Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-10-13
T The editor is still absent.
THE EAPPROACIIlNG ~ q CONTEST.
AND THE PRINCIPLES IN
VOLVED. .s... f.,s- I...

Before th article will reach large por
tion of the voters OF Meigs county, their
decision will have been made, not only in
this county, but the State. on the claims
Of the two great contend'ng parties for
their confidence and support That the
one rests for its support on the North and
West--the Free States of our Union
where free men, free speech, free schools,
and free labor abound, is abundantly de-
monstrated by the fact that that at the last
Presidential election, John G. Fremont re-
ceived one hundred and fifteen thousand
eight hundred and sixtyeigt more votes
than James Buchanan, his opponent, not
withs,anding tie battle cry of buchanan
and free Kansas was raised in Pennsyl-
vana. and other free States, to delude, and
ters. 1t was further proclaimed on every
stump Throughout the free States, that un-
der the Squatter Sovereignty doctrine, (the
Northern Interpretation Of it, of course,
backed and enforced by an honest and
impartial executive, (James Buchanan,
Slavery could never poliute the soil of Kan
sas the laws of climate. and the superior
number of emigrants from the North,
would naturally triumph over the utmost
efforts of the South. Of those who, in
the simplicity of their hearts, believed
these things, we would simply enquire
how have these expectations been realized
in the doctrine of James Buchanan, in his
late reply to the Eastern memoralists, that
"Slaveiy existed at that period, and still
Ell, Is in Kansas, under the Constitution of
the United States" and that chow it could
ever have been doubted is mystery"
That the other party relies for its sup
port On the jSouth-the home of the abject
slave and the wealthy and aristocratic slave
owner; the home, also, Of the poor man,
more abject in his subserviency than the
slave; but made such by contact with un-
paid labor, and all those varied influences
inseperable from the peculiar institution" 4"
80 ignorant, and so far sunk in the scale
of humanity. that the very term "poor
man" constitutes, in the mouth of the
slave, the sum of all that is mean and con-
temptible. The place where free press,
free speech, and free schools. are unknown,
where free religion is fast disappearing
where the resources of the county (unless
on the borders, where they are brought
under the influence of free institutions) are
undeveloped; in short, where but little is
found that constitutes the glory or great
ness of our country-James Buchanan re-
ceived six hundred and eight thousand
three hundred and ninety three majority
over J. C. Fremont, the Republican nomi-
nee.
These opposing principles are now ar
rayed againsteach other in deadly hostili-
ty, and are seeking to unfold themselves on
the virgin soil and almost illimitable plains
of the west. Kansas has become bstle
ground, and but one of them--because the
conflict will be revived on every foot OF
soil over which our manifest destiny"
shall carry the American flag, unless We
return to the original principles of our
Government. that freedom is universal,
that beneath the folds Of the American flag
is found equal political rights and
privileges for all mankind, and that Slave
ry is an exception, only created and sus-
tanned by local laws-@or unless!he oppo-
sing principle yclept modern Democracy.
or ..praaressive Democracy" which is