Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-03-21
OLD SERIES. VOL. %, NO. II.

wagcd against the people of Kansas for the
extension Of slavery into that territory, wo
trace the footsteps ofa powerful interest.
aiming at absolute political power, and
striding onward 10 complete ascendancy
over the general government IL finds pow
erlul allies and an open field in the political
arena for the prosecution Of its purposes.
Always acting as compact unit It finds It's
opponents divided by a variety Of interests.
Partisan alliances and porSDnal ambitions.
have hitherto prevented any union against
aggrcs.ions, and, not feeling or fearing tho
di.plcasurc Of their constituents, represent
atiyes rom frco states have been induced b
aid in the promotion ofit designs. All
other interests have bocn compelled 10 give
away tcloro IT, The representatives of tree
dom On the foor OF congress have been treat
81 with contumoly, IL they resist or quss-
ton the right to supremacy olthe slayehold-
ing cla,s. The labor and tho commerce Of
sections where slavery docs no; exist. obtain
tariy and inadequate recognition from tho
general government, which Is swayod by ria
influence Cor the accomplishment Of its ends.
Tho executive Of the nation is tho willing
servant Of ~ bahcs,s, and sacrifice, 70 IL,
favor the rights AMI the interests of tho othcr
sections u the country
The purse and the sworl of the nation
ara at ~ command hundred millions of
dollars arc expended in the annexation Of
Tcya,, and the war with Mexico, which was
part II it, rrie,. Two hundred millions
have been offered for Cuba, and war with
al EIrpp', /. threatened, il necessary, %
prcycrt tho emancipation Of It's slaves.
Thus is tho decision Of great questions Of
puddle policy. touching vast interests and
vital rights. questions even of peace and ot
war, made &, turn, not upon the require
mcnts Of iu'ticn and ol honor, hat upon is
relation q tho subject ~ slavrry-ur1n the
sir.rtit will have upon the interest of tho
,laycholl.ns cll".
The people II the rrco states h,vachrrish.
ID the hope that the efforts made % extend
slavery which have ALLEN under their notice
were accidental, and Indicative oi weakness
rather than II ambition. They have trusted
that the lrlcious statesmen Of the slayc-
holding states would gradually perceive and
acknowlrler IL, inconycnirnc, Of slavery,
and would take such measures as they might
locm VIE, and s,rr ior i's ultimate removal.
They have feared the crr,ct of agitation
This subject. relied upon n" good faith anil
honor of the slayholdin, stats. and believed
that time, the natural growth of population
and the recognised laws of political AMI
social economy, would gradually AVID peace.
fully work out th, extinction Of system %
rrpurnani - Justice aud tIo national char.
actor AMI welfare.
II has seemed n them ncrniihl, that in
this late age, when christianity has fyr tvr
thousand YEARS been filling the world with
IL, light. anI when almost every nation ou
I'M earth bat our own, has abolished chat,el
slavery. tho effort should h made, or thu
wish chri.hed, by any portion Of our rco-
pie, {, make the int,res, Of slavery prcdom.
inlnt. and to convert this republic, the only
government that rroicsses to h" founded on
human rights, into the mishtic., slayo cm-
pire the world has ever sccn. But il is im-
possible tl deceive ourselves longer Tho
event, Of tho PAS, two years have di'cIo',i
The designs Of the slav, power, AMI tie des.
r2rata means ., ia prepared TO use for the!E
accomplishment
We cannot shut our eys' longer to th,
f,ct that the slayehollinc interest Is dctsr.
mirel to count,ract tha tendencies Of tho
time ami Of civilization, ny its own energy,
, by II, bold appropriation Of all iho powers
and agencies Of the government, and the VIC.
ht1n II need be, Of the mos; sacryd CON.
ract' and compromises I, i' resolved that
slavery shall be under the protection Of Ito
national hag-that il shall no longer
be the creature Of local law, but that
II shall stand clothed with al the sanctions.
and sustained nv all the power of this
great republic. It determined that tho
President shall do it, bidding and that Con-
grrs, shall lcslslate according TO its i,crea'.
1 IL is resolved upon the d,thronement of tho
principles Of repubiranism, and tic cs,ib-
li,hmrnt in their stead Of an oliglrcy, bound
together by common interest in the owner.
ship Of slaves.
Nor have wa any r1asln u halisre that
slavery will be content; with this absolute
supremacy over the federal government,
which 4, has already - well-nieh achieved.
On tho contrary. tho dark shadow, of ils
,cepter CALI. upon tho sovereignty Of the
several states, and menaces them with diro
disaster South Carolina, abandoning her
once cherished doctrine Of State Rights, as
s.rts tho federal supremacy over laws made
by states, exclusively for the protection OF
| their citizens. Tho state Of Virginia is c1n-
testing, in courts Of law, the right Of the
state ur New York 70 forbid the existence Of
slaIcry with her limits. A federal court in
Pennsylvania has denied the right OF that
state n decree freedom n slaves brought by
their masters within her borders, and has
proclaimed that slavery exists by the law Of
nations. The division Of California, and
the organization Of a slave state within her
limits, have been proposed. A Senator on
the door Of Congress has demanded the res
toration of the African slave trade, and tia