Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-06-05
To the People of Belmont County

1887, we never can feel Indifferent to tn,
le great question row before us, affecting thu
I'd rights of human nature. Whether Freedom
IN or Slavery shall be the controlling and pre-
:; dominant element in our national characte
d and history, is the overshadowing question
IS in the State and Presidential elections o.
/, 1856. Slavery is an aggressive power anl
= can only be established and sustained by
{ force. 1t is in every relation and in every
l. aspect antagonistical to Freedom; the deadly
J. enemy of all Progress, and destructive of the
: Liberty and the life blood of the Republic.
: Divide and conquer is the motto of the
Slave Power, and how we'll they have sue
e ceeded the bitter experience of the last
o twenty-five years of our history abundantly
: proves. If the friends of Freedom had al
ways been united, and used the Constitu-
: tional power of the Government in their be-
n half, Slavery would scarcely have had a
resting place in the United States to-day.
Freedom for all, Slavery for none, is the
language of the Declaration of Independ-
ence; and il the true meaning and spirit of
the Constitution had been carried out as un-
derstcod and expounded by its trainers, Sla-
very would never have been extended be-
yond the thirteen original States Now we
present the sad spectacle to the Christian
world, of protesting to believe in the i'm
mortal declaration that sail men are created
quaP'-that our Democracy is "equal rights
and equal privileges" vet in the face of our
professions we have admitted nine Save
States into the Union, six of which have
been formed out of Territory acquired since
the adoption of the Constitution, and pro-
vision made for four more in the State ofI
Texas. Still this aggressive spiri: is not
satisfied. 1t has laid its Gecaying finger
upon the Temple of American Liberty; and
whether it shall continue its work of des-
truction is with those who hold that mighty
weapon, the b aIlot. TO determine.
The political history of 1856 is so far
cheering. Commencing with the election
of Banks as Speaker of the House of Rep
resentalives-,he appointment of a Com
mittee with full power to investigate and
bring to light the gigantic frauds OF the
Slave Power, with its present central head
in the administration, to establish slavery in
K ansas-the elections in New Hampshire,
Rhode Island and Connecticut. are the un-
mistakeable signs that Freedom is to be tri-
umphant. The people of Kansas, than whom
none other ever stood up more courageously
and manfully for Freedom, are knocking at
the door of Congress, asking for admission
as one of the Free and Independent States
of the Confederacy. The Slave Power,
headed by DOUGLAS & Co., are determined :
that she shall not be admitted with her RE
publican Constitution" Their doctrine of
"Squa;ter Sovereignty" and "Non- Interven- :
tion,'' as interpreted, means "No interfer-
ence from the h orth with the spread of sla-
very; Kansas must wait until she can be
led by emigration from the South"
If the history of slavery for the last twen- q
ty-hve years, its governing power in the 8
country, its utter disregard of the funda- a
mental principle of Free Government, its
Palpable violation of the plainest provisions :
Of the Constitution, its repeal of time-hon-
Ored and Constitutional compacts, its at L
tempt to force slavery upon the fair soil of u
Kansas, its enactment of " "draconian" laws, :,
involving the country in civil war, taking
he lives OF unofenjing citizens and threat
'n;ng to prosecute for "treason" those most C
loyal TO the Union and Constitution, is not =
nffcient to awaken up the people of the :,
Free States, and unite them as one man in I;
lelense of civil Liberty, no words which we
an utter will be Of any avail n
Our object in addressing you at this time u
c.
to urge your attention to the great ques- f.
ion of Freedom or Slavery, involved in the HI
oming campaign. The Slave Power of the n,
south has its reliable ally in the Democratic 10
Hrty of the North, they will trust no other a.
arty, and with them slavery is the perma- is
ent issue. We belieye that no man who in
lands pledged against the extension of sla- gi
cry: and who may be relied on to redeem dt dtc
uch pledge, could get the vote of a single ~,
lave State to-day. Eo,
To unite upon one ticket and under one Oh
amer all the People of the Union in favor 'ei
admitting Kansas as Free State, and
'poseu 10 any more slav cry outside OF the thi
resent limits of the Slave States, should be moi
e object and aim of every true American. sic
ne Constitution. as interpreted by WASH
GToN, MADISON and JEFFERSON, the Union p.r
the States, and the dena;ional;zation of tic,
nerican Slavery, are the principles in
ribed upon our banner. "By this sign we L
II conquer" and 'sccure to posterity the nv, l'iO'
,ssings cf Liberty" Let no outside issue bIa
tract us, or mere party names and party last
S lead US from the straight path of duty, glor
holding cur own ballot each man for UNI
nself vote for Freedom. Organize and Ero a,
ite in selecting such men for office who rece
, qualified, capable, and faithful to the due
nstitution," and pledged to the utmost of
ability to prevent the further increase of ", n
nerican Slavery. tho
A defeat of the measures and policy of the and
of FRANKLIN PIERCE is in pres
pensabie to the prosperity and welfare of SAID
whole American people. To effect this s.
VIZ 'huS' P'acoce 'he wise adage, SIN tive.