our own has abolished Chattel
Slavery the effort should Be made. or the wish cher
| ished, by any portion OF cur people. TO make the
interest Ut Slavery predominant, and TO convert this
Republic, the only government which processes TO be
| founded upon human rights, INTO the mghtest slave
empire the world has seen. But II Is impossible
| to deceive ourselves longer The events of the past
two years have disclosed the designs OF the slave
power, and the desperate means 1t is prepared to
for their accompl ishment. We cannot shut eyes
longer to the fact that the sayeholdng interest is
determined counteracr the tendencies OF time and
civilization, by t3 energy, by its bold appropra-
| ton oi all the powers and agencies Of the Govern
ment, and by the violation, it need be, Of the
sacred cOmpacts and compromises. II IL resolved
that Slavery shall be under the protection OF the
ticnal iagtlat 1t shall longer be the creature oil
local law but that II shall stand clothed with all the
sdHCllOHS po"eI VI Bfedt
Republic 1t is determined that the President shall
do It's bidding, and that Congress shall egislate
cOrding to its DEGREES IL IS resolved upon the de
thronement Of the principles OF RepubcanIsm, and
the establishment their stead OF an OLIGARCHI,
bound together by common interest IN tae owner
ship of slaves.
Nor have any to believe that Slavery will
he with this absolute supremacy the Fed
era Government, which II has already well nigh
achieved On the contrary, the dark shadow Of its
scepter falls upon the sovereignty OF the several
States and menaces them with dire disaster. South
Carolina, abandoning her once-cherIshed doctrine OF
State Rights, asserts the Federal supremacy over
laws made by States, exclusively for the protection
Of their citizens. The State of Virginia is contest
my in courts of law, the right Of the State Of New
York TO forbid the existence of Slavery within her
limits. Federal court IN Pennsylvana has denied
the right of that State TO decree freedom TO slaves
brought by their masters within her borders, and has
procla med that Slavery exists by the law OF nations
The division Of California and the organization of a
Slave State within her limits have been proposed
Senator the floor Of Congress has demanded the
restoration Of the African slave trade, and the demand
repeated by Southern journals and BY leading public
men the Southern States.
When these great objects shall have been accom-
pshed-when the States. well as The General
Government, shall have become subject to the aw of
Slavery and when $4,000 Shareholders shall hold
despOtc rule over the millions OF this Republic Sa.
very cannot fall from the necessity OF It's nature to
attempt outrages which will awaken storms that will
sweep 1t carnage from the face Of the earth The
longer tyranny practIced unressted the ercer ,ud
the more dreadful the resistance which IN the end
1t provokes History is full Of instances 10 prove
that nothing is so dangerous wrong long unre-
dressed that evils which the ouse, II would nav.
been easy 10 remove, by sut'-rance become. fatal TO
those through whose indifference and federation rbev
have increased. The tendency Of the measures
adopted By the saveholdng interest secure It's own
extension, through the OF the Federal Govern
men 10 give 10 congress jurisdiction of the gene
raj subject and It's representatives must be sagacIous
enough 10 perceive that II they establish the principle
that Congress may interfere with Slavery for It's nro
lection, may interfere with also for its destruction
II therefore, they succeed in such enlargement OF
the power OF Congress- having already discarded the
principle OF compromise from leg Station, they must
oresee that the natural effect Of their entertainments
upon the rights and Liberties Of the non-savebodInU
population Of the country. will be to arouse them IN
the direct exercise OF the power thus placed in their
hands neither II IS safe wise for that uteres, IN
INVITE such a contest, we need not here consider
Thr time draws nigh fellow -countrymen. when Won
"llI be called on to decide upon the policy and the
principles Of the General Government Your rotas
al the approaching Presidential election will dstsr-
mIne whether Slavery shall continue TO be the nara
mount and controlling influence in the Federal Al
minstraton or whether other rights ami other inter-
ests shall resume the degree OF consideration 10 which
hey are emitted The issue is upon US by no act Of
ours, and IT cannot be evaded Under profound cor.
victlon OF impending dangers. the grounds whereof
We have now set forth, we call upon Won n dsIivar
the Constitution and the Union from the snbuga,ior
which threatens both. Holding, with the Iste Mr.
Calhoun, that "thc obligation to repel aggression il
not much less solemn than that of sbsaIninp from,
making aggression. and that the party which submits
10 II when 1t can be resisted not much less guilt,
ana responsible Tor consequences than that which
ildh'N IL. we invoke surrender of
preIhdice2 and all personal feelings, and cor
dial ana earnest union for the vindicatjon of RIGHTS
and Liberties which cannot surrender v,,,Ior,
degradation and shame We summon Won 10 soma
Delegate, IN number three times as large A. ro,,r
representation IN Congress- 10 meet in Convention at
Philadelphia, the 18th day Of June part 10 noro,
nate canildates for the Presidency and Vice pro-.
dency OF the United States. Let them come nren,,a5
to surrender all personal preferences and all ecton
or local ,iews-resolse ed only to make such nomina-
tons, and to take such action as shall advance the
principles We hold anu the purposes we seek to pro
mot" DsclaImng any intention TO interfere with
Slavery the States where il exists or 10 InyaIid,
those portions OF the Constitution by which II 10 ra
moved from the NATIONAL control let us prevent tb.
increase of us political power preserve the Genera,
Government from MS ascendancy, bring back its sd
hstraon 10 the principles and the practice of its
wise and lnstriouS founders, and thus vindic,ta ,b
Constitution and the Union and secure the blesei,r
Oh LIBERTY 10 ourselves and our posterity
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
The People of the United States without regard IN
past Poltcal differences divisions who are opposi
to the repeal q the Missouri Co,,n...,:-.