The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-09-09
From Tile " Y. Tribune

y a
politicians and journalists to beltte the
1 agitation at the South for the revival, uu-
der the sanctions of law and public opin-
ion, of the African Slave Trade with our
ports, just as the same politicians would,
ten years ago, have secuted as an aboli-
tlon lie any suggestion that the Missouri
Restriction would be one day attacke j
and overthrown. But in fact the Missou-
ri Restriction and our laws declaring the
African Slave Trade piracy rested on the
same basis, and were upheld by the same
llne OF argument, aud the fall of the for
mer renders that of the latter exceedingly
probable. As to the popular sentiment
IN either case, there can be no doubt that
the North in 1913, regarded the Missouri
Restriction with quite as profound and
universal devotion as now buttrcsses the
Federal prohibition of the Slave Trade,
while the nuIG ber at the South who earn
estly desire the re-oponiDg of the Slave
Trade is immeasurably greater than ey-
er asked for or dreamed of the repeal of
the Missouri interdict of Slavery Exten-
sion prior to Mr.. Doug las s move in 1854.
The very reason addsced, even so late as
by Col. Orr few days since for South
ern appreciation of and gratitude for Mr.
Douglass Nebraska measure-namely,
that, if it gave the South no actual terri
tory, it nevertheless removed an inyidious
distinction, au odious and degrading i'm
putation on their peculiar institution -
is far stronger reason for repeating the
anti Slave Trade laws than for repeating
the Missouri Restriction. The latter was
in its origin substantially division Of the
unoccupied area of the Union between
Free and Slave Labor, and as such was
fairly regarded as Compromise; but
there is no pretense of Compromise about
the laws declaring the Importation CT
slaves an act piracy-for they necessa-
rily imply tha. Slavery is per Sc wrong
and an outrage. which Governments are
bound to forbid, resist and punish. The
stupidest negro in the rice swaUps of Caro-
lima will comprehend inStinctively that to
hang the captain and mates, aud imprison
the seameD, Of the captured SLAYER just
brought into Charleston by a National
vessel, and liberate her cargo of Africans,
will be to admit that he ought not to be
held in Slavery.
Under the policy of the founders of the
Republic, the fatal contradiction thus Civ
eD by our anti-SIave- Trade laws to the
fundamental assumption Of Slavery was
by no means SO palpable. When Wash
ington, jefferson, Madison and their CO.
temporaries treated Slavery as an IN
doubted evil, aud a fragrant contradiction
to the fundamental basis of our Republic,
but nevertheless an evil which Time must
be allowed to overcome they logically for
bade the extension of that evil, aud con-
fined it to the soil in which its roots we're
already firmly imbedded. "Give time,
they fairly urged, 'for the principles of A
merican Liberty to work out their legiti
mate results, and Slavery will pass away,
as sertdom died out as the deer, the Indi-
ans, vanish before the steadily advancing
footsteps of civilized man This view was
grateful to conservatives, and to men of
tender conscience but large appetite for
luxury and none at all for labor, who
dreaded future damnation but were 10th TO
surrender the present profits otslave holding
Thus half century glded quietly away,
and Louisiana, Florida, Texas, were sue
cessiveIy acquired with Slavery already
established therein, 80 that pretexts for
acquiescence and downy pillows for deli
cate conscienccs were still available
But when the bold step of opening free
territory to Slavery was resolved on, the
old apologies, the old opiates, would no
longer serve. 1t was necessary now to
affirm that Slavery was either positive,
uDmixed good, or else an affair of climate
aud industrial adaptation, with no moral
character whatever, but to be cherished
or rejected in any State as local reasons
should suggest. Now negro inferiority.
negro subordination as Divine ordinance
negro development under the rule and |
disci plne of white owners and grayitatioD
toward the lowest barbarsm when left to |
themselves, became necessary assump
tions, without which the Nebraska policy
could not logically defended. Popular
Sovereignty the inaienable right Of
each community, each sovereign State, to
ma axe such laws as it should deem best
was of course affirmed and built upon.
So far, all went smoothly; but the ia
tai necessity wherewith unsound though
plausible promises tend to cling con-
cIusioDs could not be eyaded. At once,
the earnest and ardent Pro- Slavery zeal
OTIS. to whom the Presidential aspirants
bad held out Popular Sovereignty as
bait, jumped at it with hearty zeal, and
be an to make use of it not designed
by its authors YES" they said, "let US
have more Slave Territory; but let US also
have more slaves to render that territory
available. Let US have Popular Sover-
eguty; but let this imply the right to
bring new slaves from Africa into Slave
State as we'll as the right to send our
born slaves into the territories and pre-
pare them to become Slave States" What
ms Ser do the champions Of the Nebras-
ka bill and the Dred Scott decision make
IN This demand Or rather what answer