Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-10-30
lFor the Chronicle.l
To the Members of the Society Of
Friends.

Friends, ] cannot forbear writing few
lines to you in respect to the coming elec-
ton for President and Vice-President.
find there are number of the members OF
the society of Friends that are going to vote
| for Fillmore and Donelson, or lay neutral
and not vote at all. Now, Friends, do you
not every few months read and answer the
query, in your Discipline, which says: Do
Friends, bear testimony against Slavery
Friends, have sat in your meetings and
heard the answers t0this query. and it was
the united voice Of the church that we do
bear testimony against Slavery. Friends,
can you bear testimony agains: Slavery,
and cast your votes Gor Fillmore and Dom
elson! Stop; consider end reflect before IT
is too late. Look at Fillmore's ALBANY
speech! Where has Fillmore ever done
one thing that was sgainst the extension
Of Slavery! ask you to point ont one sim
gle action that he has done. while President
of the United States that did not favor the
extension OF Slavery! Did he not sanction
the Fugitive Slave Rill, which vou remon
strated against! Has he ever rpnouncpd
his former Curse, or does he row hold forth
to 'ne people Of these United States that he
is opposed to the extension of Slavery. !
nave vet failed to find one word from him
that opposes the extension of Slavery. The
only thing that can find that he or his
party claim in respect t9 Slavery, is a COM
promise with the South. Have we not COM
promised with the South, and that compro-
mise has been broken as snon as there was
new territories to be annexed to thesa
United States, which that compromise did
not cover, in favor of Slavery. How lone
are we 10 compromise in favor Of the South!
Or IN other words, Friends. how long are
we to compromise with the blighting curse
OF Slavery! Just so long. Friends. as YOU
cast your votes for such men as Fillmore
and Donelson, will the poisonous fangs of
slavery be extended throughout these United
States. Look at Donelson, who saws him.
self that ne is the owner Of one hundred
slaves. and he olories in the Institution Of
Slavery.
How, Friends, what have YOU to hope
rom Donelson. who will sit, if elected
President of the Senate, and will have the
casting vote in the Senate of these United
states. Have yon anv hope Of him staying
the progress of Slavery in the newly ac-
quired Territories! For my part cannot
see where you have the least shadow oil
hope of either Fillmore or Donelson. Can
you fear testimony against Slavery, and sup
port these men to the executive chair of the
United States!
| NOW, can you bear testimony against
slavery and lay neutral and not vote at all
when the only issue is the extension OF
slavery. or the non-extension Of Slaverv.--
Now. Friends. it is a clear case that Fill
more and Donelson cannot be eleeted-it is
also clear case that the contest lays be.
tween Buchanan and John G.. Fremont
Now, by you laying neutral, you give Buch-
anan that much more the advantage over
Fremont. and by so doing you sanction the
extension of Slavery. because Buchanan has
| openly dec Jared that he is in favor of the
extension Of Slavery, bv adopting the res
olution adoDted at Cincinnati. at the Con-
vpntion that nominated him, which is,
Reso'ued. That the Administration oI
Franklin Pierce has been true to Demo-
| cratic PRINCIPLES. and therefore true tn the
great Interests nfthe country: in the face
| of violent opposition he has maintained the
| laws at home. and therefore we nrnclaiu
0J-our unqualif'd admiration of has meas.
ures and policy.
Look at franklin Pierce! Has not everv
action tnat he has done. or evprv appoint.
nent that he has made. heen to favor Slave
rv1 Look at the blood that has been shed
| in Kansas, Yes. Friends. look at ,he law
| that have been violently forced uDon the
Free State men of KanSrs; anl they have
all been upheld BY Franklin Pierce Nov
Friends, can Won bear testimony against
Slavery, and allow your influence to BE- cast
in fBvor OF James Buchanan, or the admin
istrarion Of franklin Pierce!
Now. Friends. there is one Of the three
parties that is before the people of these
United States for their sufFrages. that ! as
| openly declere6 to be in opposition to the
extension of Slavery. Here will give you
a resolution adopted bv that party, as one
of their fundamental principles:
Resolred, That the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration
of independence. and embodied in the Fed
eral Constitution, are essential to the pres
erration of our Republican institutions.
Now, Friends. the Declaration of indie
pendence declares that all men are born
free and equal. Is there anything embodied
in this that is like upho'ding Slavery, or
what objection can you find to the platform
Of the Republican party!
Now, Friends, what are the testimonies
in respect to Slavery. of Johr c. Fremont.
the msn whom the Republican party has
Of his own words in that respect: 81 never
owned one dollar in human flesh, and while
rerson holds its sway in my brain | never
will. l am opposed to Slavery in the ab-
stract. and upon principles sustained and
made habitual BY settled conviction 1 am
infexbly opposed to its extension on this
continent bevond its present limits"
Now, Friends, if you bear testimony
against Slavery, and fulfil your professions.
Won are bound to come out and support John
C Fremont, and by so doing put stop to
the blightng curse of Slavery, in our Ter
ritories, and stay it whe,e it now exists
The united voice of the South is. stay Sla-
very where it now exists, and it will soon
die a natural death. By so doing you will
wipe the foul blot of Slavery from these
United States, and let Freedom reign tri-
umphant here
Yours, with respect, W. E. B.