Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-02
FOE THE RAFTsMAN's JOURNAL.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 4
VIOLATOR OF THE PUBLIC FAITH

MR.. EDITOR Some time since, l published
in your valuable Journal number of charges,
preferred against the Chief Magistrate of our
Republic. and as these charges have elsewhere
been declared untrue, now will, with your
permission, proceed to make good every charge
specified in my communication.
The first charge, is that of s'riolaing the pub
Tic faith, By breaking up solemn contract be-
tween the two great sections of our country,
which will greatly endanger, if not entirely
dissolve our Union"
The Missouri Compromise a clear and
specific contract, entered into by and between
the people of the Free States, of the one part
and the people of the Slave States, of the 9TH
er, and ratified by their representatives in Con-
gress. In 1919, Missouri, formed out of Ter
ritory purchased from France. applied to Con-
grcss TO be admitted into the Union. slave
holding State. This the people of the Free
States everywhere Strenuousiy resisted, as it
involved consequences Of the utmost impor-
tance to the welfare of the country. But the
slaveholding interest demanded its admission
into the confederacy, and denied the right of
Congress to impose conditions upon new States
applying for admission into the Union. The
power, however, rested with the Free States,
and Missouri was refused admission. In 1920,
the subject was renewed in Congress, and the
people of the Slave States agreed to settle the
controversy by compromise; that if the peo-
pie of the Free States would admit Missouri
as Slave State into the Union, that all that
territory, ceded by France to the United States
north of 36 deg. so min. north latitude, should
be forever given to Freedom. To this the
people of the Free States, in good faith, agreed.
And by their representatives in Congress, both
parties entered into an honorable compromise,
or solemn contract, in the following binding
agreement ssIn all that territory, ceded by
France to the United States. under the name
of Louisiana. which lies north of Sc deg. 80
min. of north latitude, not included within the
limits of the State Of Missouri, SLAVERY, and in
voluntary serUitude, otherwise than in the pun
ishment of crime, whereof the parties shall
have been duly convicted, shall be, and is here
by FOREVER prohibited" In each house of
Congress, majority of the members from the
Slave States, as we'll as from the Free States
voted in favor of this compromise. In 1896,
Arkansas, another Slave State, formed out of
a portion of this territory, lying south of 36
deg. 80 min., was admitted into the Union.
Thus, two slave states, by virtue of this com
promise, came into the Confeieracy, while
freedom as yet gained nothing, but the prohi-
bltion of slavery from vast region reserved
for free states. The powers of slavery now
put forth their efforts in earnest, to rule the
Republic. And under the administration of
President Tyler, slavery was declared to be a
political institution, and consequently, was ia
ken under the special care and guardianship of
the General Government, and no longer left as
a state institution, to be controlled By the in
diyidual states themselves. Then it was that
Congress began to act for slavery. The right
Of petition was taken away; the freedom Of
speech denied; the privilege OF the press cur
tailed, and the three hundred thousand slave
holders began to rule fifteen millions of free |
Americans. None but Shareholder, or one |
II favor OF slaveholding, was henceforth to fill |
the Presidential chair. Cabinet, and diploma |
,ic officers, must all be shareholders in fact, or
IN principle, and no office of profit or trust |
could be filled by any but Shareholders or |
hose politically identified with slavery. Laws |
we're enacted, ana rules adopted, by Congress, |
or the support and advancement of slavery |
md the Supreme Court, being composed Of a |
majority of shareholders, can make all laws |
constitutional. And although slavery had now
got all the power and patronage of the govern
neHt IN her own hands, yet she was not salts
led, but asked that her limits be extended.
md demanded that the Government paw ten
Millions of dollars, and take Texas into the u
non, as slave state, with stipulation that
our more states should become members of
ne confederacy, whenever they might be form
"a within her limits. Thus the General Gov
,rnment made provision for adding five more
lew slave states TO the Union, and secured to
he slave power ten additional members in the
senate OF the United States, while the free
tates gained nothing but war with Mexico.
which cost the country over one hundred mil
ions of dollars.
The slaveholding power. not vet content
WITH her achievements over Freedom demand
"a that slavery should have access 10 all the
rec territory acquired from Mexico, and threa
ened TO overthrow the Union, unless her de- |
nands were granted. States formed out of
nat territory, with free constitutions asked
omission into the confederacy, and after one
II the most serious struggles ever had in con-
sress, California was finally admitted into the
mon. But New Mexico with her free Com
was thrown back to the condition of |
territory, and contrary to the wish of her
people, her whole region, with that of Deseret
vas thrown open by Congress to slavery.
But the siaveholding power, after having OBJ
aincd all these conquests over Freedom only
became more arrogant, and consequently de-
handed that the people of the free states ey-
rywhere become subject to the control of the
lave power, and the General Government. now
ne willing instrument of the peculiar institu-
ION, enacted a law, that commands all good
tlzens of the free states to run at the word of
he STAKEHOLDER, and aid him in his work of
iavery, or be subject to Imprisonment, and
nousand dollars fne-a law that, contrary to
ne constitution. suspends habeas corpus. and
destroys the right of trial by jury-a law that
ribes Its officers, by giving them ten dollars
tney eonsign their victim to slavery, or on
Hve II they let them go free. This act,
ihlch has become the by-word of Europe and
he scorn of civilization, is now the pandect of
layery, on the statute of True America.
Alter this last great victory of the slave
owers over freedom, and becoming satisfied .
,ith their success, they proclaimed through
IL their organs, and the General Government
particular, that the slavery question was {
ow forever settled; and that it should rest as
acred as the Constitution itself, and President ,
'lerce In his first message to Congress. nledo-
himself to use all his official power to pre I
ent 1t from being disturbed. But all these I
romIses, proved substantial as a dream. The 9
overs of slavery, now seeing but ore barrier