Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-09-05
From the Franklin Democrat January ~, lsl
E t Who have Changedl ossa

How often do we hear men accusing
members Of the democratic party with
having changed, in reference TO tie qurs-
ton Of slavery. The party lines that
divided, tor near half century, the Arr
erican people. compromised this purely
domestic question. The democratic
party, however with the spirit Of It's
great apostle, Jefferson, as guardian
uneel, drew from the grasp OF the con-
terminating institution a territory and
devoted II TO the goddess liberty free
soil OF virgin purify. That Offering con-
stiiuted the district OF country known.
then. as the territory northwest OF the
Ohio River; but recognized. now. a. the
Northwestern Suites. The territory was
the properly Of the smother Of States
and Ct atesn'en." virginia. In making
a transfer Of mastery to the Genera.
Government, Virginia. "a Republican
State that never tuitered. } although her-
self slsveholdcr. nude u one 81 the
siipu.ations OF the contract cedlng away
her dominion over the nor,hwest-y ter.
ritory. that human bondage should not
pollute liz SOIL With this provision
agreed 70. the territory changed lie rels-
tions aud became the property Of all the
sovereign States, instead OF the proper.
~ ofthe individual sovereignty Virgin
Ia. Thus by a contract between sover-
eign contracting powers the ordnance
of 1857 was placed over, 10 protect
against the curse Of slavery the svil oui
oil which have been turned the true free
soil States OF our confederacy., rtii.i'
Asalready intimated. the free soil or
dInance OF 1887 was OF democratic or.
igin. To the principle Of that ordi.
nance, democrats have never excepted.
But there lave been exceptions taken TO
latitudinarian constructions OF the prln.
c.ple involved For instance, many
democrats, and rightly too, denv the ex.
istence OF ssmeness between the or
dinance OF 81 aud the Wilmot Pfoviso.
The former was an article in an agree
ment stipulstinga transfer Of mastery
from one sovereignty TO nnother--the
latter is prohibition proposed for APP
plication 10 territory alrendy ceded. not
an offer to sovereignty but a dlctatIon
that oPtttutu thcttotttu 1hah Uot
have an existence on certain soil. And
even the modern proviso doctrine paints
10 democratic parentnge; exhibiting
the fact for the consideration OF ''csn-
did world" that the tree soil theory 10 Of
dem ocratlc extraction. 1It .e4iff'q
Recent events have tested the SINGER
ity OF the politicians Of the North on
this important issue; the democrats re-
malnthe friends Of free soil. while new
tangled whlgery seeks 10 evsde the trial
and evidently desires 10 escape Tie re.
sponsibiliiy Of the settlement. of the
question. Who have chunyedl L.,
impartial history answer that question.
Bot for information. we would like q
know why Il Is thu, the pretended free
soil wings o. Congress are so mute. &C
careless In reference TO the non-exten.
sion of slaveryi Perhaps a new master
may awaken within their patriotic boz
SONS new zeal for prisoso prohibiting
an increase OF the area of slavery =
When Old lack shall have come, We
will see ts.t ~ 81
:.'rhs wiling dawes the yoke roeeise."