The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-09-19

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Tsx Drs Motsrs Valley Nn'e il publishe
every Wednesday al this Office is one Of The oldes
papers in Iowa, and has very large andincreas
ing circulation throughout Tho Dss AoineiNaile.
Northern Missouri and Western Illinois.
Great Dem oeraftc slave Empire
The entire territory Of the United States
including states and territories, embraces M
area OF near three millions Of square miles
The principles Of the Declaration OF indie
pendence consecrated this land Of liberty
the home OF the free. The great Charter Of
the country, the Constitution, was framed by
our fathers under the influence Of the same
principles, while it tolerated as temporary
evil local institution at war with the fun
damental ideas Of our government. But the
legislation Of the country in pursuance Of
the fundamental ideas Of the founders Of
our government sought the promotion and
extension Of the principles of freedom
And our fathers carried their views into prac-
teal operation BY sbolishing the slave trade,
BY excluding slavery from the northwest
territory, by prohibiting involuntary servi-
tnde in all the territory Of the United States
nerth of S6 80, and finally, in 1850, by ex-
Guiding the institution Of slavery from CAL
iforaia.
Four years ago it was held by vast major
ny Of the people Of the United States that
slavery had no Constitutional or legal right
Or settlement beyond the boundaries of the
slave states. The institution was regarded
as local, dependent for its existence upon
state laws entirely. 1t then occupied but a
small portion Of the country. 1t was dark
blot on the corner Of the map of the United
States, small dark cloud hanging over the
south eastern corner OF the land.
Four years have passed, and the Democratic
party has changed all this. Slavery is now
the rule, and freedom the exception. Allthe
territory Of the United States has become
slave territory during this brief period Of
uncontrolled democratic rule. The black
cloud has risen and spread till it covers almost
the entire land. There is only small por-
ton OF the whole area Of the United States
A'S F." ~ sAN iAkhs Va iISSuOhs ~
little corner in the north east and another in
the southwest is all that is left to freedom
Slavery rs the rule, liberty the exception
Slavery is national, freedom sectional
Twenty.three hundred thousand square
miles including the Southern States and all
the ,erritor1 of the United States is under
the absolute dominion Of slavery, slave poll
cy, and slave law, while only six hundred
thousand square miles, embracing the free
statee, is recognized as entitled to the bene-
fits Of free laws and the policy Of freedom.
And even this small fraction Of the land is
made hunting ground for slaves, and all
its free citizens required by the laws, and
compelled by the troops, of the United States,
to aid in the capture of runaway negroes.
The Nebraska bill, repeating the Missouri
Compromise and removing that great barrier
against the encroachments Of slavery, was
the first legislative movement in that
direction. The opinion Of Chief Justice
fancy in the bred Scott case committed the
Judiciary department to the doctrine that
this is q great Slave Empire, and that all the
territory Of the United States, howsoeyer
acquired, becomes slave territory by the
very act Of acquisition, and remains so, des-
pite any laws of Congress to the contrary.
And the recent letter of President Buchan-
an TO Prof. Silliman is bold pronuncia-
mento Of the Executive OF the United States,
that the nationality of our country is based
on slavery, that all the territories of the
United States arc slave territories, and that
no power can exclude slavery from them so
long as they remain territories.
That is now the doctrine of all the de-
partments Of the Government, and it is the
doctrine Of the Democratic party through
out the country. And yet two years ago
every Northern Democrat believed, declared
and maintained that the territories Of the
United States were free territories, in which
slavery had no legal existence. They all de-
clared that Kansas was free territory, and
that slavery could not be established there
but by the express will and act of the people
Of the territory. But now James Buchanan
says, "Siayery existed at that period, and
still exists, in Kansas. under the Consti.u-
ton Of the United States" and the Democ.
racy say ''that's So" Amen.
Thus has the Democratic party progressed,
and in the hrief period since s5l converted
fifteen hundred thousand square miles Of
terrltory,--an area more than third ns
large as all Europe, from free territory I'd
slave territory. Upon this immense region
OF country the Democratic party has i'm.
pressed the law and the policy Of slavery, and
has dono all in It's power to fasten the instta.
ton Of human slavery upon its institution,
and soil forever. And if the future genera.
tions Of countless millions Of freemen which
shell people what is now the territory Of ID,
United States, shall escape the curse o
slavery they will thank Providence and tn,
spirit Of liberty which inspired the people
forsneir dsliverance from a Democratic pol
icy which sought TO consolidate them int
one grand Slave Empire.
Creature In 81. Louis,
Tue most destructive FIRE known for seye
raj years il that city, occurred in ST. Loui
Wednesday evening.
The lire originated IN Carpenter shop 0
Eleventh street, near Market. In additio
10 various shops and dwellings, the FIR