The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

c nstellatlon which adornS the American
Flag, and gladly share in all the blessings
and liberties which our political institu-
tions, if administered in their true spirit,
and on their real principles, confer TO an
extent which no other governmental iorma
have ever bestowed upon those who lived
under them. There has however, always
been an interest which has arrayed itself
In opposition to free labor; and of late
years it has acquired an ascendency in
the councils, and over the action Of that
party, which has, without just title, usurp-
ed the name Of Democratic" and oy its
cooperation been enabled to obtain con-
troll over the policy of the Government,
which has been inimical to, and subvers-
i've of, the welfare and prosperity of the
productive industry of ireemen. This
hostility finds its root and its inducements
in the system of hereditary negro slavery.
We do not qu's stion the sovereign rights
of the States in which this anomalous and
exceptional labor exists, to maintain and
perpetuate it among them, If they zee
proper. With that we have nothing TO-
do-no right to interfere, further than
the mere expression of opinion extends.
But when that system becomes aggress-
i've, and insists upon establishing itself
upon the virgin soil of our free territories,
even against the will of the majority Of
the resident population, we hold it to bs
both right aud duty to prevent it.
The wise, enlightened, and far r-seeing pat-
riots and statesmen who framed our in
stitutions-Washington, Madison and
Jefferson in the south, as well as Frank
lin, Hamilton and King in the north---all
regarded slavery as an evil. They refus-
ed to permit the word to appear IN the
Federal Constitution, and expressed the
united hope that ere long, by the process
of gradual emancipation, it would disap-
pear from the Union. They expressly
fixed a time after which, under the legis-
lation of Congress, the importation Of
slaves should be prohibited, and Congress,
acting in accordance with the universal
sense of the civilized world, placed the
brand of piracy upon the inhuman Afri-
can Slave Trade. Pursuing the same
policy, Congress from time to time, and
without question its Constitutional pow
er, in establishing governments over the
Territories of the Union, as the gradual
advance of settlement required them, By
whatever means of cession or purchase
those territories were acquired, up 10 tho
organization of Oregon in lS4S under the
Presidency of Mr.. Polk, expressly enact
ed that involuntary servitude except for
crime should not be permitted i'm them,
and with the agreement of Dir. Monroe
and his Cabinet, including such southern
men as Calhoun, Crawford and Writ, and
of a Congress where Clay, Pinkney, and
other most enlightened statesmen were
conspicuous, fixed geographical hne
which was henceforth to define the north
ern boundary of slavery, and which re-
ceived the long subsequent recognition OF
the Government in the terms of the COM
pact by which Texas became an integral
part of the Union. 1t was not until shee she
EMMY set apart for free labor by the Mis-
souri, Compromise, having passed through
the trying ordeal of Territorial condi-
ton, in the exercise of rights which had
received frequent Congressional recogni-
tions, presented Constitution of Gav-
ernment and applied for admission as .
State into the Union, that whatever may
have teen the theoretical declarations of
ultra Southern propagandists of Slavery,
any practical attempt was made to over.
throw this established policy of the Gov
ernment fortified by so many concurring
precedents, to the authority of which all
parts of the Union were bound by the sc-
tion of their representatives. An effort
like this both to overthrow established
principles and to suppress the voice OF o
majority of the people of Kansas, was ac-
conpanied, of course, by series of out
RACES, unexampled in the history Of the
country. The ballot box was polluted
with fraud, and corrupted BY violence.
The right of free election was denied 10
the people. The residents were overawed
by invasions of armed men, who employ
ed arson, robbery, and even murder to ina
pose slavery upon the Territory, aud
their forcibIe and fraudulent proceedings
were recognized as Legitimate expressions
OF the popular will BY the Territorial m.
thorities acting under the Commission,
and with the appreciation of the "Damo-
cratic" administration at Washington.
In 1856, in order to relieve itself Of
part of the odium which it was compelled
to bear on account OF these atrocious pro-
ceedings, the Democratic party nomina-
ted candidate for President whose ab-
sence from the country discharged him
from the imputstion, at least, of being Q
personal participant in the acts OF his
predecessors; aud, in accordance with q
predetermined policy of deception which