The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-03-07

considerable variety of interests. IHessldre-
hoidsrs are onig class among these inhabitants
aud their interest oply one among these interests.
"'rhe shareholders number not more
than three hundred and forty-seven thousand"
The other residents of these regions
cannot be passed over as utilities. They pos
sess an existence and rights, and certain
position, as well as the Shareholders, and they
are part of "Me .S0utN as much as the slave
holders"
In the fourth place it says, "neither is it to
be conceded that the scheme of forced or bond
ed labor, which the shareholders have adopted.
is an institution Of Inc Southern States; it i.
only custom or usage of Southern Society,""
ut is simply usage of Southern soci
ETY., which the laws of the State permit, and
to very small extent regulate, but which the
laws do not ordain either MS an element of
political life, or as part Of the public admin
istation." ut is mn entirely domestic
statue or relation, mode Of existence in which
individuals stand to each other, like part
nership, or like contract for labor, or like
on incorporation for special private purposes"
4 an giving themselves ont as tAe South
crn States the shareholders commit the same
mistake, which has been made by aspiring
classes in all ages, and II they do not refrain
must encounter the same destiny"
"For they may rest assured, that the good
sense Of the people, South ~ we'll as North,
will soon discern, if il has not dsccrned al
ready, that they are neither geographical diris.
ion of Tie country, nor a public authority Of
the countrv but oniy a c'ass Of citizens residing
IN particular parts"
In the fifth place it says, "our Federal Con-
stitution recognises peculiar relations, subsst
ing between the inhabitants of certain States
of this Union, bit IL knors no,hipg If Sarery
as property IN num-" 80 far is it from
regarding any men AS chattles, that il express
ly excludes that idea. Knowing human be-
ings only as persons, it is impossible that il
should know them as property, for the two
ideas are essentially Incompatible; 80 that the
Constitution, in choosing one Of these ideas,
necessarily rejects the other. 1t refers to Ger
tain persons heid 10 ssrric.,' and to certain in
habitoats not frce,' that is, no: politically cti
zens; but it nowhere refers TO siares' as SUCH
nor TO any class Of men rs property"
"Not being constitutional nor intcrnation
slavery is then local or municipal"
"But being local it has no right in the Terri
tories. lu refusing it admittance there you
simply refuse to give universal validity, to II
private and peculiar usage gnu infringe no
right Of my Stote. nor Of The Iso7k Of any
State. You say to those who are SO unfortu-
nate as to live where slavery is tolerated as
to others that as people, As members of
community, as citizens of State, they may
go where they please; hut Ms shareholders, as
pecuiiar Ct IS, they mW nat be reeognieed
there"
II the sixth place. it goes into statistics
showing, that whereas, only 1929 natives of
'frce States" inhabit the Southwestern States
of Missouri Arkansas Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Texas there are 556, 900 natives Of slave
States who inhabit the Northwestern States
of Ohio, Intliana, Illinois, Michigan and Wis
consin, IN oraer 10 prove more clearly that the
late and present political contest, was and is
not Il contest between the North and the South,
In; between slavery" AN! freedom"
Finally il concludes thus: The war between
the two principles of lhbor, Gree labor and
slave labor, in our civilization, is now fairly
engaged As tie smoke 0t tne present battle
clears away and exposes Ne condition of the
fed. ms the merits Of the real issue emerge
more and more iuto Ileht, as the utter ground
lcs,nesS Of ibis cry about the equality of the
States becomes more apparent as the masses
Of he labolng people discern more sharply, as
they ar beginning TO discern, the lncOmpati-
blIity Of sngery extension With their own in
terrstS--- the great sentiment Of liberty, which
is the deepest and most imposing sentiment Of
the American heart must acquire q more pre-
yelling wcjaht" X "In the state of opin
ion nov, as compared with that of only four
years ago, We possess the evidences Of vast
revolution The public mind has been puri-
fied of many political supcrsttions and the
public heart beats quicker to the call of free.
dom. The nature of that contest which the
propagandists Of slavery have forced upon us,
is everywhere more accurately estimated. It
is seen to be contest between property Oh
the one hand and popular free ON on the 9th
er, in which the single aristocratic element of
our society is pitted against its democratic and
progressive ciyilizntion.o
If you will observe the political articles in
the Omitted States Magazine of New York,
another monthly review, with hundred thou
sand subscribers in the interest of the "Radi-
cal Democracy" yon will find the same ideas
set forth and the same efforts made to array
in solid mass, the day.laboring, improperly
classes of the North, as well rs those of the
South, against the property holders Of the