The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-08-26


VILLAGE and city of the north. Long and vio-
lent was the struggl, before freemen could
be subducd to this degrading occupation; but
by the aid Of Federal troops, by the shoot
inc of few free white men in Boston, tho
imprisonment of some and intimidation OF
others in different parts of the country, the
law was forced upon an unwilling and indlg-
nani people. The northern people are
peace loving people. Tho use of the pistol
the bludgeon, or the knife, is no part OF their
occupation, except against foreign foe-
Their love of peace and their attachment TO
the Union, outweghed their Indignation for
the wrong committed.
For the sake Of peace, and trusting in the
promises OF our leaders, both north and south,
Whig and Democrat, that the question OF
the extension of Slavery was forever settled,
the people of the north settled down in quiet
and submission. In 1852, the Democratic
National Convention, assembled for the pur-
pose of nominating candidates for President
and Vice President renewed the pledge a
ganst the further agitation of this question
1n Congress or out of it." on any pretext
whatever Relying upon these promises OF
our party leaders, we entered the campaign
and triumphantly elected Franklin Pierce to
the Presidency. And now fellow Democrats,
let us calmly and dispassionately consider the
events which followed. On the Inauguration
of the newly elected President in accordance
with time-honored custom, he delivered his
inaugural address to the people of these Uni
ted States, declaring the principles which
should govern him in the administration OF
the government entrusted to his care. In
this inaugural address he solemniy pledged
himself before the God of Nations that he
would frown Indignantly at any attempt at a
renewal of the agitation of this question:
i Democrats, do you recollect the unalloyed
satisfaction this announcement gave you.-
The campaign was over, the Democratic
President elect inaugurated, the government
fairly under way and the country, lulled to
quiet by these often repeated promises, re-
posed in peace. But alas, how trail are hu-
man promises! Scarcely had the glad IT,
dinps ceased to sound, when there came from
the seat of government the news OF ascheine
there concocted, more wicked in its inception,
bold in its assumptions and damnable In its
tendencies, than man had ever attempted in
this or any other civilized nation on earth.-
1t was the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mises. 1t was called for by no necessity, nor
asked for by any portion Of our people. 1t
was scheme concocted by daring. reckless
spirit, with view of elevating himself to
the Presidential chair; and upon discovering
/ his selfish and criminal purpose, the incuIn-
, bent, Franklin Pierce, determined, at all
hazards. TO secure the succession and ut once
= took upon himself the responsibility of the
| wicked deed, and by the power Of the gov.
eminent, through the weakness Of some and
!, the wickedness of Others, by promises and
] bribes, forced through Congress that act o.
Y treason to freedom, the repeal Of the Missou
h ri Compromise. That solemn compact be
G tween the States Of this Union, the work o
J. the good and the wise, the great and patriot
:. ic, that barrier to strife, that monument o
e peace, that tower Of strength to the Uniol
T. was torn down, demolished and destroyed
II and by that act the hood-gates OF strife hav
y been opened and laboring men and freeme
1t have been robbed and murdered for the rea
S, son that they loved freedom more than slave
nv. Our country is now shaken with CIV
of war, and who can tell where the end will be
d With the result every man is famlllar-w
i. need not dwell upon it here. We only as
le you, fellow Democrats, to look at Kansa
49, ma sha lioo prostrote end bleeding of thA fo'
he of the Slave Power, and then say if we al
O. not right in condemning in strong terms II
q course of legislation by which this lament
lv bic and fearful state of things has bee
M brought about? Are we not right In d
% manding return to the early practices
a. the government, whereby peace and ord
,st were preserved and freedom strengthened!
rv We were told that Congress had no pow
~ over Slavery in the Territories, but that Il
N. people resident therein might prohibit it
ro- they chose to do so. Now this power is q
be MED even to the people of the Territori
ro- themselves II is denied to Congress. 1t
by denied to the people. Where then does
he exit? Nowhere, if this doctrine be truc.'
,ut If this new doctrine is to prevail, then slaV
mt ry is established by law in every Territory
bIe the United States, and there is nowhere a
srv power to legislate against it until Sta
ino Constitution is formed And this new VII
mi. of the subject is rendered fcarfully mporta
an. by the action of our National Conventi
rr;- which recently assembled at Cincinnati.
ver Upon this point we will not ourselves spei
Ia but ask YOU to consider carefully the folio
NV inr extract from a speech in the Unit
Rnt States Senate-by Democrat whom
od have all rcvered, who has been an honor
nor our party and an ornament to the body
md which he is member:
ad- Extract from Speech an The United Sta
a Senate By Hov. HANNIBAL HAMLIN, ]
us nine years Democratic Senator from
our State Of Maine:
the "SrR, what has the recent Democrs
in Convention at Cincinnati donel 1t has
dorsed the measure | have condemned, 8
,,so has sanctioned its destructive and rpinous
n.o 1n1o fects It has done more-vastly moro.
' ae principle or policy Of territorial sovereign
~ which once had, and which l suppose =
orce has, It's advoca.ss witlin 'ne,o
inst en- down; ana .nere is anu avo U.,,;S., Z;
lex 1t IN the resolution o' .ho oou,e.' ~, -,
ion, can draw right CONCLUSIONS denial e9u'
hem to Congress aud even TO inc people Oh
the Ierritories' OF the hghs !" se''io 'ns iuos
pro- OF slavery ,nereln on .no .o.oa .Ony, ~