Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-11-26
s,.verv Agltation..A Resrespsct.

slavery AsisaeAon.-A Rssssspsct.
TIE agitation Of the Slavery question
in the Northern States began 70 assume
. most threatening aspect when, by an
infusion of the virus of Abolitionism
into the body Of the Wing opposition
TO the National Democracy, that party
died political death. When the two
great National parties, the Wing and
Democratic, had co-existence, the
miserable organization known as Abo-
litionists was not sufficiently strong to
effect any evil to the institutions
Of the country, but, when the entire
Abolition party and q large portion Of
the Old Wing party Of the North
merged into one. and was chr:stened
"Rcpublican," the combination present
ed 80 formidable an array, that it became
a matter Of necessity that the National
Democracy should rally Its forces for a
struggle, upon the result Of which the
existence Of the Union itself will de,
pend.
That the adoption Of the Slavery
question as the single plank in the Re-
publican platform is merely political
scheme, having for it's object the delu-
sion Of the people and the elevation Of
prominent party leaders to places Of
power and trust, is beyond ell doubt
The antecedents Of many of the Re-
publican leaders Of the present day
prove the correctness Of this assertion.
Their newborn sympathy for the AFFECT
misery and degradation Of the Slave
possesses no one Of mark Of sincerity,
but, OH the contrary, when taken in
connection with previous declarations
and public acts, no conclusion can be
arrived at but one; and that is, that all
their professions Of philanthropy are
hypocritical, and that their only aim il
to delule the people. AS an example
we will refer the reader to an extract
from the proceedings Of the "FRIENDs
OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE UNIoN," as.
sembled at Harrisburg, Penn, on the
LIST day of May, 1887. In tie proceed.
iugs Of this Convention the following
prominent members Of the Republican
party were participants Gen. SIMON
CAMERON, the present Republican Unit
ed States Senator from Penna. Hon.
THADErs STEVENS, at present a Repub.
lican member of the House of Represen>
tatives from Pcnn'a. and MoRTox Nc
MICHAEL, the present editor of the Phil
adclphia North american and United
States Gaze.te, the leading Republican
organ in Pennsylvania.
This Convention adopted the annexed
Preamble and Resolutions:
The cautious wisdom which distin-
guished the trainers of the constitution
of the United States, is strkingly man
ifested in the reserve with which that
instrument alludes to the existence of
domestic servtude among us. Although
the topic was necessarily presented to
their view, and exerted an important
influence OH several articles of the COM
pact, the term Slave or Slavery no where
occurs.
The apportionment Of representatives
and Of direct taxes, is required to be
made according to the population of the
States respectively, by adding to the
whole number of free persons, including
those bound to service for a term Of
years, and excluding Indians not taxed,
three .Gtths Of all other persons. The
emigration or importation of such per-
sons as any of the States should think
proper to admit, is not to be prohibited
by Congress prior to the year 1907
No person held to labor or service in one
State according to the la,cs thereof, es-
Gaping into another, shall in consequence
of any law or regulation therein, te dis
charged from such labor or service, but
shall be delivered up on the claim of the
party, to whom such labor or service
may be due.
by this carefully varied but clear
phraseology, it was sought to protect
the interests of the slave holding States,
and to secure the right of the master to
the services of his slave. Congress was
vested with power to prohibit the intro
ductlon OF slaves after the year 1908
but in all other respects. the subject Of
slavery was included in the general RESI-
ervatlon OF powers not delegated. and
was LETT to the unrestricted action Of each
State within its own limits.
Such are the articles of the constitu-
ton which relate to slavery within the
United States, fully recognising its ex,
,stence, and guarding against any Agis.
lat'on achich might Abera,e an a5scond.
any slace.
when it is remembered, how many
conflicting interests, and how many va
rant habits Of thought and life, were
reconc.led by the spirit of mutual conces-
sion which is embodied in this compact,
no argument should bs required to en-
force all its provisions, and to rescue its
principles from violation.
NOR can it be necessary to demon
strate TO the candid and honorable. that
tn. tn, spirit Of this compact is opposed to
.ae measures by which the rights it re-
COVN1Zpl -.