The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-10-07
Nisrellaug.
From the Asi.taI&ia ,4SertiEel
Oar Danger and Oar Safety.
BT JOSHUA 4. tCIDDINGs.


1856. We cannot disguise the fact .ehat
some Of our journalists and sone candi-
4lates for office are seeking to gain the
support of the tiuid and veal men, By
denying that the Republican psrty is
pledged agsinst the extension of the Slave
Power They say distinctly that cur
PhilGdelphia platform does no. pledge the
p1rty TO oppose the admission of more
Slave States. Some say they would vote
TO admit new States With slaveholdirg
Constitutions.
We shati not stop TO argue the question
at this tiue. If tie fundamental truths
put forth ~ that instrument do not ex-
'tc!udc the extension of the Slave Power BIZ
the consent or vote of the Republican
Psrty, its trainers failed to express what
they supposed neither friend nor foe could
doubt. The Democratic party had avow-
cd this extension of slavery as one impor-
tAn, item in their creed, It was known
that Mr.. Buehapan, their candidate, lad
long cherished the Intention of bringing
Cuba ;9t9 the Union, in order that the
ignorant Catholics of that island may give
preponderauce to the Slave Power, and
enable them TO elect opr President and
Vice President, and direct the admins
tration of our government. maintain the
Dred Scott decision, extend slavery over
all our territories, and hold their slaves in,
and carry them through, our free States
that these objects were to be attained not
only BY giving to the slavedealin9 and pi-
ratical population of that island an equal
vote in our government with our Virtuous
and intelligent population, but by adding
thereto three votes for every five slaves
which they hold in bondage. This plan
Of transferring our rights, our interests,
and our honor to the keeping of such 3
population constitutes the most od;ous,
the most hateful policy Of that party, and
some Of our respectable journals deny that
the Republican party is opposed to this
policy.
These declarations have struck US with
surprise. Every intelligent man must
beware that this same wagering of our
RACKS, in face Of the enemy, defeated the
Wings in 1874, Wba9 Henry Clay
avoved bis personal acquiescence in the
plan for aaaexing Texas in order to ex-
tend the Slave Power, he signed his own
solitical death warrant, and do our friends
suppose that the scenes corrected with
Kansas and the experience of fourteen
gears have rendered the despotism CT slav-
cry more acceptable to our people 7 Have
our friends forgotten the memorable re-
port on this subject made to the House of
Representatives in 1884, by the venerable
John Quincy Adams? That report was
signed by one other member who yet lives,
and has done what he could to awake the
Northern mind 20 the enormity of this III
crease of siaveholding tyraEuy. Have
our friends forgotten tho address put forth
by Mr.. Adams, and twenty other members
of Congress, one-half of whom yet live,
and are now lsboring for the rights ard
honor of our free States? The peopie
have not forgotten these things, and will
not forget them; and in our opinion the
idea that Republicans will consent to see
the people of the free States thus trans
ferred to the control of slaveholdiug des-
potism is now doing a thousand times
more to defeat us in 1860 than all the eff
forts of Buchanan and Douglas put to-
gether.
If there were any doubt in regard to
the Philadelphia platform being opposed
to this extension of the Slave Power, the
great body of Republican voters would de-
mand its amendment, or repudiate the
party. We assure these men who would
let down our position that the mass ofthe
Republican electors are honest. They
mean what they say. They base their
aetioa on princi pie. They will discard a!
Eire-workiRg. They will not be sold nor
transferred to the Slave Power by their
own votes. They wiN not BE dcceteed.
We understand that some candidates and
some journals propose to so into the con-
test Of 1850 without any expose Of our
political faith Let that policy be adopt.
cd, and one-kafofthe Repub!icqm electors
.oould not tqkf'the trouble to go to the polls.
We haye 40 hesitation in saying tna!
if this surreudsp to the Slave Power must
be made, if our rights are to be given up,
we hope it may be done by the locofocos.
We prefer that party should remain in
power so long as necessary to consummate
their crimes, rather than see such dis
grace brought upon party With whom
we have associated and BY men for whom
we have voted.
We would not deceive others, nor would
Fe be deceived We think any attempt
Of our Rational Convention Of 1860 to
modify our position in regard to this ex-
tension of the Slave Power, or TO place II
nomination man whose sentiments on
that subject are unkapRn, must defeat his