Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-10-27

0au % VI 10 Oinding fofce, except d.
ing the time that il is a Territory for "
al agree that the sovereignty Of the State
is one aud the same; and that any nev
. state has the same right to eiabIisl
slavery within its limits that Masachu
setts or Ohio has. Then is Il policy 70
US to trust to this security, which is faIls
! eiouS and deceptive? For what is th,
3 tendency and effect Of law excIudinr
Slavery, and what is its influence upon th,
peoplef Suppose we kad had a law ex
eluding Slavery from Kansas-that III,
Missouri CompIomise had not been re
peaied-do you believe that there would
have been a Free.State party in Kansas
tell you It would have been impossibl,
10 arouse sufficient energy in the free
States to carry population there sufficient
to control the Territory, or in any way ia
shape its destiny! ,. @
There was the utmost Indifference in
the free States 10 regard to that Territory
land it The Pro Slavery party had been
discreet, or had exercised common sagaci.
ty, tEey would have opened that Territory
without iGeddling with the Missouri Com.
promise. Bet by repeating thvt 0ompro-
mise they outraged the sentiment of the
North. They virtually said, we will
wrest il fronl the possession of the North
rs the inheritance of Freedom, and will
make it ours for the purpose OF Slavery
When they said we will do It, the North
said you shall not do it; and the result
was, that they have not done ii, and they
cannot do il. Ifthis is the effect of such
a law, Il it only begets hazardous security,
and we have abundant power TO carry our
institutions where we will, what do we
want of the hollow name of law concer.
ming any ofthe Territories Where is the
danger? No man raises a question con-
eerning the Territories north of thirty-six
degrees and thirty minutes. We regard
their destiny as determined for Freedom.
South Of that line there is but one Terri
tory where there can be any struggle; that
Territory is the Indian Territory; but
where is that situated9 1t cannot be one
hundredth part SO difficult to secure that
Territory as to secure Kansas. l would
rather contend with the opposition in Ar.
kansas. and that portion Of Missouri Dor.
dering on the Indian Territory, than con.
tend against the people of the Platte Ter.
ritory that borders on the Territory of
Kansas.
Now, # it is fact that we are able to
do better and do more for Freedom with.
out law than with a law, then say that,
instead Of its being the duty of Congress
to legisIate for the Territories, it is the
duty of Congress to take the best steps for
the extension of Freedom; and in my opin-
ion, the true ground for any party desi-
ring to secure the freedom Of the Terrific.
ries is to work for absolute non-inteyen-
ton, either by Congress, by the Federal
Executive, or by any nonresident power
whatever. And | do not borrow this doc.
trine from the Democratic party, or from
any principle ofthat party. 1t is the doc
trine that lies at the foundation of this
Government aud which was first inaugu.
rated by the early settlers. 1t was in &C.
cordance with this doctrine that the early
Congress Of this couatry was founded.-- !
1t was embodied in the charter that was
given to the Plymouth Colony, in the
New Haven Colony, and Providence
Plantation. And SO we have earlier au-
thority than the Democatic party for its
existence now--and better authority.
Now, then, can this doctrine be safely
applied! Is there any hazard in its ap.
pication? l have quoted to you already
the instance of Kansas, where l show you
not only theory in its favor, but actual
fact, Notwithstanding all the power
which the chief Executive could WELD,
the power bis patronage
could bring to bear upon the people. and
in spite Of the proximity of Missouri, the
fresmen of that Territory are to-day tri
umphaut. In view then, of these facts,
and Of the safety with which the applica.
ton of this principle may be made, in view
Of its potency, superior to that of law, |
for one am ready to adopt it. I d. not
ask the support of this Convention. /
know there are some who are not ready to |
endorse these views. l submit these views
on probation. Should they be examined
further, and fonnd to be good and true, l
hope the Republican party will be ready
to adopt them, to occupy this platfarm.
for we cannot afford to lose any weapons;
and / think the right weapons are often.
sive. not defensive. ..
We have been standing on the defen-
sive too long. When the slave power has
been pursuing, we have retreated. But
the slave power has no defensive weapons
when freemen come irto the conflict =
l tell you gentlemen; thIt | had rather
have Slavery in Virginia, SO far as it is an
obstacle to our progress, than dense fog
on the Alleghenies. There are entreaties
coming from many of the Southern States,
for New England colonists, aud the exist
ence Of Slavery in these States is q great
iaducement for them to occupy the land,
which they can procure at Slave State pri~
ces, and then bring up to free State prices,
thus increasing the value of their property
from eight to ten times, Thus the exist.
enee Of Slavery, instead Of being an obsta-
Gle to our progress, is virtually an induce
ment and encouragement. |,
I tell you there is no power in that
institution to withstand freemen and free
principles. And it is libel upon free
dom to say that it cannot triumph ex-
rept when sustained by municipal law.