Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-18

cry year. think / see how it arises. Free
white mer abound in this country, and In
Europe, and even in Asia. Economically
spe sking, their labor is ~cheap-there is q
surplus Of it. Under improved conditions
of society, life grows longer, and men mui-
,ipIy faster. Wars, which sometimes waste
them, grow less frequent and less destruct-
i've. Invention is continually producing ma
chimes and engines, artificial laborsrs,-
crowding them from one field OF industry to
snother-evermore from the Eastern regions
of this continent to the West, evermore
fr,,m the overcrowded Eastern continent to
The ~ur,:ries and the wildernesses in our
own. But I do not see any such overflow
ing of the African slave population in this
country, even where it 10 unresisted. Free
Labor has been DISTRACTED in Kansas
There are, nevertheless, $4,000 or 60,oo0
freemen there already; gathered there with
in four Years. Slave Labor has been free
10 Importation. There are only 100 to 400
slaves there. To settle and occupy a new
Slave State anywhere is pdri passu, to de-
p~opul,rs old Slave States. Whence. then,
are the supplies Of slaves TO come, and how?
Only by reviving the African slave trade
But this is forbidden. Missionaries dream
that the prohibition can be repealed. The
idea is insane. A Republic Of thirty mil
lions of freemen, with a free white lsboring
population SO dense as already 10 crowd on
subsistence, 10 be brought to import ne
groes from Africa to supPiant them as Gull
~tiyators, and SO to subject themselves to
s,arvatlonl Though Africa is yet morgan
lied, and unable to protect itself, still it has
already exchanged, in a large degree, its
wars to make slaves, and its in
slaves. for legitimate agriculture and trade.
! All European States are interested in The
civilization of that continent, and they will
not consent that We shall arrest it. The
Chr istian Church cannot be forced back
Two centuries and be made to sanction the
African slave trade as a missionary enter
prise.
Every nation has always some ruling idea
which, however, changes with the several
stages OF its development. A ruling idea
of the colonies on this continent, two hun
dred years ago, was labor to subdue and re-
claim nature. Then African Slavery WI s
seized and employed as an auxiliary, under
a seeming necessity. That idea has ceased
forever. II has given place to a new one.
Acknowledgement of the nation-not indeed
as it once was, to make a small State great
hut to make a State already great the great
est of all States. II still demands labor.
but it is no longer the ignorant labor OF
barbarians, but labor perfected by knowl-
edge and skill, and combination with all the
scientific principles of mechanism. 1t de-
mands. not the labor of slaves, which needs
to be watched and defended, but voluntary,
enlightened labor, stimulated by interest.
affection and ambition. 1t needs that every
man shall own the land he tills. that every
head shall be fit for the helmet, and every
hand fit for the sword,and every mind ready
and qualified for counsel. To attempt to ag-
grandize a country with slaves for its inhab-
itants, would be to try TO make a large body
OF empire with feeble sinews and empty
veins. Mr.. President, the expansion ct
territory to make Slave States will only
fail to be q great crime because it is i'm
D practicable, and therefore will turn out to
be a stupendous imbecility. A free repub-
Iican Government, like this, notwithstand'
ing all its constitutional checks, ca1no'
long resist end counte-act the progress o
society. Slavery, wherever anG whenever
and in whatsoever form it exists, is excep
tionaI. local and short-lived. Freedom il
the common right, interest and ultimate de-
tinv of all mankind. All other nations hav'
already abolished or are about abolishiIg
Slavery. Does this fact mean nothingi-
All parties in this country that have toler
, ated the extension of Slavery, except one
have persisted for that error already. Tia
last one-the Democratic party-is hurry
, ing on, irreirievably, toward the same fate
Ali Administrations that have avowed thi
5 policy have gone down dishonored for tina
cause, except the present one. A pit deep
S er and darker still is opening to receive thi'
{ Administration, because it sins more deep
" than its predecessors. There ia a mean
!, ing in all these facts, whrh it becomes u
, to study well. The nation has advanced an
S other stage; il has reached the point wher,
, intervention, BY the Government, for Sla
{ very and Slave States, will no longer b,
tolerated. Free Labor has at last appre
, hended its rights, its interests, its power
and its destiny, and is organizing itself II
assume the government Of the Republic
, 1t will henceforth meet you boldly and res
oIutely here; il will meet you everywhere
\ q. H. To-tr,.c nj 1pf IF fho- urhara p-,
may go to extend Slavery. 1t has driven vor
back in California and in Kansas; it will ir.
wade you soon in Delaware, Maryland, VII.
ginia, Missouri, and Texas. 1t will meeI
you in Arizona, in Central America, anc
even in Cuba. The invasion will be no,
merely harmless, but benefcent, if yor
yield seasonably to it's just and moderate
demands. II proved so in New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the other Slave
, States, which have already yielded in that
way to its advances. You may, indeed, gel
, a start under or near the Tropics. and seem
sale for a time, but it will only be a shor'
time. Even there, you will find States only
for Free Labor to maintain and occupy
The interest of the white races demand:
the ultimate emancipation OF all men,
Whether that co1summa'ion shall be allow,
, ed to tske effect, with needful and wise pre-.
cautions against sudden change and disas.
ter, or be hurried on BY violence, Is all thai
remains for you to decide. For The failure
of your system of Slave Labor throughout
the Republic, the responsibility will resi-
not on the agItaiors you condemn, nor the
political parties you a%rraign, nor even alto.
geiher on yourselves, but it will be due to
the inherent errur of The system itself, and
to the error which thrusts it forward to 90.
pose and resist the destiny, not mors of the
African than that Of the white races. The
white man needs this continent to labor I'D
on. His head is clear, his arm is strong,
and his necessities are fixed. He must and
will have it. To secure it. he will oblige
tho Eovernmant of tho npitad Statoe .,