The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-09-11

States-but more especially among the
slavsholders of the South, who are but too
conscious Of the rapidity with which politi-
cal power has gained the ascendancy at the
North, and which will soon leave them in
Congress largely in the minority. Upon the
exercise of this political power at the North,
the future veal, or the future woe of the
Southern slave States most clearly depends.
The strife with them has been to preserve
and equilibrium in the United States Senate.
They have failed. The strife is over! me
free States have the ascendancy, and they
will keep it! Nothing can be more true
than toe position that the slave owners OF
the South are not, as body, iavoraoie 10
colonization or immigration 70 ne" territory
--exactly the opposite is true OF the people
of the Northern States, who go to the terri
tories in rnas.es-as bees leave their hives in
swarms!
Thrust be remembered that the abolition
lists have long existed as q political organi-
xat,on. Holding the balance Of POWER in the
State of New York in 1874. they defeated
the election of Henry Clay; and in the issue
then before the country were guilty OF the
glazing inconsistency of voting virtually for
the extension of slavery. Their creed, as IL
Illustrated by their platforms, resolutions, and
speeches, is, to say the least, revolutionary.
Disregarding all doctrines at variance with
their object, the Immediate and uncondition-
al abolition of slavery, and acting upon the
principle that the end sanctifies the means,
they openly plot treason, and are loud
mouthed in their denunciations of the Con-
siitution, and are bitterly opposed to the
I mon of the States as they at present exist.
" it'll the strong conservative feeling That
Prevails at the North-and its devotion to
i.,e Union--the hope Of abo!itionists centre
ia agitation in system o; constant Irrita-
lion and annoyance-designed to exasperate
E I'D madden the people of the South-to en-
gender feeling Of insecurity and distrust-
- force them into a false position-to induce
them to commit some unfortunate overt act
which may result in their taking the initia-
tive in a war of the sections! Such evident
" is their plan of tactics-who doubts they
will follow it up perseveringly and persist
entity, even to the bitter end?
While the AboltiOnists as party openly
and exultantly profess their treason-there
are others among them who assume inider
phase, and are more cautious in their adj
missions. They are not opposed to the
Constitution as they understand 1t. In dis
cussing the question of slavery under the
constitution, they do it with mcntal reserva
tions-where mental reservations are needed
and throw off all disguise, where disguise
is unnecessary They are ready to adopt
and ride upon any platform as far as it vii
carry them on their road to immediate dbo
lition They are Republican, with Republi
cans; Democratic with Democrats; they Ell
logise Henry Clay to the Wings; preacl
morality to protesting christians; swear a
the bigotry of the orthodox with inhdels-
and openly denounce the Union, and anath
ematiza the constitution as "compac
made with hell" to the Aboltionists.
To those who are conversant with the ca
reer of the Hon. and Rev. Owen Lovcjoy 70
the last twenty years, who have listened
his inflammatory and vindictive speeches.
his false and malicious charges against tn
greatest and best of men in a word thos
who are acquainted with his public acts an
private history, cannot fai, to classify tim a
unmstakably belonging to the latter specie
of the Abolition genus.
1t will hardly be denied that Owen Lovejo
for the last twenty years, has been an activ
and unmitigated Abolitionist of the most u
ira character. He has preached it from tt
pulpit He has advocated it on the STUN
He has inculcated it everywhere. 1t su
rounds him like an atmosphere. The III
derground railroad passed by his very doc
The Lorejoy rendezvous" is notorious fro
the Mississippi to the border. His reput
ton as an abolition agitator followed him
Washington He was publicly charged
the House of Representatives. during d
bate which he interrupted, will. an act of
cious meddling and wanton cruelty, in emit
ing from his friends and from his home
feeble old black man far gone in his dotaS
and leaving him unprovided, to die miser
bly, in strange land among strangers! II
i. = AZ
Joys presence, and was received by hi
without denial and without reply! |
was as silent as the grave! An individu
thus obnoxious, can hardly be claimed as
exponent or representative of the views
the people of this district upon the subje
of slavery. His reelection, however, wou
be full endorsement OF his past career-aI
would be public proclamation to the Peep
of the United States, that majority of Il
voters in the district sympathise in his vic'
and approve of his acts.
Whether the people by re-electing hil
are prepared deliberately to make his &C
their own-and adopt his views as the
views-and INTERESTINGLY permit themselv
to be ranked among the treason plotting ft
lowers Of the Garrison school, are result
which can only be determined at the electie
in November.
As for myself, / am free to confess that
have an abiding faith in the intelligence ar
patriotism Of the People in their ATTACHING
to the Union-in their devotion to the Co
stitution, and its compromises-in their o
position to any interference with the instt
lions of Slavery in those States where it h
a legal existence-and in their desire to S
the Slavery question amicably and eguitab
settled, upon a just and enduring basis
which shall preclude the possibility of
agitation Other within or without the ua
of Congress.
Entertaining these views, and prepared
sand firmly by them, l would remark in 7
ply, gentlemen, to your kind letter reque:
ing me "to permit my name to be used
an independent candidate for Congress
this district" that, in my opinion, unit
and vigorous effort upon the part Of tho
entertaining conservative views upon I
subject Of slavery is all that is required
insure success in the coming Congressior
election. II the s>e Of nay name, or a
service that can honorab.y render, wou
result in centering the opposition to unit
and effectual action against the re election
the Hon. Owen Lovejoy, then, my love
country, my duty to you, and my regard
the fair fame Of the district in which
live, would not permit me to refuse II
which (even though by remote contingt
Cyl might nevertheless, through possh
ty, prevent a misfortune, and prove
means, perhaps, Of averting, what yer
believe to be not only an open disgrace, /
a great public calamity.
1 am. gentlemen, very respectfully,
Your obedIent servant,
CHURCHILL CoFFING
The Cass County Times, a neutral jo'
nal, says:
"The Washington onion constitutes I