Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-28
THE NEW YORK DEMOCRACY.

who are among the most influential and wor-
thy in their party in the State of New York.
The address takes ground against the extern
sion of slavery. We make the following cx-
tracts
ssIt is not our purpose TO analyZe the various
and contradictory reasons by which Northern
men have sought to palliatc, if not TO Justify,
this act of aggression upon the rights of the
! Free States. There is but one true reason
that can be given, and that reason is in direct
/ hostility to the settled convictions OF a vast
| majority of the Democrats of New York, as
/ reiterated through their conventions during
the last ten years. ifs sole its cif-erident par
pose, soas the Erfension of Siarery. That insii-
! tuition had been excluded from Kansas and Ne
/ braska by law. enacted under circumstances
which gave it the character of solemn COM
pact. By it Kansas was free. and must ever
remain No further legislation was ncces-
/ sary. 1t required no ssinterference" on the
| part of Congress to accomplish this result
| Free by the action of previous generation
| free by the acquiescence of all parties during
4 quarter of a century-frce by the same pow
er which secured that blessing to Ohio, Illi-
nois Indiana Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa.
| Under q similar law these States mad all been
organized without excitement, without vio-
| lence, without any aledged breach of consti-
tutional rights. and with the entire concur
renee of Southern representatives.
'-Nor is it necessary that we should trace
! through successive years the declarations plac-
ed upon record by the Democracy of n. Y York,
as to the place occupied by them in the con-
! troverSy between Slavery and Freedom. The
sentiment of opposition to the extension of
/ Slavery is too widespread and universal to be
! controverted. In this respect there has been
| little, if any, want Of coincidence between the
/ sections into which the Democratic party has
been divided. If they have differed, it has
! been as to the time when the restrictive poll
cy should be applied, not as to the proprety of
the principle itself. On the side of the radi-
| cal democracy, the whole current of party de-
! clarations is in one direction. Even the last
nominating State Convention held in Septcm-
! ber last, adopted this authoritative exposition
of the sentiment of its constituents:
80 Resolred, That while the Democracy of
| g this State will faithfully adhere to all the
20 compromises of the Constitution, and MAIN
&c tian all the reserved rights of the States,
% they deem this an appropriate occasion TO
q declare their fixed hostility TO the extension
:. of Slavery into Free territory
ssNo man can with truth assert that this res
olution fails to accord with the feeling enter
tanned by the democratic masses nor will any
person at all conyersant with the popular SEN
timent, or the causes operating thereon. ven
ture the allegation that, in the lapse of three
short months from the adoption of the above
resolution, entire change has come over the
/
them from ardent opponents of Slavery exten-
sion into quicScent abettors of its diffuson
and, above all, approving in their name of the
| monstrous fraud and wrong which repealed
the restriction against the entry of Slavery in
to all that territory lying north Of the Missou-
ri Compromise line.
ssIt is an erroneous imputation, propagated
from unworthy motives, that the course of the
Democracy of New York, in resisting the ex-
tension OF Slavery, is actuated b. morbid
philanthropy toward the African race. True,
they regard it as a social, moral and political
evil, at war with the fundamental principles of
civil liberty, and deleterious to the true inter-
ests of the country. But it is because they
know that wherever Slavery is introduced,
there labor is degraded to 4 scrvilc employ
ment-that it divides society into two classes
and fixes the badge of servitude on all whose
lot it is to toi-that free and forced Labor will
not amalgamatc on the same soil, and that
hence Slavery operates to the virtual cxclu-
sion of white laboring populaton-it is for
these and many other cogent reasons which
might be adluced, that we desire to keep the
''peculiar institution" within the present linz
IFS. and preserve the bOundlesS and fertile
prairies of the West field for free labor
and home for free men whether our own
immediate descendants or those of the cmi-
grant fleeing from the oppression of the old
world.
''lt is a satisfaction to know that the efforts
OF Democrats in this behalf are in perfect ac-
cordance with the principles and practice of
the illustrious cxemplars of their faith. They
are content forest justification of the ir course
! on the happy results which have flowed to the
country from the benificent operations of the
Ordinance of 1877, and the similar provisions
which have since Eeen Incorporated and ap-
piled in territorial bills; while the names of
Jefferson, Madison, and host of honored fol-
lowers, assure us that the platform on which
We stand is sufficiently broad, comprehensive
and democratic, without adding TO it the mar
row, selfish and sectional plank of Nebraska
kansassnl.
''Agsinst the legitimate and constitutional
nights OF the South we wage no warfare. To-
ward its citizens we entertain no hostiIitv-
We concedc to them, within their approximate
Jurisdictions, the right to regulate their own
internal affairs in their own way and accord |
ing to their own convictions of propriety.-
But they must cease the attempt to force upon
US an agreement in principles, in regard to |
which there can be no community of feeling |
ana no accordance of action. We warn them |
against placing confidence in the representa- |
lonS OF men who have not the power, even if |
they possess the disposition, to control the
votes of the Democratic electors of the EN-
pire State. These will demand due respect
Tor their own rights and proper appreciation
Oh the rights of others. They will require 4
return to those principles OF public policy
which shall give to the Democracy Of the
States their true weight and position in the di
rection of affairs, and secure them against the
abuse of the Federal power. They will ask
that the aggressive policy which has marked
the onward march of Slavery, shall cease
They will demand for their brethren in Kansas
the Just protection to which they are entitled |
against border ruffansm, and a cessation of |
that anomaly which, under the appelation of
popular sovereignty imposes upon them n
government upheld by the bayonet of Fed |