The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-10-11

"
When they had agreed on a ccmpro
mise, and lad driven out of tie fedora
councils every man bat myself and SOM
half dozen other representatives who hat
opposed the aggressions of slavery, wer
they content to let the negro question
rest? No, but in 1854 the Democrac'
raised the negro question to foi ce 1t final
/ ly aud forever throughout the whole Re
public, by abrogating the Missouri Com
promise. They abandoned the Territories
of Kansas and Nebraska TO slave labor
and actually assisted and encouraged th'
armies sent there by the slave holders, Il
take forcible possession Of territory which
until then, had been free.
O! what pleasure slan I have, in tell
ing the people of Kansas, three days
hence, how that, when all others were
/ fathless and false and timld they renewed
this battle, this standard of freedom, and
expelled the intruding STAKEHOLDER, and
established forever amongst themselves
the freedom Of labor ard the freedom oi
men on the plains of Kansas.
/ Were the Democracy then content
Not at all but they determined, in 1858
to raise the negro question once more and
to admit Kansas into the Union, if she
would have come in as Slave State, and
to keep her ont indefinitely if she should
elect freedom.
And only one year later, when they
found that Kansas was slipping from
their clutches, who then raised once more
the eternal negro question The slave
mower and the Administration took it up
by demanding the annexation of Cuba, a
slaVeh Gliding island of Spain, to be ac,
quired at cost of l50,000,000, peacea-
bly,, if it could be obtained for that sum,
and forciblv if it should not be surren-
dered, for the purpose of adding two
Slave States, well manned and well ap-
pointed, to balance the votes Of Kansas
aud Minnesota, then expected to come in
TO the Union as Free States.
Who has brought this issue and enter
ed it on the record of Kansas? The
slaveholding party--the Democratic par
ty. They held their Convention first in
this campaign at Charleston. They pre-
seuted again the everlasting negro ques-
ton, nothing more. nothing less. They
differed about the form, but they gave US,
nevertheless, the everlasting negro ques-
ton in two different parts, giving US our
choice to take one or the other, as they
gave the people of Kansas the choice,
whether they would take Slavery pure
and simple, or take 1t anyhow and get
rid Of it afterwards if they could.
OF one part, Mr.. Breckiuridge is the
representative. 1t is presented plain and
distinct; it is that slaves are merchandise
and property in the Territories under the
Constitution Of The United States, and
chat the National Legislatures and the
Courts must protect it in the Territories,
and no power on earth can discharge them
Of the responsibility. OF the other Mr.
Douglas is the Representative, and the
form in which it is presented by those
who support him is, What is the best way
not to keep slavery out OF the Territories
| doubt very much whether slavehold
ers have so great a repugnance to the ne
gro and to the eternal negro question as
they affect. On the other hand, being
accustomed to set in the Federal councils,
with grave and reverend Senators, and to
miDgle with representatives of the people
from slaveholding States, | find a great
difference between myself and them on
the subject. God kI ows, | never would
to be tlc unbidden, tic unchosen
Of bondmen The musr
be frecmcn that | represent; every man
Of them must be d whole man. But my
friends who represent the Slave
States are willing, and do most cheerfuIly,
most gladly consent to represent three
ifths Of all the negro slaves. They take
a slave at three-ffths Of man, and they
represent the three-ffths; l doubt not
they would be very glad if he coald be
created into fve,flths
Well, | think the Democratic party
has not SO much repugnance TO negroes
nd the negro question, because they
consent to take offices Of President, Vice
President. Secretaries Of State, Ministers
o Bogota, and to all other parts of the
world, Consulships, and post Offices, that
IRE derived indi. ectly by adding another
ink to the chain of States in winch ne.
groes count, each one, three e-ftths. No,
10 Shareholders and the Democratic par
y would be very glad to take votes from
negroes, free or slave, by the head, full .
count, if negroes and slaves would only
7ote for Slavery and it is only because
hey have 4 sagac,ous insight into human
lature, which teaches them that negroes
md slaves would vote for liberty, that
makes the negro question SO repu!sive to
hem.
But, fellow citizens, is this one idea,
he eternal negro question, Objectionable