Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-10-31
HOW SHALL WE VOTE /.

1t is to quiet citizens that | address my
sclf-not to proiessed politicians, nor to
crowded meetings, nor excited assemblies
but to those patriotic and more silent citizens
who seek for no Office, but desire to vote in
such manner as best to secure the character
istic blessings of our Government. do not
propose to argue the great questions of
public policy now before us. The time for
argument is mostly passed, and the time for
reflection and decision has arrived. | pro-
pose only to briefly state the case.
All parties agree that this is the most i'm
rortant Presidential election which we have
ever held. The character Of our institutions
forever seems to depend upon it. The great
question is Shall Slavery be extended by
law into the Free Territories of the United
States, and be fortified and made impregna-
hic-nn eternal Characteristic of our kcpub-
lie There are the somewhat local questions
the Buchanan Ostcnd Circuar-the rob-
hing of friendly nation Of her territories in
time of pcacc-and the question of a free
public highway across the continent, through
our own free territory-the Pacific railroad.
These are only branches Of the other question
The forcible seizure and annexation Of Cuba
is but II measure to fortifv Slavery, 10y ad-
ding new slave territory to the United States
Let it be established that Cuba must come
into the Union as free territory, and the
gentlemen who met at Ostcud would throw
up their hands in pOus horror at the propo-
sitlon to steal the queen of the Antilles. And
let Slavery he established throughout the
Territories of the Nor Invest. SO that trains
ofcaged or chained slaves (cattlc trains) may
be sent as merchandise across the continent,
and the South will have no constitutional
scrupes against the Pacific Railroad.
The question Is the great question of "thc
liberties of America ms the phrase was in
l776, and this is the only question One
great portion of the people believes that
Slavery is moral, political and social evil,
existing in some of the States by their own
laws, and that whether 1t be or not necessary
to Their resent industrial and social position,
it is n cue .tion for those States alone; but
that it's character and effect upon the morals,
tn manners, the reputation and the pros
perity of all States where it has existed with
out necessity, demonstrates that it ought
never to be extended to our now Free Terri
tories.
Another powerful portion of the people
the SCs thern p'ople-believe that Slavery is
a Blessing to every community--that it is
the natural relation between capital and
labor-between employer and employed
that the Slave-trade ought to be renewed,
and that Slavery ought to be extended
throughout the United States and all her
Territories.
The present excitement is the conflict of
these two opinions. 1t is not question
whether it be lawful to hold slaves in those
States where Slavery now exists, nor whether
those slaves be well or ltreated-sympathy
for the slave has nothing to do with it, The
slave himself is outside Of the discussion. He
is in the keeping of States and laws to which
the Northern people are not party and for
.hich they are not responsible. They did
make those laws and they cannot repeal
- %sr,e free and not the slave, the
/SSe" jack, whose interests are the
ION
Ut with the Southern States
tons that we have to do. Nir-
th Carolina, and the other
Is, are outside of the discus
Ok only to that immense un-
R6ry where there is now no Slave
hich, thirty-fve years ago, was de-
Iby law to Freedom by the consent of
- people. and not of any particular State,
and for which every American citizen is res
ponsibe. Shall that territory be blessed
with civil and religious liberty and Republi-
can mutuality-shall it be the land of Free
dom or of Slavery, The territories are
larger than any ten States Of the Union, and
are to be inhabited by millions of people. A
notorious tyrant is said to have wished that
all his people had but one neck, that by one
blow he might glut his vengeance. That
great figure is here realized The freedom of
that great unsettled territory, and through
that of all the Northern States, is centred in
Kansas. Her position and circumstances
make her the connecting link If she be
free, all are free if she be cursed with
Slavery, we are all enslaved.
If the cause of Freedom do not triumph at
this election, then before tho 4th OF March
next, Kansas and Utah will be admitted as
Slave States. Utah has her Slave Consttu-
tion ready made. and is only waiting for her
opportunity. The Border-hu1ian Lcgsla-
ture will make Slave Constitution for Kan,
sas in January, and the incoming Pro- Slavery
President will come to Washington in
February, with all the offices and power and
patronage Of the Government in his hands
and in less than one week after he shall say,
you see the Free Soil movement has failed
return my friends to your old party sym
pathes-let us forget and forgive, and or
ganize an Administration according to the
voice of the people and there will be no
longer any majority for Freedom in the
House. foreign mission--a scat in the
Cabinet-a fat pecuniary Office judiciously
applied, and il is all overland as Texas was
annexed on the ID day of March, ls45, two
days before Mr. Polk was inaugurated SO il
a Pro-Slavery President is elected, Kansa:
and Utah will be admitted as Slave State,
DelOIe he 10 luduSurdItu, 30 Indt tue new
Administration may find the Pro-Slavery po
Icy of Atchison, Pierce and Douglass thu
settled and immoyable policy of the country
The neck Of Liberty will be cut of.
In 1920 law was passed that there SHOULD
be no Slavery in the Territories now NORTH
of36 > 80 y. latitude. Kansas is entirel,
north Of 377 Its climate is like that o
Ohio Illinois, and Kentucky, Delaware
Maryland and Virginia. The capitals of II
linois, Indiana and Ohio, and the CITY 0
Philadelphia, are all further south than thu
Northern boundary of Kansas. That boun
Diary extended would run nearly through tn,
middle of New Jersey. If Slavery be neces
sarY to the burning heats of equatoria
climates, II 1t be necessary to cotton field
and rice swamps and sugar plantations, il il
not necessary to Kansas. There is not tn,
apology of climate or productions to plac
slaves there or to exclude the thrift and pros
perity OF Free Labor, small farms varou
productions, and small happy homestead
scattered all over the land. Slavery is presser
upon Kansas only that thereby the who'll
North may be fatally enslaved, and that a
now in Delaware one Of her Senator'S declare
to his constituents in relation to something
against Slavery said by a Northern Senator
g Had he said it in myPresence would hay
beaten him to a Jelly - as in Maryland citi
zens, peaceably assembled for mere poitca
consultation, are compelled to flee for fear o
assassination as in Yirginia, for the mer
expression of opinion unfriendly to Slavery
citizens are compelled to flee to the Ere
States because they belong to the party tina
is opposed to the extension of Slavery as a
the seat Of the Federal Government, 9TH
place set apart for free discussion,) for tn
mere discussion Of questions Of public policy
editors and members Of Congress from tn
Free States are beaten down from behind an
nearly murdered, so hereafter it shall be i
the hitherto Free North.
American citizens hold a peculiar relatio
TO the questions connected with human lit
erty For two hundred yearsDiyine Proyidenc
seems to have gwen that precious deposit il