The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-10-18

above labor, that slavery is before all
constitutions aud eoyernmcnts-=the free
dom of speech which sought the expul-
sion Of John Quincy Adams from the
Congress of the Uuited States, for pre-
senting u petition in favor of human
rights the freedom of debate which al
rested my distinguished and esteemed
friend, Charles Sumner, III the midst Of
a glorious and useful career, aud doomed
him to wander a sufferer and invalid for
four years. As for freedom of bridges,
why the b.idge over the Missouri at Kan
sas was proved to be on y a bridge for
slave State men and the tavern at Law
renee was subyerted for nuisance on ac-
count of its being tavern at which free
State men could stop.
1t is bright September afternoon, and
strange feeling of surprise comes over
me that | should be here in the State Of
Iowa. the State redeemed and saved in
the compromise of 1920; State peopled
by freemcn; that should be here in such
State before such a people, imploring
the citizens Of the State Of Iowa TO main
tain the cause of Freedom instead Of the
cause of Slavery. 1t is strange change
from the position | was in only year
ago. In Italy, in Austria, in Turkey
even | was excusiug, in the best way l
could. the monstrous dclinqueucies of the
American people in tolerating slavery,
which even the Turk had abro9ated.-
You tell me tkat it is uni ecessary that
you are all right; | happen to know bet
ter. That courtesy which [ appreciate,
suavity which | acknowledge, restricts
some, many, in this assembly from inter
rupting these remarks (though they are
intended to be disrespectful to nobody
as | have often been interrupted, with
shouts Of" IIurrah for Douglas )" and
yet, if am right in what have said,
the Widc-Awakes are not up an hour too
soon they do not sit up any too late o
nights their zeal is not bit too strong
to save the State Of Iowa from giving her
votes, in the present canvass, for con-
tinuancc of that administration Or renew
al of that administration, which has for
forty years made slavery the cardinal in
stltution, and freedom secondary to it in
the United States. There is something
of excuse aud apology for this; it is in
the reluctance which men who are always
opposed to one new idea coming in, have
to give up the old idea. which they have
so long cherished. The Democratic par
;y has a wonderful affection for the name,
the prestige of the democratic party and
most of them, fellow citizens, must die
unconverted. 1t is not in humaa nature
that adult men and women change their
opinions with facility; it is Little ones Ike
these that grow up unobservcd and un-
known. Ten thousand Of their votes en-
ter into every successive canvass in the
State Of Iowa
In every State the great reformation
which has been made within the last six
ycars-for we date no farther back than
that-has been the dying out of the one
idea men of Democracy and the growing
up of the young one idea men of Repub-
licanism. And now why shall we not in
sist, so far as our votes shall be effective,
that the Territories shall remain free Ter
ritories, so that the new States which
shall hereafter be added to this Union
shall be free States
They say we have no right to interfere
in the slave States that we attack slave
ry in them. Not at ALL we do not vote
against slavery in Virginia. We do not
authorize Abraham Lincoln or the Con-
gress Of the United States to pass any
laws about slavery in Virginia We
merely authorize them to intervene in the
Territories, and to pass laws securing
freedom there. They tell us that it is
unnecessary. They have rendered it
necessary, because they have explained
the laws and the constitution to establish
slavery there and we must either restrict
slavery there or reverse the decision made
by the federal tribunal But they tell
US that this is inconvcnient; it excites
violence in the slave States. To which
| answer that they have the choice be-
tween slavery and freedom as we'll as we !;
but they must be content to leave it where
it is. When they choose TO carry slaves
into the Territories, we interfere. What
we are attacking is not slavery in the
United States but slavery in the Terrific
ries. But they tell US that we are suf-
fering very great harm that our South
ern friends, driven angry, will not buy of
US. Mayor Wood made the discovery
that we are trading people, and we shall
lose our trade if the Republican party
come into power. We are trading peo-
pie as we are an eating people, drinking
people,, . clothes wearing people. Trade .
Trade. Trade the great character, the
great employment, the one idea of the
American peoples 1t is libel. We buy
only with what we nroduce We huv and