Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-31
CLEVELAND. TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 81, 1859 n
Rinr of the Gennine Mctal.

Inc following letter addressed TO the late
Cleveland Convention by Hon Jas A. Briggs,
formerly Of that city but now of New York is
so bold and manly in lie tone. and lie sentiments
are so in accordance with our own, chat we re-
publish il t--Def AdD.
New YoRK, May 20, 1859
Messrs. s. o. GRIswoLp, and others
GENTLEmEN-I am in receipt of your letter
inviting me ito attend and participate in the
proceedings of Mass Convention of the
Foes of Slavery and Despotsm, to be held at
Cleveland on the gath inst"
1t would give me great pleasure, could
leave my duties here, to be at your Convention,
and once more mingle my voice, and unite my
action with old and cherished friends in behalf
of those great principles Of Human Freedom
which underlie the whole structure OF our Gov
ernment, and which are indispensable to it's
prosperity and perPetuity.
The conflict between Freedom and Slavery
has been forced upon us by the slave propagan-
dists Of the South and their allies at the North
We must meet the issue boldly and learlessly,
and fight on" for the right until Slavery
"bites the dust"
In this conflict" how can any rational man
hesitate for one moment which side 10 take
In lT76 those who were for King George, and
the divine Right" Of such Rulers, were dc.
nounced by the struggling Colonists, who
were resisting oppression, as Tories;--and in
1859, those who are advocating the system of
human slavery, will be known in ali coming
generations Of mankind as the enemies Of their
race, and as opposed to its sdvancementin in any
thing which tends TO exalt, to enlighten, and to
enDOble man.
The influence of slavery is everywhere in
our land. It's anaconda folds, golden and gilt
teriug with the profits of trade, have entwined
themselves about all the fbres of the nations
heart II controls the press that ever should
be "guarded by virtue and graccd by freedom, -
aud thus pours its foul injection through all
the public veins. 1t pasies the tongue of
the lamb lssador of heaven" SO that he dare
not pray that every yoke may be broken,
and the oppressed everywhere 90 free" 1t
| hangs like "a body of DEATH upon the church.
and upon some Of the benevolent ornaniza-
tions, until they had become the scorn OF hon
est men, who regard man as more sacred and
OF more value than creedS--and his "inherent
right to life liberty, and pursuit of happiness" y"
| as OF more Importance than organisations,
which ignore the brotherhood of man. -
and the teachings of Him who declared
that "we should do unto others as we would
that others should do unto us Slavery per.
verts Judgment and blinds justice in our courts,
and makes the Judiciary, which should ever be
the bulwark of Freedom, the fortress and
strt nehold OF despotism, and by its decrcea
dooms to fines and imprisanments our fellow.
citizens, for obeying the natural promptinps
of that "higher law" written by the finger of
Goa upon the heart of man, and which has its
origin where human law never can enter IT
has filed the land with spies and iniormers.
People, especially official incum-
bents, no longer dare speak in the fearless
tones OF manly treemen, but in the cautious
whispers of trembling slaves Fealty tc
slavery is the only requisite and passport To
place and profit by appointment by the Chic
Magistrate OF this Republic, who, by his base
, servIllly to the slave oligarchy, has driver
from him old and tried friends, and surround
ed himself by the tatterers and suppants o
the hour "who like the treason but despis,
the traitors" Millions are asked from the pub
r lie treasury for the benefit of slavery, but no
!. one dollar can be given to aid in the develop
- ment OF the resources of our country, or to pro
. tect life and property upon our lakes and riv
+ crs, or to lay the track for the iron horse &
make hls way across our continent, laden will
the products and treasures of the two hems
pheres.
Let us not be disheartened "Let us worI
and wait" Let us believe and have faith il
i an earthly future in which there shall be
e resurrection of righteousness Let us no
despair, "tor truth is mightier than error, Co
than the evil man." Freedom must triumph
for it was twin born with time" The ide
{ that man IS born for freedom, will survive a
the ignorance, and oppression, and degradatio
IS that can be forced upon him. at is allied I
n his hope of immt rtalty-it is the ethereal pal
8 of his nature, which oppression can not reac
"a it is torch lit up in the soul (of the slay,
by the hand Of Deity, and never meant to |
eNtinguished by the hand of man."t
e' freedom can not be "orushed OUT De
Id potism with its iron heel cannot destroy it,
= The strong hand ofpower cannot restrain it.
Dungeons cannot confno it.
le Well may we say of human freedom
"a mo on words aud spears
- Is the rCliahCe Of ihY coming years.
+. Not by the oanuuH'a throat shall truth proclaim
Her mighty mi slou--nut with blood and hunO
lusc he her lessons In tho Book OF timc.
. lot strongest weapons shall be ofds sublime
u Her armies, though s-her banners printed sheets
le Her Captgius volcos crying IN the slieets,"
~ foufs truly, JAMkS A. BRIGGS
'Heny Clay flames Mcdowell Jr ofVa