The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-09-13


and ne will End out that whatever abom
ination Mr.. Buchanan brings forward il
bis message, be advocates none that il
not direct logical consequence of Mr
Douglass own admissions.
see the time coming when those who
rallied around Douglass colors, because
they believed in bis principles. will, frou
his most devoted friends, become his
most indignant accusers. They are al
ready, unwittingly, denouDciDg his doc
trlnes, when they intend to defend him;
they will not be sparing in direct denun-
citations as soon as they discover bow bad :.
~ they have been deceived, and how ig-
ANONYMOUSLY they we're to be sold. We
might, indeed, feel tempted to pity him,
live had not to reserve that generous g.
motion Of our hearts for those who arc
wrong by mistake and unfortunate with
out guilt. Applause.
! Mr. Douglass ambiguous position, which
makes it possible for him to cheat either
the North or the South, without adding a
new Inconsistency to those already COM
mirted, makes it at the same time ueces-
sary for him to put bis double faced the
orics upon an historical basis, which re-
lieyes him of the necessity of expressing
moral conviction on the ID after of slave
ry either way. To say that slavery is
right, would certainly displease the North;
to say that slavery is wrong, would inev-
itably destroy him at the South In or
der to dodge this dangerous dilemma, be
finds it expedient to construe the history
of this country so as to show that this
question of right or wrong in regard to
slavery bad nothing whatever to do with
the fund damental principles upon which the
American Republic was founded. Deal
ing with slavery only as a matter of fact,
and treating the natural rights of man
and the relation between slavery and re-
publican institutions as matter of com.
plete Indifference, be is bound to demon.
strate that slavery never was seriously
deemed inconsistent with liberty, and that
the black never was seriously supposed to
possess any rights which the white man
was bound to respect.
| But here he encounters the Declaration
of Independence, laying down the funda-
mental principles upon which the Repub-
lie was to develop itself; be encounters
the ordinance of 1887, the practical ap-
plication of those principles; both histori-
cal facts, as stern and stubborn as they
are sublime. But as Mr.. Douglas had
no logic to guide him in his theories, so
be had no conscience to restrain hin in
bis historical constructions TO interpret
the Declaration Of Independence accord
ing to the evident meaning of It's words
would certainly displease the South; to
call it a self evident lie would certainly
shock the moral sensibilities Of the North
So be recognises it as venrable docu
ueut, but makes the language, which is
SO dear to the hearts Of the North. ex
press a meaning which comedies With the
ideas of the South.
We have appreciated his exploits as
logician; let US follow him IN his bistori-
cal discoveries.
Let your i'm agination carry you back
to the year l776. You stand in the hall
of the old Colonial Court house of Phila-
delpbia Through the open door you see
the Continental Congress assembled; the
moment of a great decision is drawing
near. Look at the earnest faces Of the
men assembled there, and consider what
you may expect of them. The philosophy :
of the eighteenth century counts many of
them among its truest adopts. They vel
coined heartily in their scattered towns
aud plantations the new ideas brought
forth By that sudden progress of humaDi-
ty. and, meditating them in the dreamy
solitude of virgin nature. they had Gu
larged the compass of their thoughts and
peopled their iuaginations with lofty I.
deals. A classical education (for most
of them are By no means illiterste mem
hes put all the treasures of historical
knowledge at their disposal, and enabled
them to apply the experience of past ce n
turies to the new problem they attempt to
solve. See Others there of simple but
strong cast of mind, whom common sense
would call its truest represe entatiyes.-
Went to grapple with the dangers and
difficulties of an early settlers life, or. il
inhavitants of young uprising cities, wont
to carry quick projects into speedy exc
cution, they have become regardless OF
obstacles and used to strenuous activity
The constant necessity to help themselves
has developed their meutal Independence;
and, Injured to political strife by the con-
tinual defence of their colonial self gov
ernment, they have at last become fsmil-
lar With the idea, to introduce into prac-
tical existence the principles which their
vigorous minds have quietly built up into
a theory.
(C0nclpSiOn neat aceek
Maternal Bliss long DELAYED.