Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-04-26
From the Portage County Democrat.
"REMINISCENCES OF PAST OPINION IN
REGARD TO SLAVERY EXTENSION
PRESENT DUTY,
CLEVELAND, April Sth, 1856.

REGARD TO SLAVERY EXTENSION
PRESENT DUTY.
CLEVELAND April Sth, 1856.
1t is matter of surprise, as well rs of deep
regret, in looking over tho records of the past,
to learn how mere party feeling has blinded
the reason, perverted the Judgement and cor
rupted the hearts Of SO many of the people of
this Republic, on the great question Of human
slavery.
The fathers Of the Republic, and those Who
Immediately succeeded them in the manage
ment OF the government were opposed to the
whole system Of human bondage, and looked for
ward with anxious hope to the time when the
! plague spot would be eradicated, and that it
would only be known in this land on the historic
page. They never dreamed of the extension and
diffusion of slavery over the new territories and
lands OF the west. There was but one feeling, one
sentiment, one opinion, in all the States on this
question, from the hour that jefferson, and Madi-
son. and Slidcll, and Mason, declared their opposi-
ton to 1.-THE sum Of all villanics," until the time
that love OF power began to influence the minds Of
our statesmen on the slave question: and, even
then, the gallant and accomplished MERCER, (who
yet hYes) one of the noblest Of the "Old
Dominion" declared on Dec. %, 1919, on the floor
! OF the House Of Representatives of the United
States, Wat standing dere as the representative Of
the people west Of the Mississippi lie should record
his cote agdiast suffering tile dark cloud Of iHhu.
on beyoHdMe peacctal shores Of tie Mississippi"
On the DIST Dee. 1919, the legislature Of Penn
sylyania, in relation to the admission of Missouri
into the Union with constitution allowing slavery,
declared,
| When measure of this character is seriously
advocated in the republican congress of America
in the nineteenth century, the several States are
involved by the dWywhich they owe to the DEITY
by the yeneraton which they entertain for the
memory Of the founders Of the Republic, and by n
tender regard for posterty to protect aganst its
adoption, TO REFUSE TIE COVENANT WITH
CRIME" and to limit the range Of an evil, that
already hangs in awful boding over SO large pOr-
ton of the Union"
1 Pennsylvania further decared--"that when the
! Constitution was framed in l1S7, tho concession
that three ffths Of the slaves in tie States then
existing, should be represented in congress, could
not have been intended to embrace region at that
time held by foreign power" After mentioning
the passage Of the ordinance Of l5 July 1857, they
say, "Nor is there to be Gound in the statute book
single instance Of the admission OF territory tc
the rank of State, in which congress have mo-
adhered to the rights vested in them by the consti
tutor to stpulate with the territory upon the con
dtior Of such admission.
"Udder these convictions, and in the full per
spasioa that, upon this topic, there is but one opin
y fo'l ! - fsnassirl5li1 ,,
The series Of resolutions and the request to thei
senators and representatives in Congress to vot
aginst the admission of any State into the Uniol
ach SlaceIy, were ado2ted by unanimous vote o
both houses Of the Legislature. Among the names
are Sturgeon, Duane, Marks Brhckenridgc Coul
ter, Mddeswarth, Ogle, Porter, Randall, Todd
wilkins, &c.
Such was the opinion Of the old democratic
Keystone State, before any Of her sons were de
| bauched by party spirit, or selucel fom their in
tegrity by love Of Office and aspirations for The
Presidency.
Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, New
Hampshire, and other States, passed strong res
olutions against the admission Of Missouri wHL
slareyy.
At Philadelphia, Nov. o. 1919, large and re
spectacle meeting was held in the same chamber
in which the declaration of independence was de
cided," to resist the extension OF human slavery
Jared Ingersoll, Esq, was President, and Robcr
Rallston, Esq, Secretary.
The business Of the meeting was opened BY
I HORACE BiNNEY, Esq, IN a very eloquent speech
in which he most ably developed the inhumanity
and injustice Of slavery, its pei nicious tendency on
human society, It's incompatiLility with republican
institutions and he clearly demonstrated the
power and obligation on Congress to prohibit tht
extension of slavery to new States. Strong resOlu
tions were passed, and committee Of corresp3n
dence appointed.
AT Boston, on the Sd December, 1919, larg
meeting was held at the State House. The Hon
VIM. Eustis called the meeting to order and jaime
Prince, Esq, Marshal of the District, was chosei
Chairman, and VIM. Tudor Esq. Secretary. jaime
T. Austin, Esq, addressed the meeting on the in
humanity and immortality of slavery, and the righ
of Congress to prohibit it in the territories.
a committee of twenty gentlemen were appoint
c to submit resolutions expressive Of the opinion
Of the meeting. Here are the names: William
Eusts, John Phillips, Thimo. Bigelow, Wm Gray
Henry Dearborn, Josiah Quincy, Daniel Webster
Wm, Prescott, Thomas III. Perkins, Benz Pickman
/ L. NJ. Parker, VIM. Ward, w. Sullivan, Geo. Blake
!, David Cumming, jr., James Savage, John Gallison
James T. Austin, and Henry Orne.
The committee, through their chairman, Hon
Wm. Eustis, made an able and excellent report, il
which they say,
"The extrpation of slavery has never ceased t.
be regarded rs measure deeply concerning thu
honor and safety of the United States.
! "* = To those who are making
efforts to prevent the extension of slavery it i;
a source of equal pride and pleasure to know. that
they are countenanced and supported by charac
ters most venerable in those States, in which it is
not yet abolished.
THAT Congress has the constitutional power t,
make the prohibition Of the further extension o
slavery or involuntary seryitude, IN such new
State, condition of its admission.
alden Bradford, ESD, although opposed t
slavery, doubted the power Of Congress to prohibi
i II. lie was replleu 10 Dy peo Didhc auu b-h VEL
i WEBSTER who demonstrated very clearly, thu
constitutional right Of Congress to enact the pro
hibiton, aud the strong expediency for exercising
the right"
The Republican Committee at Washington coulC
not do a better service to the cause of Freedom
than to republish in whole or in part, pamphle
issued at Philadelphia, in January, / 20, by Rob
art Walsh, Jr. Esq, tho Spirit of the Fedora
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Slavery from the Ter
ritories, &C."
Extracts should be made from the writings o
Mr.. Hezekiah Niles on Slavery, and published tC
the world. In his paper OF January 8, leZo, ~
saws, in writing on the Missouri question, 1T il
possible to believe that the high'spirited men o
the South desire their country to be used as {
nursery for slaves to be sold in the market.
White men, free laborers, cannot, will not si
themselves down where labot is dishonored-thel
feel dispraced by being put upon par with