Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-10-30
The Question of the day-Letter
from the Hon. S. D. lngham,
TRENTON, Oct. 4, 1856.

| You may have noticed that | am again to
some extent in public view After so long
a retirement from political affairs, it may
seem proper for me to make explanation of
| this to my personal friends. In determin-
ing TO abstain from mingling in political life
it was eOt intended to avoid u public decla-
ration of opinion IN all, and especially in
extreme exgencies Of public affairs; and an
occ aston has now arisen, which, in nv judg-
ment. emnenlly calls for the exertiun of
the ieeblest as well as the abIest efforts. |
have always been decidedly opposed to the
aggression of the ultra Abulitionists on the
South, and fondly hope that the measures
of 1850 were final settlement of the Slav-
cry question. But the sceneis now chang
ed. In an evil hour we had placed an ill.,
competent and irresolute man at the head
of the Government, who readily yielded his
power into the hands of one (Secretary of
War; who was known to be secessiouist,
unless the Slave States cou ID have absolute
dominion; and we have been forced 20 de-
eide whether the whole public domain ought
to be kept open for settlement by sreemen
who live by their OWL honest labor, or shall
be devoted to the exclusive possession of
those who live mainly by raising and selling
slaves.
The principles involved appeared to me
sufficient TO determine nay Judgment, aside
from the immense National interests at
stake. To illustrate these, let Us suppose
Kansas to contain 80 millions of acres un-
der cultivation Gts contents exceed 10 mil
lions Of acres); this would give 800 900
farms of 100 acres each. These oH ned and
cultivated by family of six persons, would
support population of three millions en-
ployed in agriculture slone, exclusive Of
those engaged in mechanical and other en-
ployments-suppled as lreemen would be
with churches, schools, and all the other IN
stitutions necessary to the development of
human intellect and the advancement Of
human happiness. Contrast this with the
C ondtion OF Virginia where Slavery has run
its cour>e--und tax Gov. Wlse's descr ip.
tion OF Virginia, W.:
"You have relied alone on the single pow
er of agriculture-and such agricuhure,-
Your seuge- patches outshine the sun. Your
to your only source of wealth
has scared the bosom OF mother earth. In
stead of having to feed cattle On thous-
and hills. you haue had to chase the stump
tailed steer through the ge-patches to procure
q single Geef-steak. The present condition
Of things has existed too long in Virginia.
The landlord has skinned the tenant, and
the tenant has skinned the land, until all have
grown poor together"
But the vehement charge is that we would
exclude Virginians and others of the South
from Kansas. Nothing can be more untrue.
Have not Virginians and North Carolinians
&C., settled in great numbers in Ohio, and
become thrifty farmers! So it would be in
Kansas; it would become place of nappy
refuge for the most suffering class of The
white laborers of the South, who, if settled
there, would be as much interested in the
exclusion of Slavery as other immigrants
can be. The laundering clamor now max
ing about the rights of the South to take
their slave property into the Territories, is
got up by those who want market for their
siaves--not by those who want to cultivate
the land. 1t would require some strong
logic to prove that such operators have
or conventional right to the
exclusive possession of the whole public
domain. | say exclusive, because he Free
Iaborer can never prosper where Slavery
exists.
Such are my views, and they are confirm
ed by the Democratic principles have al
ways cherished. | am too old to follow a
tyrant's banner because it has the word
Democracy painted on it.
But have given you long letter, when
| had intended "a short one. | shall be
pleased to find that you agree with me; bu,
whether or not, it will make no difference
in the sincerity Of the respect ard esteem
of Your unchangable friend,
s. ID. 1NGHAM. :
p. ST. have just passed my 77th year
am confined entirely to my own room, and
:aR only write on slate, having an aman-
nensis to copy, so that my correspondence
must be very limited. S. D. 1.