The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-03-20
From the Detroit Free Press.
The Posture Of the South.

remarks Of the latter, before a Democratic
meeting in New York. we lately published
We have pamphlet copy of their remarks
at recent mass meeting of people of New.
Hampshire, held in Concord. We append
some extracts, as the most effective way of
correcting abolition perversion of the posi-
ton Of the South. Among the gross mis-
representations with which the North is de-
fuged is, that the South will oppose the ad-
mission Of Kansas into the Union if she
presents herself with free State Constitu-
tion, and that the labors of free soilers are
necessary in order to secure the admission
of Kansas in such contingency. Thou.
sands of honest men are giving money to the
black Republican demagogues to secure
such an object. Gov. CoBD thus disposes Of
this calumny
"In the Kansas bill it was provided that
this vexed question of slavery should be left
where the blood of the revolution put it !;
where the constitution leaves it; where the
great principles of self-government leaves
it to be decided by the people Of Kansas.
subject only to the constitution of the Uni
States. That bill declares, .'it being the
true intent and meaning of this act not to
legislate slavery into any Territory or State,
nor to exclude it therefrom. but to leave the
people thereof free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way,
subject only to the constitution OF the Uni
ted States Is not this provision of the
Kansas law in strict conformity to the prin-
ciple which have been advocating before
you! Are not the people Of that Territory
better capable Of deciding that question for
themselves than either you or the people Of
Georgia, or any other State, for. them II
they want slavery, you have no right to pre-.
vent it; if they want to exclude it, the peo,
pie Of Georgia have no right to force it upon
them. Give to them the same right which
you now exercise; and when their decision
is pronounced,le the people Of all the States
abide by that decision, just as we now abide
the decision already made by the respective
States.
"The people who have gone, or may here
after go to Kansas, to make it their home,
are just as honest and intelligent, and as Ca
pable OF self-government, as they were be-
fore they went there. They need no advis-
ers, or counsellors, or guardians, and had it
not been for the organized intermeddling of
outsiders, whose consciences were more
deeply moved about other peoples sins than
their own, they would have quietly and
peaceably decided this question in their own
way, conformubly to their own wishes and
interests, under the organic law of the Ter
ritory. When the people of Kansas shall
have SO decided, am prepared to carry out
their decision, whatever It may be-: and shall
vote for her admission whenever she applies
with sufficient population, and presents a
constitution republican in its form, and fair
ly representing the sentiments of her peo.
pie; and the fact Of her applying as free
or slave State shall not influence my action
Believing the principle to be right, / shall
stand by it--no matter what result it may
work out" s
In respect to the charge that the South
demands the establishment of slavery in the
Territories, Gov. CoBB answers
"You have been told that the South de-
manded the establishment OF slavery in .he
Territorie6., I am here to deny the charge
and brand it as false. We make no such
demand. On the contrary, we protest a.
gainst Congressional intervention. Our
doctrine is to leave it to those who are the
most deeply interested in its decision. We
stand upon the principle which have been
urging before you, and offer it as the only
Just and constitutional solution of an angry
and exciting controversy. 1t has been a.
dopted, and now let us maintain it. It will
give security to the constitution and peace
to the Union. 1t viii calm the troubled
waters Of sectional strife, and restore har-
mony and good feeling to a distracted coun-
try. 1t cofnt1ehds itself to US from its
own intrinsic merit. 1t comes to US sane
toned by the wisdom Of our fathers. Il is
right in theory andright in practice. It has
worked well III the past, and will work
we'll in the future. 1t presents a COM
mon ground upon which all true men OF
every State and section can stand harmonic
ously together. 1t compromises no prln-
ciple and sacrifices no interest. II is the
doctrine Of common constitution; let il
be defended bya united people,"
In respect to the same charge, Col. ORR
exclaimed:
"It is charged by reckless fanatics that
the South asks Congress to legialate slave
~ into the new Territories. We ask no
such thing. We have never made any such
demand. II is d libel upon the statesmen
OF the South. We leave that question
where the constitution III spirit leaves Il,
with the people Of the Territories them
selves. II il their right, under the consti-
tuition and all the 6ndlogiss Qf our govera-
ment, to decide for themselves what their
domestic institutions shall be;, and besides,
they are more competent 10 decide con-s
formally to their own wishes than u New
Hampshire OF South Carolina through their