Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-29

" bv and behold these alterations i'll The Ter
rjtory without dcyising any means TO AVOID
them Is it the duty Of Congress which cni-
bodies the sentiments OF this whole Republic
to sit quietly by and allow the institution OF
slavery to extend itself into territory under
its exclusive jurisdiction, and which was once
conSecrated by solemn act to freedom. In
1919 LouiS McEIane, Of Delaware, during the
discussion in the Senate that preceded the pas
sage Of the Missouri compromise, though HIM
self STAKEHOLDER and from Il slave State, de-
clared that
Nothing can more gladden. the heart than the con
dom whose soil should never be Ioistened by the tear
degraded BY the step OF the oppreSsor or
oppressed
But, to dav. the soil whose contemplating
so gladdenS the patriotic heart is not only
moistencd with the tear Of slave, but is threat
ened to be dreneHed with fraternaI blood
In this Crusade 10 propagate slavery, not only
by changing the construction given to the Con
stitution for more than half century, but by
force of arms, permit me to call your attention
to the almost dying counsel OF one OF the coun-
trv's most illustriouS names. Though born
and reared under southern influences, 1t IS
sentiment that will find cordial response IN
the patriot heart everywhere and is worthy
to be inscribed on his tombstone. In discus
sing the compromise measures on the 9th OF
February, 1850, as if forebOding the present
hour in his country's history, Mr.. Clay said
But if unhappily, we should lie involved in be-
tween the two parts of this Confcderacy in which the c
tort upon the one side should be TO RESTRAIN the ntrodnc
ton of sara, the Territories and upon the 9th
cr side force 1T Introduction there, what spectacle
should we present to the asonishmen of mankind in
effort to propagate rights butt must say it, though
trust it will be understood to be said with no design to
excite feeling TO propagate 1eTogs in the Terrific
rirs thus acquired from Mexico. rC,d De 'caT N
,ohich should hare Sympaties, good 1csheSin
which history itself would he against us for,
from the commencement of the Revolution down to the
present time, have constantly repruaChed our British
ancestors for the introduction of slavery into this country
From the tomb comes the voice Of your
saintCd dead, to rebuke the efforts making to-
day to establish slavery upon the soil of Kan
saS ; and is it for the freemen Of this country
not only to turn deaf ear to the safe coun-
sells Of the vcnerated dead, but to stand in in
difference to the best interests of the future =?
Will you carry into Kansas the institution of
slavery under the protection of the flag of your
country2 For it is for Congress to say what
shall be DONE and what kind of institutions
shall exist there during its territorial existence.
On some future occasion | hope TO have an
opportunity 20 discuss at length the cOnstitu-
tona power of Congress over the Territories ;
but at this time the only proper inquiry is what
is the cauSc of the unprecedented state of af-
fairs in Kansas and what can be done to save
that people from bloodshed and civil war
The President in his annual message, after
reviewing the slavery question, closes with this
rather singular summary of the cause of the
present excitement at the North
the passionate rage of fanaticism and partisan sp
rt did not farce the fact upon attention. II would be
difficult to believe that any considerable portion of the
people of this enlightened country should have sGrren
dered themselves 10 anaca devotion 10 the supposed
interests Of the relatively few Africans in the United
State totally abandon and disregard the interests
OF the twents-iive millions Of Americans"
The art Of the lawyer and the politician is
ever to associate names made OdOuS in the
public mind with what they wish to destroy,
and upon them attempt to excite the preju-
dice of men.
Sir, the men of the North have not " sur
rendered themselves to fanatical devotion to
the supposed interests of the relatively few AT
reans in the United States" but they desire
to gladden. the heart Of the patriot forever
with the contemplation Of a portion Of terri
tory consccrated to freedom, whose soil shall
never be moistened by the tear OF the slave,
or degraded by the step Of the oppresSor or
oppressed
The rights of the citizens Of Kansas are the
rights of the twenty-five millions Of Americans,
and the wrongs of the one should be adopted
as the wrongs Of the other. If the rights of
one man in this country can be tramplcd upon
by legislative enactment, the rights Of all may
When men are dsfranchscd by law, and de-
privcd of their nearest and dearest rights. and
that law rests upon the Government of the
country for its validity and its sanction it
comes home to the bosom of every person, no
matter in what part of the Republic be lives
and he who would set quietly down and per
nit wrong and injustice to be done to a citi-
zen of the country when he could prevent it,
is guilty Of gross dercliction Of duty
The freemen Of Kansas are entitled TO your
protection. They are entitled to your protec-
ton against invasion at the ballot-bOX, TO your
protection against unj Just laws which violate all
their rights, Your protection in the freedom Of
speech and the press. The supervision of all
their legislation being under the control of
Congress- let it, then, do its duty, and remove
from the people these odioUs enactmcnts which
the President hns declared must be enforced,
and secure to them the free and undsturbed
exercise of. their civil rights and privileges
The men of the North are but resisting the
attempt to subyert the spirit and genius Of
the Institutions Of the Republic and the cf
fort now making TO oycrturn its welI-estabIish-
ed policy in lcgi>lating for the Territories, the
effort to reverse the decision of the courts max
ing slavery a local, sectional institution, rest
ing upon local law for its support ana to ma
tonalize it by throwing over it the shield and
the protection of the Constitution and the Tn
ion, wherever it goes beyond the jurisdiction
of the local laws which gave it support,-it is
against this doctrine that the men Of the North
war and not in behalf Of the relatively few
Africans" in the country. Their condition,
however deplorabe in the States where they
eviSt is baynnd our roach NEp TnuSt thern