The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-08-02

For the Potter Journal.
I'm a OEandaFy.


from the present state OF political parties,
to be in a quandary. We are upon tie
eve Of struggle, the event of which is
calculated to give an entirely new direc-
tion to an important feature of our nation
al policy. The question of the extension
of Slavery has assumed form. aud sup
port is claimed for it, that has divided
the great Democratic party iato lrecon-
cilaOle pats and forced new party into
existence, whose object1s to protect white
laborers from the encroachmonts OF ser
vile black race, forced into Juxtaposition
with US. | propose to take common
sense view of the question, and see where
we ought to stand.
For twelve years past we have uniform
ly sustained the policy OF nonintewen-
tion by Congress in the question Of Slave
ry in the Territories and we have as uni
formlY seen our efforts TO Danish the ex-
citing topic from our discussions aud is
sues rendered nugatory, by the conviction
of the northern mind that the South was
endeavoring to commit great wrong by
extending 1t to our Territories, and the
determination of the South to extend it,
in defiance Of the repeated pledges Of
Democrats Conventions aud resolutions
of Democratic Congresses. When the
doctrine Of non-interventiUn was first pro-
claimed bv Mr Cass iu As, we rallied to
his support as the embodiment of "a policy
which we firmly believed would give Us
political quiet aud settle the question.
In cur consistency we opposed the VIII
mot Proviso, not that we thought it de-
sirable to have more Slave Territory, but
that We desired all to exercise the same
freedom Of choice which we claimed for
ourselves This has been the idea and
desire that has governed US for tie last
twelve years. Our southern friends have
for the most part agreed with or yielded
to US, until they think they see sufi-
cient degree of Seryility in Us to warrant
them IN throwing off the mask, and we
are asked to subscribe to a doctrine at
which our souls revolt If our best inter
ests did not forbid our Endorsement of it..
Another party which had It's origin IN
1848, based on the doctrine Of the VIII
mot Proviso, has, with uniform consisten-
cy, demanded the intervention Of Con
gress for freedom in the Territories. OF
the acts and doings growing out of this
difference Of opinion, | need not speak,
they being fresh In the minds OF every
one. Suffice it to say, the Republican
party, backed By the moral sentiment Of
the people of the North, has almost en-
tirely overwhelmed the Democratic narty
in the Free States, and that parry at the
South, claiming, as they have right to
do from predominance In power if not in
numbers, to rule the party. have resolved
to make the extension Of Slavery to tn:
Territories by the action Of Congress the
issue. Now when intervention is the
rule of both parties, the one TO extend,
the other to prohibit Slavery in the Ter
ritories when | say, We are reduced to
the plain choice, not Of Intervention or
on-intervcntion; but Of extension or non
extension. cannot hesitate in my choice
but must say believe the policy of our
government ought to be opposed to the
extension of Slavery. Who Of you. work
ing men aud farmers of Potter county or
of the North, have not come to the same
conclusion 1t is useless TO present the
clap-trap Of the tariff, and other questions
which are equally safe with either or nei
ther parry, to distract our attention from
the main issue, they being, with the sin
gle exception Of the Homestead measure
locally advocated or locally coudeuued
In what have said ] have considered
the Democratic party united, They ale
so, practically, for with two Presidential
candidates, the best man Of the two has
not ghost Of chance aud if he had
if his election was sure, it would bat be
postponlng the evil little while-cffoct.
ing one Of those compromises waich give
less satisfaction than hopeless defeat
will eEdeavor to explain myself lit
tie further and little closer, and show
why we should resist the extension OF
Slavery. We are entirely out of the reach
of the institution ourselves, but many OF
as have friends in the Territories. and We
know not where We may find ourselves To-
Gated in the future, but none of US antic,
ipate or desire it to be in a Slave holdin2
community. Therefore we should Gu
deavor to preserve our Territories uncon.
taminated with the curse, for what white
man desires to work in company with
black slaves, and submit to the degrade
tion of being raAked on level with TIE
negro? freely admit the property in
the Territories to be in the people OF al
the States; but | can never admit that
one mau was ever rightly held in bondage
by another--that one acre of Gods free
earth was ever rightly pressed by the foot
of the slave-or that any man has the
right to set himself down IN the neirh