The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-28
PROGRESS OF FREEDOM-NO. l..

Il.
PROGRESS OF FREEDOM-N0.4 4.
In our three former articles, we discussed
the social and political phases Of the progress
q Freedom. We now propose to examine
the subject with reference to its geograph-
ical extension.
A. the adoption of the articles of confed-
GRAFTON, the whole area Of our country
embraced sll,263 square miles, OF which
647, 292 belonged to the South, and subject
to slave labor, and l64,os7 square miles
prohibited slavery.
Virginia, actuated by the common senti-
ment of the age, and. moved by the
same spirit that governed the actions OF the
fathers of our glorious Republic, voluntari-
" surrendered to the cause OF freedom,
what was then known as the Northwest
Territory, containing 26l, $50 square miles
out of which have grown FIVE of our most
wealthy and populous western States. This
act increased Northern Territory nearly
three fold, making their whole area to con-
tain 425,76l square miles and reduced the
southern to 49,, 1902 square miles.
By the acquisition of Louisiana, including
Oregon, the North received 912,6 COS square
miles, the South 225, 456 square miles
The Louisiana purchase was slave territory
by virtue of the Spanish and French laws !;
but, by the benign influence Of the great
sentiment of our age and Authenticated to
oppression-more than four-ffths of that
soil has become subject to free labor, while
only one-ffth is still held by the nerveless
grasp of despotism.
Florida and the acquisition Of Texas gave
the South 372, 1853 square miles; and, while
exclusively and peculiarly adapted to slave
labor, their importance as points Of National
defence in time Of war and commercial
benefits in time Of peace, were the great
inducements that accomplished their acqui-
sition.
For, years the Shareholders had had their
eyes fixed on Mexico; and as Ahab sighed
for the vineyard Of Naboth, SO they longed
to possess the valley of Texas. Controlled
By most of the administrations since the
time Of jefferson, had endeav ored by treaty,
diplomacy, and various other ways to secure
ito annexation. But every effort failed till
the administration came into power on the
political whirlwind of 1910, in log-cabin
vessels over a red sea Of hard cider to the
bacchanalian song of "Tippecanos and
Tyler too" And even then, annexation
could not have been accomplished, had not
a gross fraud been practced upon the peo-
pie of this country by which they were made
to believe that unless Texas came into the
Union, it would como under the protection
Of Great Britain, and become in effect a
British province.
Appeals to National pride had its effects
and those formed the basis Of their plans
and efforts for annexation. General Sam
Houston, who had expatriated himself from
our Nation, for the purpose of carrying on,
the plans and wishes Of the South, tells US,
that it was all cheat to influence the North,
and that there was no design on the part OF
Great Britain to interfere with Texas. Thus
tho testimony of Sam. Houston, the bosom
friend Of jackson; the Ex- Governor OF
Tennessee; the President and Senator OF
the lone star Republic; the master spirit Of
the plot, gravely informs US, that it was
simply s.upendous falsehood, a national
swindle, trick Of southern diplomacy.
The conquest Of Mexico and the Mexican
territory all open to free labor by the abro-
CATION of the compromises, adds to northern
territory 43l, 1858 sqr. miles. By this twill
be seen, since 1887, the southhas increased
her Territory from GAG, 1873 to 9S2, l26 go.
miles; having added but 1924 square
miles to her area during period of seventy
three years while the North, from ;64, OSl
square miles has grown to 1880, 204 square
miles, having added l ,666, l2S square miles
to her limits in the same time. The South
has increased at the rate of so per
= cent, while the North has grown at the rate
of 200 per cent. This unparalleled growth
and grand development Of the North owe,
that of the South, is but another evidences
of the throbbings Of the great American
heart, in opposition to slavery and its con.
comitant, National degradation.
It might be we'll here to ask ourselves
What prevents this Nation, so great and
powerful, from exerting the highest mora
influence in behalf Of liberty and Christinni
ty the world over?
Alas! our practice is at variance with ou1
profession-our example contradiets oul
precepts. We are a Nation Of shareholders
congressman are daily pleading, that slave
~ is national and that freedom is sectional
Our National Constitution, which has ever
since its adoption, stood as Cherubim and
Seraphim, ith..haming sword, guarding the
entrance to the inner temple Of liberty, i,
hurled aside, and its grandeur, beauty and
force departed, and its guarantees no longe,
respected by very large portion of the
confederacy.
Four millions of human beings in this
YREs country, number greater than the
whole population at the time Of the Rcvo.
luton, are held as goods and chattles, and
.sold like sheep and swine in the market
Every sixth man. woman and child in the
land is in chains, and the Government, in
stead Of exerting its power and influence FOL
their deliverance, is employing all Its re-
sources to make their condition more hope
less, to extend the dom in of slavery, and to
multiply the number of its victims. And,
according to the commonly received inter-
pretation Of the Constitution, the whole
people Of the North are pledged to help the
South keep the slaves in the condition of
shattels, and are sworn to resist every at
tempt Of the bondman 10 obtain their liberty.
It is this plague spot. this great national
sin which makes our Republieanism sham,
and which makes American citizens blush
and hide their heads for shame in the pres
ence Of European aristocrats.