The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-07-28
The Great issues Of 1870.

1t can no longer be doubted by any observing
mind, what will be the issues determined by the
Presidential contest of 1860. The expression of
sentiments by leading public journals, and prom
inent political leaders in the Southern States,
Indicate clearly and Enthusiastically lthe objects
which the South are intent upon securing. Free
trade on the high seas in slaves, and The protec
ton Of slave property INF the Territories, will
be the certain results Of democratic victory
Whether these demands will be specifically in
eorporated in the platform of the Charleston
Convention, it matters not they will be implied
from the fact of their being the known doctrines
OF the democratic leaders, and will meet no des-
cent by the action of that convention. None of
the past aggressions Of slavery had been previ-
ously authorized by the political platform of the
party guilty of the aggression. Although south
ernJournals and southern leaders are now clam
orous for an expression by the Charleston Con-
Vention rs to the duty of Congress to enact
slave code for the Territories, also as to the alb
clifton of laws prohibiting the foreign slave
trade yet they may after all be satisfied to have
their favorite schemes passed over in silence and
thus construe silence into tacit admission of
the rightful policy of these measures.
1t is true, many northern democrats affect to
treat these demands of the South lightly, and
attempt to persuade the people that there is no
danger of their realization. But whoever re.
views the history of the past,will find there have
been great changes Of sentiments remarkable
yielding to the slave power within few years.
When John G. Calhoun frat originated the doc
trine of the inviolability of slave property, and
that the government was powerless to do ought
with II, except to protect it, he found scarcely
any open supporters in my party-south or
north The democratic party then affected 70
treat such dogmas with adherence but tb,
party no longer occupies the position it then did;
1T has now entirely changed its creed. Once the
bred Scott decision would have been spurned
with loathing and contempt; now the party
take these viperous principles to its bosom with
delightful eomplacency. So in respect to many
other doctrines and measures, once condemned
by the democratic party, which arc now revived
and acqulesced in.
Only few years ago, the possibility of the
revival OF the slave trade, that this species Of
commerce could be carried on with impunity be-
tween this country and Africa, was deemed pre-.
posterous by all parties. But the opening of the
slave trade is no longer problematica; it is al
ready opened, and the traffic is being briskly
prosecuted The evidence of this, rests on au
thority which the democracy will not venture to
dispute; the New York Herald, one of the spe
cial supporters of the administration, confirms
1t. The question then, is no longer, shall the
slave trade be revived; but shall it be tolerated
in defiance Of the law of God, and the laws not
only OF all Christian nations, but even Mahom-
etan? Shall the United States be an exception
in the allowance of the traffic What but dem
ocratic public opinion, has rendered the admin
istration of this Government, too weak and inn
potent to enforce the laws against the foreign
slave traffic Cargoes of slaves fresh from At
RIGA, are being landed on our coasts with much
frequency the administration is not unappris-
ed of the facts, yet it apparently dare not main
tain the supremacy of the law We repeat, this
timidity of the Government in suppressing the
traffic, is because of the strong sentiment which
has lately grown lup in its favor; the southern
democtacy controls the administration, and rem.
ders it powerlesS to punish high crimes against
the laws of the land.
The laws against the slave trade are denounc.
cd by the South as an unjust tariff on labor, and
calculated largely to increase the cost of produ
cling cotton and other southern products. In
the southern view of the rightfulnesS of slavery,
there is much force in the complaint against the
laws of Congress, prohibiting free trade in la
Dor; hence the cotton growers ply the argument
necessarily for a repeal. With the existing
state of facts in respect to the present condition
of the slave trade, the conclusion is inevitable
that the continued ascendency of the democrat
ic party another Presidential term, will rem
der all laws Furnishing the foreign slave traffic
as piracy, entirely obsolete and remove every
impeachment in the way of the trade This done,
the duty of Congress to protect slave property,
the same as other property. all over the Union,
follows The Charleston Convention will shape
the democratic party for the full Inauguration Of
these new interests of the South its platform
will be so constructed as to render their advent
certain, provided the party succeeds in electing
its Presidential nominee. Every northern man
therefore, may well make up his mind at
once, whether he will favor the naturalization
Of slavery; the free and unrestricted traffic in
human flesh, and the recognition of tina RIGHTS
of slavery, on every now free acre of the Union
Or whether he will help stay the pestience and
seek to avert the calamity, which is the inevita-
BILE final result of wrong and oppression.
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