New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-02
PENNSYLVANIA.
MIR. WILMOTS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
TowAspA Ami - IS5-


Governor. by Convention Of the Freemen Of Penn.
.ylyania opposed to the leading measures Of the late
and present National Administrations which assembled
at the State Capitol the 18th ultmo, together with
copy of the declaration Of principles promulgated by
that Convention accep. the position 10 which an
called BY the unsolicited suffrage of the body whose
organ you profoundly grateful for distinguished
marx of the confidence Of fellow citizens yet pain
fully sensible Of my inability properly to meet is
.ponsble obligations.
The approaching election IL one of no ordinary in
terest. Important questions of State policy. affecting
the public welfare and prosperity are not alone in
voved in the issues presented As one of the largest
and most powerful OF the sovereign States of our con
federa,e Republic the honor and Interests Of Pennsy
yanis are deeply concerned in the principles that AMI.
mate our National Government. She csnnot with
safety 20 our independence and the liberties Of our
neope be Indifferent to the momentous questions of
national import in progress OF settlement-ques-
tious touching constitutional powers Of the Fed
era Government. and vtaly affecting the dig
nity and rights Of free labor. Nor can she without
dishonor withhold her protest against the wrongs
inflicted upon her sons in distant Territory,
uuder the license Of Federsl authority The dearest
rights Of freemen. secured by plain constitutional
guarantees are ruthlessy violated on the soil Of our
national domain. American citizens are made the
victims Of tyranny unknown in the despotlsm Of the
Old World. The annals of civilized and Christian
nations furnish no example of cruelty and Outrage on
the part of Government toward its people, such as
has been endured by the people of Kansas; unless
thew be found in prosecutions OF the Huguenots under
Louis XIV. of France and " the Protestants of the
Netherlands, BY the Duke Of Ava, under Philip IL.
King OF Spain. Indeed, the bsrbartes to which the
peope Of Kansas have been exposed were of a char
scter SO nhuman provoke increduyi in the minds
Of large portion OF citizens. Thousands have been
deceived into the belief that for partisan purposes
fctions substituted for facts; although 10 events
in American history are better authenticated than
are the murders, rObberies, arsons and laweSs ra-
pacity inflicted upon the free settlers of Kansas
These cuirages had for their object the su6lugauon
of that Territory TO the of Slavery. We speak
of Quiet being restored TO Kansas because armed
bands Of lawless do not to-day inest her high
WAYS and plumber her people because her towns
are not sacked and the cabins of her settlers III iames.
This peace is deceptive and insecure 1t will De
broken the moment that the people OF Kansas make
a vigorous effort to recover their rights, OF which
they have been fradulently and violently de-
exorably pushed forward. A system OF ingen-
iously devised fraud kindred to that employed IN
the usupation under which she now groans, Is being
carried out for the contamination of this great wrong.
ment is basey prostituted. We are given irOrfS oi
fairness, but persistence in support of the wrong.
Every appontee of the President in Kansas Is an ac-
tive co-worker in the scheme of her enslavement.
Principles of eternal truth and justice, which lie at
the foundation Of Christian civilization and upon
which repose the rights of humanity, are deianty
assailed by the power that controls in our Ma
tional Government. Those truths, declaratory
of the natural and inalenable rights of man,
contained in the great charter Of our liberties, are
condemned by highestudic authority as unmean-
ing and false. The sanctuary OF our Courts OF Justice
il closed against an entire race OF men. The poor
and down-trodlen are not allowed TO petition for re-
dress of their wrongs TO those tribunals OF human gov
eminent That should most nearly represent the benef
cent attributes of the Creator and final Judge OF all
men. In view of these incontestible facts-of the
wrong perpetrated against the rights of American
citizenship, and the dangers to which our liberties
are exposed thus presented in its true Appetite
contest before us assumes dignity rarely given 10
human affairs, and imposes duties upon our ctzens
as high and solemn ever appealed TO the hearts
and consc;ences of men. The question is before
us-fom its demands there is no escape. Decide
we must, either for the right or Tor the wrong
Sooner or later the verdict Of this great Commonwealth
must be pronounced upon the issues forced upon the
country by the advocates of human bondage History
will record that verdict to her enduring honor or to
her everlasting shame. The repeal OF the Missouri
Restriction, ard the attempt to force Slavery upon
Kansas by fraud aud violence precpItated upon the
country conflict between the antagonstlc systems OF
free aid service labor In the issue OF TINS conictls
inyoiv,d the Democratic character OF our institutions
az Government and the independence, dignity and
rights of the free white laboriug man aud his pos
tciity. Slavery is tine deadly enemy Of free Ia.
hon The two cannot co-sxiSt ON the same field
of enterprsc Either labor will yndicate its
raht to freedom, it will sink into Deepen
depoe ard dishonCr. Free labor Is clothed with
inte nee ind power. Ii stands out IN the dignity
of true manhood. 1t sustans by its energies all the
social life. II is the source OF our prosperity and
national geatness Slavery is labor in ignorance and
chais-a brutszed humanity stimulated to industry
by the Ia Off master. IL makes the aborer an ar
Gle Of merchandise without aim, and without hope
In the place of an intelligent citizen, ready to defend
with his life the honor and interests OF his country
Slavery gives 10 the State an ignorant savage 10 DE
held in subsection. II endangers the social iaDrc by
converting lis elements of strength INTO an inpacaoie
enemy Never, in the history of partizan war
fare, were men more unjustly and perseveringly
misrepreseDted than the opponents Oh the
Extension Of Slavery. This arises In par
from the intoerant nature oil slavery ahd the
weapons it is necessi.ated TO employ and partly from
the fact so onlnipotent has the Slave Power become
in our Government, that support OF lis every demand
is made the single test Of party hdelty, ana le ohy
road TO official preferment. The citizen who dlssents
IN terms of earnest and manly protest against wnat-
ever exactions Slavery makes becomes thereby, IN 80
far as the National Government can impose disaOu-
ities almost as much alien and outlaw Is Is the
slave himself. Ii the freeulen OF the Norm consent
to occupy such subordinate po:uon IN lle govern
ment 81 their country, the spirit OF manly indie
pendence will be crushed out In their posterny'
Our sons will become submissive ana seryte
race, stripped of manhood and OF sel'respecl' Inc
Stakeholder proprietor of the sou ana master "a le
government viii dominate over them WIN scarcely
les Of arrogance aud power than he rules over hs ne
reditary bondmen. To this condition are the non
saveholding whites of the South already reuuceu.
They have to-day little OF practical power II the
formation Of public oplon ana I'D lne s ~ nnr
ment than has the slave The same iate awaits our
posterity if slavery is allowed to monopoize ne virgin
soil Of this continent. II is the meVltdDe ietouu
of heaven On any people that have not the courage
and integrity to maintain men Gree Labor ,eek fbe
elevation of the black to an equaiity WIN tue
white. They do not propose the emancipation
OF the slave, but leave that question: Oo''
as to time and the mode ,. o. ey;.t. Tbey
wish 10 deal with this great and embarrassing eyll 10