The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-05-10


slavery is prohibited in the old and hon
est way, EY Congressional legislation, Of
whether the question is settled by the
inevitable force and fraud and bloodshcd
If Squatter sovereignty, does not appeal
essentially TO vary the result. As slave
property is timid, and cannot place I'M
plicit confidence in the obiter dicta oi
foliticai partiSans ia Judicial robes, know
ing that ercGthe settled and honest con-
yictions and opinions Of courts are liable
70 revisior fad reversal; rs the young
men feared in the luxury and unthiltt OF
the plantation are not fitted for the hard
ships of border fife as the ron siaYchold.
ing, noplnal freomen of slave communi,
tics arc ignorant and unontcrpnsing, it
does so happen that, with all faVorng
circamstances- eorrnpt Federal Exec
utire, ready &c encourage any scheme Of
fraud and violence; an Intervening and
hostile slave State TO close and guard ell
the. accustomed routes Of travel, and to
invade and destroy their settlements
fcee-Statc emigration has trinmphed, and
advautae- has shaped the policy and FIX
ed the Institutions Of these Territories =
And rs b ooly instructions are apt TO re
turn TO plague The inventors, 50 recent
and well rem ,nbcred events have proved
thc impo.icy and danger of giving free
State menthe sort of training which they
. quired IN X .nsas.
Thcro are. sir. weiehty reasons for uot
permitting slavery in the Territories. The
argument, though subtitle and fair-secm-
2lg, that he people of the slave States,
having an equal right in the Territories,
have also right TO take their property
with them, and thatto deny them tie
right is uPjust and unequal, is erti:ely
fsIlaciuas. The able and ingenious Sen
p;or from Mississippi, |. Nr DAVIS, ] in
his reply 10 the suggestions Of the Sena-
tar from New York, Mr. SEWARD,
about capital States, spoke of slavery as
"a form Of civil government" In truth,
setting aside all moral reasons for the de.
hal. slaves never have been, and never.
IN the nature Of the case can BE-, treated
merely as property; they are men, ar.
sEerable as such ior crimes, capable al
ways Of freedom by maoumission, and
though they cannot, If the Supreme Court
]. right, be recognized as citizens having
rights themselves, they are regarded as
persons giving important political rights
10 others We therefore deny the right
or justice of taking slavery into the Ter
ritories under the palpable lie that they
are taken there as property. We deny
1t on political considerations. If, as the
gentleman from Mississippi Mr. La
MAR said, with great spirit, we have, hvI
our consent in the old States, got the
"negro in the Constitution" and he is
represented BY twenty members on the
floor of this House, We will not consent
that The inequality 81 all go further. We
will take care to exclude this "nolitical
relation" from the Territories, and that it
docs not steal in, in the mild disguise Of
'property"--a wolf clothed in wool.
We refuse slavery footing in the Ter
ritonfs for economical reasons--it impoy-
trishes State; for moral reasons-.it be-
gets ignorance. 4 system of COMMON
nuble education is physically impossible
il a plantation State. 1t destroys the
marriage relations, makes cruel tyrants
Of the masters, and brutes Of the slayes.
Tor reasons Of safety for every commu-
rity in yhich the relation exists 10 sou-
stantiy liable to bloody and fearful domes
tic Instructions, and weak and defence
less against Invasion.
I have pursued this subject with a
view 70 the inquiry, what is the North
to do? And what has she done in the
past, which she could have omitted and
remained faithful and true to her own
history and principles? We would NEST
gladly have been relieved from all action
upea, aud all responsibility for, slavery
We had our own interests to protect aud
advance. We had discharged our duty
on the subject of slavery in good faith
an3 sincerity, according 70 the original
sentiment Of the people and policy of the
Government. We had abolished slavery
and were busy with our schools, our fac
tories, our farms. our commerce, aHd our
prosperous affairs. We were not dispos.
ed to intsgfsre, although you saw fit to
chanss year sentiments, and to abandon
!hat DID and safe policy Which looked to
free Institutions and The Abandonment Of
slavery. Your aggrossions forced the
North i0ko this contest-to defend the
liberty of speech and Of the press; to
maintain the right Of petition; to secure
,heir citizens rights, plainly and in terms
guaranteed by the Constitution, and as
sailed By your unjust and unconstitution-
a! laws; to prevent the acquisition OF
territory by unconstitutional measures,
ard required for no purpose other than