The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-08-16
N0lltlral.
The Tyranny OF slavery.


The tyranny of slavery is as detestable
as any other form Of tyranny on the face
of the globe. A few years ago, there
was small party, only, with Mr.. Cal
houn at the head of it, who assumed the
extreme ground that the territories Of the
United States, in their virgin character,
was subject to the nroads of slavery
hence that shareholders had right to es-
tabish slavery in at our territories, and
none could be reserved for freemen and
freedom. But the great body of the peo-
pie, North and South, held different
views. Territory, only, in which slavery
previously existed, might be formed into
slave States-as were Florida, Louisiana,
Texas, Ac--and had right TO be ad-
mitted into the UnloG. We believe both
Mr.. Bell and Mr. Breckenridge at one
time held this doctrine, and declared sla-
very to be subject wholly to the munich
pal law Of the States in which it exists,
and cannot be iuterlerCd with either by
the Federal Government or the people of
other States Mr.. Lincoln holds this doc
trine now. This was also clearly Mr.
Cay's views and many of our first states
men believe that it is the onl y policy to
keep this vexed question out of Congress
and ont of politics. This is conservative
doctrine, and the only one that we can
see Justly entitled to the name. The
views upon the question Of slavery, en-
teriained by MIR. Lincoln and his friends,
cannot even be distorted to mean inter
ference with slavery as it exists in the
States, where it conStitutionally belongs
Nevertheless the conservative view will
pot be tolerated by some of the slave
States. People in them, whether slave
holders or not, are not permitted to eX-
press opinions in favor Of conservatism.
They must either proclaim the universal
itv uf slavery, or forever hold their peace
The Constitution of the United States Is
plain and emphatic as to the right Of the
people freely to assemble together upon
all public occasions, and it guarantees
freedom of speech and the press. But
this right is openly ignored in the slave
States, and psremptonly denied; ; while
the extension OF slavery, which is nowhere
provided for in the Constitution, in any
contingency, anu cannot be perverted to
sanctloH il, Is insisted upon By them as
the very essesce of this instrument, ana
the aIl-absorbing principle Of the country.
We have been led TO these remarks,
by the following circumstance which has
taken place in Virginia Recently GER
tain citizens erected a liberty pole upon
private property, in the village Of Deco
quan in that State, from the top ut which
waved the American dag with the nan es
of Lincoln and uamlin inscribed upon it.
The pole had been raised only few days,
when Il rumUr was heard that party was
organized some distance off to cut it down.
Hearing this, the Republicans applied to
the Governor for protection. and he at
once ordered company Of cavalry, which
promp ly appeared aud took position. On
Friday last, however, party of ABOUT for
ty persons, who had been regularly organ
lied and under the command of a captain
made their appearance at Occoquan par
italy armed, formed hollow square
around the pole, without hindrance from
the cavalry, fell it to the ground, and cut
it into pieces. Not satisfied with this,
several Republicans were attacked and
badly beaten. Also. Mr. Janney-
friendly to Bell and Eyere t, and oIner
of the ground on which the pole was
planted, wealthy man and an old settler
was - brutaly assai!ed aud beaten, be-
cause he asserted that he had a right to
declare his own principles upon his own
homestead, and to permit others to exer-
Csc their rights within his owa grouLdS,
ii it pleased him to do SO"
A civil war would be the result in auy
Northern State, if party of fanatics sue
ceeded in deliberately cutting down the
liberty pole of the friends of any candl
date for the Presidency, whose residence
might be in Southern State. however
radical might be his opinions in favor Of
slavery extension and protection, as wei
as It's heaven born beatitudes Her,
where freedom practically prevails, every
question involved in the politics of the
day, is freel discussed, and there is none
to make us afraid. The contrast can b.
easily drawn Germanto1on Telegraph
ONE of the authors of Mr.. Lincoln
biography relates an interesting ;nstanc,
of the atter's political sagacity. He haC