Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-02-24

very, constitutes an important chspter N
the progress OF events, showing that the
Democratic party then acted upon the doc
trines now avowed, Sut evadet every effort
to compel them to show their colors.
In ls4s, the two great parties, in their
National Conventions and in their platforms
carefully avoided any issue upon the sub,
lee, of Slavery But such was the popular
feeling, that new party was formed and
though ii d id not adopt the rights of man.
kind, enunciated in the Declaration of In
dependence, as the basis of its organization,
it founded its claims to support upon its de-
votion to Freedom. Its numbers were re-
spectacle, and so many votes were drawn
from the Democratic party, that the Wings
elected their candidate. But the new Ad-
ministration, upon its entrance into office
was 5eset with the Rame ssseslties which
surrounded that of Geuessl Harrison. in
lS4l. General Taylor could find no definite
doctr inc nor policy on which he had been
elected, or to which he had been commit
ted. or course, the conflicting elements
were unable to unite 4; they separated, and
the party disbanded, and the necessity for
selecting mmu:able truth as the basis for a
political organization became still more ap-
parent.
AT the assembling of the Thirty-first Con-
press, some eight members separated from
the old parties, avowing their determination
to vote for no man to the Office Of Speaker
who besitated to pledge himself so to ar
range the committees as 10 secure respect
full reports upon Northern petitions in re-
gard to Slavery. Both Of the leading or
ganizations saw that this would at once de-
velop the great issue which they feared, and
they rejected the proposition. Under those
circumstances, no candidate could command
majority of the votes, and after contest
of three weeks they united in resolution,
declaring that the me mber receiving the
highest number Of votes should be elected
! The Democrat candidate was thus elected
and the Wing party actually died by its ef-
| for:s TO prevent the development of that in
! fiuence which defeated all its measures
From that day, it appears only in history
But it were in vain for historians to record
transpiring events, if statesmen, polite ans,
and people. close their eyes to the obvious
teachings cf these examples. and strive to
maintain pol teal party composed of dis
cordant elements, with no common princi.
pie on which all can unite.
The advocates Of liberty had greatly in
creased in 1852. Their National Conven-
tion was characterized for its dignity, and
the high moral and Political character oi
its members. Its platform Of principles
was more elevated and statesmahlIke than
had been previously put forth BY any polit.
icsl party. But as neither of the old organ
zations openly denied the truths of ouI
Declaration Of Indepe endence, the friends o
Freedom forbore to reiterate them, as such
reiteraton would constitute no issue with
either of the other parties.
They had denounced all agitation upon
the subject of Slavery indeed, they avoid
ed making any issue between themselves.
Neither denied any doctrine or policy which
the other asserted and this timidity deter.
mined many of their members to take a
more dlstnc. position whenever an oppor.
tunity should be presented. The people
generally felt it unbecoming intelligent
men, unworthy of the defendants of oul
revolutionary sires, to fear the investiga'
ton or the public discussion of human
rights.
Fortunately, at that time the people who
had settled in Kansas we're calling for a
Territorial Government. That region hac
been solemnly consecrated to Freedom
and the right of its Inhabitants to life, lih
erty, md prOperty' was to bo us"i" rrcog
nized or denied by Congress. 1t appeared
inevitable that members of this body must
be driven from their hiding places. l haC
for some years looked to that period with
hope and expectation that it would bring
out the issue between Liberty and Slavery
But the chairman of the Senate's Commit.
tee on Territories, feeling the difficulty o.
his position, and desirous of retaining the
confidence of his constituents,& at the same
time to avoid conflict with the slave pow.
er, determined to adhere to the old expedi
ercy Of evasion yet he appeared undeci
ded and vacilatiIg. He reported his bill
to organize the Territory, then moved its
recommitment, changed it, and reported
it !; and finally resolved on denying tht
right of Congress TO enforce within our Ter
ritores that provision of the Constitution
which declares that no person shall be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, with
out due process of law :" and to assert, il
opposition 10 this distinct declarat ion, tba,
the people of Territory may, if they
choose, deprive portion of the human
family of life, liberty, and property-may
rob them of their Intelligence, their man
hood.
THIS doctrine being so modified as to limi
the power of ercluding Slavery to the Con
vention which might fra sme their State Con
stiiu.ion, became for the time being the
avowed doctrine Of their party leaders; and
after the lapse of more than sixty years
the dogma put forth by Mr.. Paine in l79
was avowed in the Senate, in t,is House
and by individuals Of the party Throughout
the nation. The advocates Of this atheism
attempted to sanctify it by calling it popu
lar sovereignty" and argued that people
when forming Government, may author
ize piracy and murder and robbery, if the
choose to do SO that the right 10 enslav
our fellow men constitutes one of the YER
elements OF seli-government."
This avowal of unlimited tyranny. with
out reference to the Constitution, or TO tina
eternal law Of right and wrong which wa
: ordained 6y natures God, so aroused tn