White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-06-02
From the New York Tribune. }
Slavery-0ur Duty.

S@NANSAI
DR.. Cheever. in his able and searching
lecture of the 9th, secuted the idea of q
qualified and limited antagonism to HUI
man Slavmy-of opposition to Slavery
Extension and not to Slavery perpetua-
tion-opposition to the Foreign, coinci-
dent with scquiescence in the Domestic
Slave Trade. The applause of the audi
ence was nowhere more hearty and gen.
eral than at this point, showing that the
impulses of the heart often outrun the
colder calculations of the head.
Doubtless, there is certain truth in
DR.. Chever's statement on this point.
No man who does not hate Slavery any
,Uhere, will be likely to resist heartily
and effectively its Extension; no one who
really approves and upholds the Slave
Trade between the Chesapeake and the
Lower Mississippi will be ready to labor
and suffer reproach to put down a like
trade between the Gaboon and the st.
Mary's. We make no secret of the fact
that the foe we combat, the wrong we
would throttle. is Human Slavery-Sla-
very anywhere, but especially within the
limits of this North American Union.
Yet it will not do to ignore Just and
well grounded distinctions, and in a good
cause, clear and accurate definitions are
often as essential as resollte efforts. For
instance: grog-sbop in Canada is no
less nuisance than grog-shop in YER
mont, and may be as great nuisance to
Vermont community, as though it were
located on their side of the line instead
of the other. Nuisance though it be, it
would not do for party of Vermonters
to go over and abate it by the strong arm,
as they might safely do, if it were on
their own side. What absurdity !"
says Thorough; sis the grog-shop any
the less a nuisance because it is located
on one side of an imaginary line, than it
would be if located on the other ?" Ger
tainly not" responds Clearsight "but
our right to abate it is local, not univer-
sal and we must not defy valid Law, in
pursuing abstract Right"
We do not hate Slavery in Virginia
any less than Slavery in New York or
Kansas. but our right to legislate for it's
abolition. expulsion or prevention in New
York or in Kansas is clear. Not so with
regard to Virginia. We can select men
to make laws for New York or (while she
remains Territory Kansas we are not
authorized to make laws for Virginia.
Why is not this distinction proper and
necessary
True, we have right to exert what
influence we may, by adducing facts. ar
guments, appeals to the understandings
and consciences of the People of Virginia,
to induce them to abolish Slavery, Just
as they have perfect right to adduce and
circulate facts.and arguments to induce
our people to modify their laws, and cor
rect any abuse and evils which exist in
our State. We claim no immunity from
criticism we do not desire any. If there
be any wrong or abuse existing in our
State or section, we hold that the people
of Virginia have perfect right to seek.
by all laudable means, its abatement.
We claim no more than we are willing
to concede.
OF course we resist the Extension Of
Slavery. because we hate Slavery gener-
ally, aud desire its extinction. We be-
lieve that, if Slavery had never gained
foot of new territory under our National
flag, it would have died out of the Union
ere this. We choose to seek lsudable
ends by lawful means. If we were to
ask the people of our State to all US in
abolishing Slavery in Virginia, the obvi-
GUS demurrer would be, "What right,
what power have We to make or alter the
laws Of Virginia ?" But when we ask
them to aid in excluding Slavery from
the Federal Territorics-to prevent its
extension-we ask them to do no more
than was done by their fathers and ours
by Washington and Jeferson-by Slave
States and Free States-what the Confed-
Grafton did, what the Union persisted in
doiEg-what was never denied to be Con-
stitutional until ten years back-what we
and they have a clear right to do, and
which their consciences must tell them
they ought to do. And we believe this is
the true and most effective way to fight
Slavery generally, and labor for its entire
humiliation.
Has DR.. Cheever well considered these
views?