Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-05-11

would, TO stand last By the etorn,, princi-
pies OF right. No inviiiuus distinctions
'd castc-ot birth or parenlase, we've AL
lowed To weigh in that grand epoch "t our
couniry's history. The rights of all men
were recognized and honored. lncIpi-nt
s,eps were.immvdiatcly taken for the abo-
litiun Of slavery. The African WAS re-
garded rs having NATURAL rights equally
with those Of his white brother. The
dcspotism and righteousness of viavcry
Everywhere, from Massachusetts 10 South
Carolina, il was admitted AS absolutely in
dcf'nsible--as utterly incompatible with
the essential rights oi man. With two
cxcep ions the thirteen States agreed to
prohibit that ..exccnble commerce. in hu-
man Aesh"---tle slave trade; and aboliti-n n
+ocetes were formed in New York, Vir-
ri ,ia, Maryland. and number Of other
states, while in Mnssschusett their high
est courts declared slavery Illegal. because
inconsistent with the Declaratioi Of Inde-
pendence. Practically, as far as posi-
ble, the principles Of those saycs Of our
history were unayvidably put into effect
Sdrely, never before in the annals of man.
AiHOp uiu BCVItC tttC
sublimity and p,wer which characterized
and followed the actors Ia the great drama
of the war OF the Revolution. Other ma
tons before these had been convulscd in
efforts OF the masses tn maintain their in
hercnt and sinalicnable rights. Britain
herself had, passed through the o;de,l VI
Revolution, in consequence Of n determi-
nation Of her people not to submit 10 the
&c 'potism of an irresponsible governing
power, but never a, any period Of the
worlds history had the been IA ma
ton united and determined TO siand or fall
by the eternal truth that oil men are
created free and equ,l, and endowed BY
THEIR CREATOR with certain inalien-
able rights, among which are life, liberty,
and thepurSuit of happiness" That gov
ernments are instituted among men only
To secure their rights. and that when they
fail in the Accomplishment of this end, it
is no. only the right, but the duty Of man
kind, u alter or abolish them. Such glory
and honor as this, was reserved, in the
providence of God, to adorn The lives and
characters Of the heroes of '76. They
were destined TO stand as the opponents Of
" VI NhAth III Duc
bonehcence ofits universal application, is
designed o elevate progressively. all man-
kind to the condition OF self-govcrnment
Long may We houor and revere the names
of these Ilu5trious benefactors of our race!
But, however just and righteous any
newly discovered truth may be, there are
always those, w.lo, from interest, or, a
constitutional pervcrsencss in regard to
anything different from that to whichthey
have been accustomed. will oppose it and
place every obstacle that is pos-ible, in
the way oi It's development. The grear
principle of the equal rights Of all men, AS
serted in I77G, by tho whole American
nation, has. we are obliged toconicss. met
with no better fortune in this ie 'Ecct, rhan
is usually accorded toDew truths. t,om
that period until the present time. there
fore, there have been those, who, endowed
ottcDtines with great talents, and extensive
learning. lave cndeavored To eounteract
this priaciple Of sclf-governnerlt, and to
sustain in its stead the principles of d,s-
potism, as they are developed in mon
arci,y, or in some parts Of our own coun-
try in domestic aud chattel slavery. While
in foreign counties a cons 'ant struggle
has been going on between the prerogatives
Of the King and the rights of his subjects,
in our own nation mighty contest has
bcea taking place between those who adj
vocate the doctrines of '76, of the capac-
ify Of man for stlf-government, and those
who, holding that men have no natural
equality Of rights. assert the privilege as
proper for one manto control ut his will
the fortunes Of anolher-to chattelize, or
buy aud ell him--a5 is every d y done
through the ys,em Of domestic slavery.
Upon this question Of the natural right
aud capacity oi selE.ovcrnment. two great
parties have arisen: one called the Demo
cra;ic-a name which carries with IL in is
true meaning the very essence Of truth
stards before the american people tie
most gigantic peryertor Of truth of any
organization that ever had an existence.
With name which is the We Y synonym
Of popular right, and Republican, privi-
lrg-. This party has insidou-ly ingratia-
ted itself with The masses Of the people,
and in tile name Of Democracy has aided
in forwarding the designs of an oligarchy
in perpetuatipg aud extending slavery, to
tlsio,il abne cation Of the essential rights
ofn,an." Theothc party, which is called
Republican. bases its' faith bold y upon the
rights Of "humanity" an the capacity Of
man for self-government ard hence, nn-
Ike their opponents. they dciest and dc.
preca;A the 'itspotism Of slavery. as in di-
rect conflict with the principles of free
dom and popular rights. The present po-
iiiical coh.est going ON between these par
ties, wei illustrates the essential difference
III practice, which must necessarily grow
ont Of the different bases upon which their
Dtgaaizaiions are founded. The Demo
f;,aiic party, as a pdrty-we speak Of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 10 h'ice he curse" #
slavery upon :he people Of Kansas, und r
color Of he iniamously notorious Lecomp-
ton Constitution. All the tactics Of party
discipline are brought into requisition to
attain this nbonlinable end. Bribery is
opeaiy MADE. and office holders changed