The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-25

alarm is now sounded, and that no dan
ger was feared while the power wal
equally divided between the North anl
4 the South. Is it courage or cowardict
which seek conflict with numbers?
But it is said that attempts have beer
aud are now made to reserve this advan
tage we have gained by making addition.
to our territories for the advantage o.
the South. Is it true? ? Since the foun
dation of our government Florida has
been purchased. It is slave state, but
| with population less than that of single
counties in Ohio and New York. Flor
ida was bought for the benefit of North
ern commerce. While it with Cuba was
| in the hands of Spain she controlled the
commerce of the Gulf of Mexico. Then
came the purchase of Louisiana by Mr..
Jefferson. This territory reached from
the Gulf of Mexico to the borders OF
Canada. At the North it spread out to
the Pacific Ocean, while at the South it
was limited to narrow strip of land On
each side of the Mississippi River
With a trifing exception it was North
ern acquisition, both as to value and
quality 1t was bought to give the
Northwestern States a passage to the
Ocean and to the maritime world. Not
one original Southern state needed this,
they all borderod upon the Gulf of Mex
leo or the Atlantic. It was obtained
for your advantage. We then acquired
Texas, which is slave State. BY the
war with Mexico and by purchase, by
common blood and treasure California
became ours, and was made a free State
by the " Border Ruffans " of the day,
and thus the entire Pacific coast was
gained to the free States. Make the
computation and you will find that two
thirds of the areas and nine-tenths of
the value of the acquisitions have or will
become free States. Their invasion
then is not upon our share Of numbers
nor of territory But what is the histo-
ry Of Ohio? 1t is part of the great
region cceded by Virginia to the Union.
Let not its soil be polluted by treason or
its peace be disturbed by unpatriotic
denunciations of the State Which gave it
separate existence. So much for gen.
cral results. The political power of this
government has passed into our hands,
1t is now to be seen if we will exercise
IL IdlEil. Ii VIC w hObI viz SOubh hotS
.aa nf-tPA-- ,sttti Z t.eoc- the stt.-:t7 tore
sent any injustice. If they do not they
vii be untrue to us aud untrue to them
selves. There is no courage, no patriot
ism in this sectional warfare.
But particular complaint is made.
1t is said the Nebraska bill is an out
rage which must be resisted, and that
great wrongs are done under its provis-
ions. Let US look into this. The prin-
ciple of the bill and the manner in which
it is enforced are two distinct things
We will examine them separa tely. The
principle of the bill is this; The people
who go into remote territories and en-
counter hardships of frontier life shall
loose none of their political rights by do
ing so. Why should they loose them ?
Why will you withhold from them rights
you demand for yourselves 4? They were
capable of self-government before they
left this and other States. Why not
now ? There is not town nor coun-
ty in the State which will not resist to
the last any interference by an adjoining
town or county. Why then will you
meddle thousand miles away with af
fairs about which you are ignorant Has
not your neighbor, who has gone to any
Of the territories, staked his fortunes up
on its good government Does he not
know his own interests ? Do you pre-
tend to understand them? If the set
tier in Kansas should attempt to inter
fere with your local government would
you not laugh at his folly? Isyour fol-
ly less when you interfere with him ?
Some say let the general government
dictate local laws to the inhabitants of
the territories. Will you let the gener
al government dictate local laws to you
1t will be found that this bill only con-
tains those principles of American free
dom which cannot be assailed without
attacking your own rights.
But it is said the law is not carried |
out. If it is not let US all unite and see
that it is fairly enforced. There need |
be no difference among us upon that
point. But let US warn you against |
false reports; we have had more rumors |
of war and accounts of the movements |
of armed men and Of impending horror |
than attended the war in the Crimea,
when one hundred thousand lives were |
sacrificed. There have been wrongs
done there but more ink than blood /
has been shed. In view of exciting ap
peals from the pulpit and the press it is
wonderful that more lives have not been
lost More men were killed at char
ter election in Louisville than have been
injured in Kansas; but not one sermon.
was preached upon the occasion, and it
is now almost forgotten. Greater wrongs
have been done in your own State and
n New york, but virtuous indignation is
Kept for Kansas alone. But for med
ling interferences, there would have
been no more trouble there than in Ne
oraska or other Territories living under
The same system. when political pur-
more rumors of war or murders. W ell
meaning clergymen have been imposed
lpou, and hereafter they will be the
stock of freside characters.
They will be the Cotton Mathers and
Hugh Peters of Kansas traditions. To I
hose who know the wants and conditions l
f new country, there is something lu-
Iicrous in the fierce air of the emigrant
rom the East who grasps his rifle with {
eadly intent, and carries it with its nee
ssary ammunition to the great discom- E
ort, hazard of his wife and children in q
is long journey to the Far West. In s
hree months time he will sell his dead
Y weapon and part with his desperate c
urposes for bottle of Indian Cholag- I