Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-01-15
llt[rt1EsILEFIkEN COUNTY, IpAo

bali'-i'ox from the pressure Of corruptiHg
aud dangerous influences. -
10 the policy and acts Of the National
Government, affecting, as they do, the rights
and interests Ut the Commonwealth, the peo-
pie of the State cannot be Indifferent
/ Pennsylvania, occupying high and conserv-
ative position in the -ieteshUod uf States
deToted to the Constitution and Union. in
their integrity and harmony, has been. ana
Will ever be, rs ready to recognize the rights
OF her sister States as to defend her own
These sentiments she has never abandoned
these principles she has ever violated
Pledged to the maintenance of the rights of
! the rTrtlI. as well az those of the south-sin-
cerely desirous cO promote the peace, harmo-
ny and welfare of our Whole eountry-and
disclaiming all intention or desire to inter
fere with the Constitutional rights of the
States, or their domestic institutions--the
people Of this Commonwealth viewed with
alarm and apprehension the repeal of the
Missouri Compromises comI rornise rem
dcred sacred in public esteem by its assuciiG-
+ ton and connection with the great cause Of
national harmony and union--rega it
as Il palpable violation of the plighted faith
4 AMI honor OF the nation, and as an unwar-
rantahle attempt 10 extend the institution Of
domestic slavery To territories then free
This reckless and indefensiblc attempt of
/ our National Congress- has net Only aroused
sectional iealousies and renewed the agitl
+ ton of yexed and dstracting questions, but,
! as Il consequence, it has filled Kansas with
frand, violence and strife-has stained its
soil with blood, and by system Of terrific
rial legislation, jnstly styled infamous,
has made freedoin Of speech and of the press,
felony, and peried the great principles of
/ liberty and equal rights. If the doctrine IF
popular sovereignty" is in good faith to be
applied % that territory-if the people thereof
are To be left perfectly free to form their
domestic institutions in their own way, sub
/ ject ouly to the Constitution Of the United
States" then the obstruction of the great
National highways to the northern emigrant
the employment Of the National forces,
and the subversion Of law and Justice alike
by the officials in Kansas and Washington,
to force slavery upon an unwilling people,
cannot be too severely condemned.
Freedom is the great centre-truth of
American Republicanism--the great law of
American Nationality; slavery is the exce..-
/ ton. 1t is local and sectional and its ex-
tension beyond the jurisdiction creating il.
, or TO the tree territories of the Union, was
never designed or contemplated by the patriot
]
| with these sentiments, Pennsylvania. true
/ = the principles OF the act of 1880, which
/ abolished slavery within her territorial limits
true To the great doctrines of the Ordi-
nance of l181, which dedicated to freedom
/ the northwestern territory Of the Union
I true tu National faith and National honor
/ asks and expects, as due to her own citizens
/ who have, in good faith, settled in the terri
! tory Of Kansas, and a. due to the industry
/ and energy Of Il free people, that Kansas
( should be free.
In this connection, and as consequent
! upon the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
| reference Ia "a proposition made By some of
! the leading southern journals, and more re-
Gently sactioned by high official authority in
sister State, 10 reopen the African slave
trade, will not be deemed improper. That
such a traffic declared to be piracy, and exc
Grated by the civilized world-so crowded
with horror in every stage Of its pursuit-so
revolving to every sentiment of humanity
every impulse of pure and no1le feeling
should be advocated or approved, in this
nineteenth century, with apparent sincerity,
and urged aS a measure of political economy
and OF justice and equality to the southern
States of the Union, are facts that find their
only explanation and apology in wild en-
thu~i asm, CT 4 still wilder tanaticism that
Overwhelms alike the reason and the consci,
enee. The wisdum and humanity Of a
proposition So startling and monstrous. must
seea their parallel and Illustration in the
dungeons Of the InquiSition or in the hold
Of the slave ship amid the horrors IF the
g middle passage" Equally repusive to
the intelligent and yirtuous sentiment of the
south as we'll as the north, it should receive
Il, l,,l-, l.. ?
country-of every friend Of justice and hu-
ranity. The history of the world and of
crime does not reveal traffic more inhuman
an attrocity more horrible. Against a
proposition SO abhorent, and against the
principles Il involves, as the representatives
of free people, and in their name YOU
should enter their unanimous and emphatic
protest.
The Union of the States, which constitutes
us one people, should be dear to you-to every
American citizen. In the heat and excite
ment of political contests-in the whirl of
sectional and conflicting interests-amid the
surging Of human passions harsh and dis
cordant voices may be heard, threatening its
integrity and denouncing its doom but in
the calm sober second thought" of patri-
otlc and vlrtuous people, will be found its
security and defence. Founded in wisdom
and cherished by the intense affection Of
pure and devoted patriotism, it will stand
safe and undisturbed, amid the insane rage
of political demagogism, and the ftful howl
ing of frantic fanaticism and when it falls
If fall il must-it will be when liberty and
truth patriotism and virtue, have persisted.
Pennsylvania tolerates no sentiments Of dis
union-she knows not the word. Disunion
''tis an after-thought-a monstrous wish
unborn till virtue dies" The Union and
the Constitution safeguard and bond
of American Nationality-will be revered
and defended by every American Freeman
who cherishes the principles and honors the
memory of the illustrious founders Of the
Republic.