Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-19
Governor Wise,s Manifesto.

uoV. WISE wrote letter in reply to
an invitation to address the Anti-Le-
com ton Democratic meeting at PhiIa-
delphia on the 9TH inst. of which the
followirgis part:
We have proudly. heretofore. contend
ed only for equality and Justice but in
this be wontonly.done, without winning
a stake-the power of slave State
thereby-it will be worse than vain. IL
will be snatchingpowe per fas AIT nefas
TO be lost speedily" with the loss Of
something of far more worth than po-
litical votes-o'T moral prestige. If we
are not willing to do justice we can't
ask for justice; if we cant agree 20
equality, we must expect TO be denied IT.
1t is our bull goring the anti-slavery OK.
Suppose we had a majority Of slave
holders in that territory suppose mi
nority of abolitionists bad got the cen
sus and registry int ka.r 2. -, ,.a>lsu
had keptiftecn out O - OK r.nn-
ties ont ofthe Convention suppose thew
bad formed n constitution with aclanse
prohibiting Slavery, and had sent Il to
Congress without submitting il 70 ma
iority Of the legal voters or suppose
they had submitted all parts of tho con.
stitution 10 the popular vote. cxcept tho
one clause prohibiting Slavery. knowing
Il would be voted down if submitted 10
the majority ofthe people suppose such
a boot on the other leg had been submit
tedto Congress and we had then heard the
Of a Convention contended
for by Black Republicans. demanding of
Congress TO sustain the doctrine of de
| will tell YOU that every
Southern man would have been i'm arms
and w-uld be reused TO the shedding Of
blood, rather than submit 10 Congress-
upon maioriiyof pr0-slavcry
people an arbitrary reserpt Of mere
convention, unauthorized Ia proclaim its
constitution without an express grant.
This is the same principle. accompanied
by lrickery and fraud. ave are willing
to do unto others ms we would have
them do unto us" The Southern people
ask for no injustice, no ineqGalis,r-.. 4
We arc told that "prompt admission"
IF Kansas rs State, will end the agita.
ton in Congress, and lOealize # In Kan.
zas. What is the kanZas question? l.
Il local TO Kanzas? No. IL never can
be local again. 1t has prevailed all pla.
,es and all classes in our country. Let
Congress endorse this schedule of leger.
lcman, let the South insist on il. let the
Northern Democracy be required 10
consent to the injustice. and the prece.
lent becomes OF universal application
and citation against Us for all inc. Not
)nly will the example plead, but il will
DC a plea IN continuous cases of similar
IMPORT and danger. rising successfully
Is long rs our vast territories 10 the Pa.
life shall be filling up II comes no
again and again, every year. from tcr
'itorles extending from Mesllla Valley
o Dacotah. Platter not ourselves. then
hat any mode Of adjustment will do
because il is the "speedicstH for Kansas.
[ is all essential that the settlement
hall be just and right and equal. II
not, II is sure 20 be mischicv0us 80 that
'arty which has snatched power with.
'ut right, and done wrong that good may
omcpf il. 40 do justice ~ alwav~<l1o.-.
} 81 policy. II all would demand only
What is right, and submit to nothing
bat is wrong injustice and oppression
.onld never be pcrpetratcd or tolerated.
The Interior effects of adopting the L.
.ompton constitution with It's schedule
will be worse than referring
'ack the question TO the territorial do
.ision.
twill arraign this Administration.
nd the Democracy and the smith. for
more than is right. :ud COR
orcing resistance 10 wrong. II will loo
agging the lion of minority whilst
he hand of u minority j. IN its mouth
{ will return the chalics'io our own lips
, hen the Kanzas question again ard
gain arises in North Tcxaa. IN New
Mexico, in MesiIa Valley. and IN all ohr
,ou dlcss domain OF unsettled and fast
'ettlng Territory II will drive ffem
Is thousands of honest Democrats IN
he North, who can willingly stand by
~ for justice and equality, bgt who
must leave Us when We demand more,
lnd refuse Justice and equality Is others.
Il will raise the Black Republican Gag
over the Capitol in the next struggle
0r power, and that, then. Will raise the
asst dread issue of union or disunion
Arc not some aiming 10 driy, "a 10 such
'Xtrcmitics rs will raise that issue past
being laid