The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-08-14
From the Chicago Times.
Letter from Judge Il. l.. Dickey.

B. s. EDwARps-Deor Sr:-Your kind
letter asking for my views touching the pre-
! sent political canvass in this State, was re-
ceived few days ago. About thirty years
ago-while the people of Marylandf Virgin
ia, Kentucky, and perhaps other slave States
were respectively devising plans, each in
! their own way, by witch they might grad
ually and without violence rid themselves of
the then conceded evil Of slavery-certain
misguided philanthropists of the free States
! Impatient of the delay of gradual emanci-
pation,) began to band themselves in socie-
ties, with view of bringing about the i'm
mediate and unconditional abolition of sla-
very wherever found. They proposed to
create, by discussion, public opinion in
the free States against slavery, which they
seemed to suppose would in some quiet way
(never fully expiained) peacefully compel
the master to emancipate his slave at once.
This slavery agitation, thus begun, has
proved the fruitful source Of much unmiti
gated harm. and, so far as | know, of no
good whatever. It's authors, though benev.
olent men, have seen tho spirit of enamel
patton we'll nigh driven from the slave States
by their .f.i!y, and no State in this Union
has been made free since this dangerous ex-
pertinent began. Other men of more as
perGty-men animated not with sympathy
for the slave, but with hate for the master
soon joined these philanthropists, and
gained control of these originally hum ane
societies. Instead of words of reason and
persuasion, they dealt in dcnunciation and
Misunderstanding the resentment and app
rehen:ions of the people Of the South-gen
Grating discomfort and distruxt in the mind
Of the SlaSe-renderinc the subject Of eman-
cipation a. once uupaatsble and unsafe TO
the whole South This WAS Aboitonism.
The only fruit it ever bore was vile section
al hatred and slavery propagandism. The
southern people not truly understanding or
appreciating the fidelity Of the people of the
free States, became alarmed at the apparent
" rapid stride Of a olitienism in the North.
They were lead TO fear-tha, the fanaticsm
had such hold-that safety TO their homes
and tiresides demanded that the balance of
power should remain in the hands of the
slave S;ates-that they would look in vain
for mere paper constitution for protection
from aggression if that balance of power
was once lost
To obviate the effect in this respect. Of
the more rapid growth of the free States,
resort was had to the policy Of extending
slaverp into the Territories out of which
new States were to be formed. Mistaken
views OF selfpreservation enlis ed many
leading men Of the South as propagandists.
The reactive influence Of this. enabled Nor
thern disor sauizers with tenfo.d more effect
TO push on the work OF educating the people
of tho North for sectional strife, and 1T was
not long before we had class Of politicians
IN the North who aimed 10 convert or ma
tlonal government into an ng ne for the eS
tlrpation of ssvery--and class OF men at
the South who aimed to make our national
government an engine for the propasandism
of slavery, and each class falling in their
purpose, would gladly destroy the same by
revolution.
For a time, taese disifiouis.s found but
little favor, and had little power; but by
interpretations diligently disseminated,
the people OF each section were schoolei TO
hate oach other. Den.gosues in each sec
ton found, in base appeals to local jealousy
cheap mode Of winning position in politics.
| The power of this element of contention
was such that /, annidiIatcd the old Wing
party and totally M.etoxloaPL0,ed the Old
Democratic party.
That venerable old Whig party was su-
perceded by the Republican party, profess
i ing IN its platforms merely hostility 70 the
extension 0. slavery, but in its political jour
nails and popular haransues, precaminS war
/ upon shareholders everywhere, and teaching
| defiance TO the laws Of the nation.
The Democratic party in in it's platforms
T proclaimed popular sovereignty everywhere
while it's officers prosttuted every arm OF
I the government to the unworthy service OF
/ slavery extension.
| The great body oil the people. North and
/ South, remained true to the Constitution
and the Union, opposed alike to abolition
, ism, propagaudism, and revolution; but the
! conservative element was divided, part
acting with the Republicans to avoid the
! evils of propagandism, and q part acting
/ with the Democracy in battling the rcvolu'
| tionary spirit Of radical abo,itjonism. Con-
/ servatism was thus neu,ralized and render
. ed Intellectual. The uItrGs ruled and he'll
/ control North and South, in both Great
/ plitical parties, and no man or set OF men
was found strong enough to make su cess
| ful stand against the extremists IN glidins
! the course of either party, In this condi-
! ton Of things, at the last sesaion OF Congress
! the Southern extremists Of the Democratic
party undertook, by an act Of Congress, to
/ force upon the people Of Kansas slavery
constitution against their known will. The
/ President Of the United States and els Cab
/ net threw the weight Of the executive de-
| pariment in favor of the measure. Stephen
/ \. Douglas was one OF the Senators from
J Illinoos, and occupied prominent position
/ as one ofthe political leaders Of the Demo
cratic party. The sentiment of his State
was without dissent against the measure
HIS own pledges, and the pledges of his par
tisans, publicly made all over this country,
were directly against the measure. 1t was
modestly demanded Of him that he should
disregard the known sentiment of his own
State, that he should stultiy himself before
the world by violating his most solemn
pledges most publicly given; that he sho'd
put at defiance the undoubted will of the
people of Kansas, and bowin: before the ar
rogant demands Of propagandism, should
lend himself to SO tiagranl wrong.
Other men at other times, since this sea
ional strife began, had tried to teach lesson.
of conservatism and moderation, but the,
had been overridden and trodden under foo
by the extremists of their own party.
r In this emergency Douglas had the sagas
: ity to see the dangers of the measure pro
.. posed the courage to stand up for the Sen
t timent of Illinois, and withstand the wroni
and the ability in the very heat Of tn
action, to roll back the tide of ultraism il
his own party, and control that raging ele
ment Boldly. and almost alone, he at one
took high national and conservative posi-
ton. relying, solely, upon its inherent NOR
L al strength, and the power of his own intel
!. lect; rspudiating. alike, the fanaticism o
the North and the South, he indignant.
s. spurned his dictators, and gave open BATH
for the right This was done at the sacri
flee of old political sssociations-in the fac
ofthe frowns, and despite the threats, OF Al
q q administration welding patronage of eigh
= ty millions year, an holding the powe
e ofa dominant party flush I'd with victory
and under a most efficient organization
This was done when he knew, and every
man of sense in the nation knew, that h
would call down upon his head most fiery
persecution-that he ventur ured, at most fear
full odds, unon most deadly political cotlici
the result Of which no man could foresee,- =