The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-08-29
The Way that the states must be
mace all Free.
[FrorR the Licago Democrat.

rom the hicago Democrat.
So long as the power of the general gov
ernm emit of this ccafederacy was not exerted
for the protection and extension Of slavery,
so long did slavery languish, and langulshing
did die.
In the early days Of the Republic, when the
arm Of the federal government let slavery
alone IN all its relations; when it did not use
its power TO protect that institution, and
when the doctrine that tho Constitution-car-
ries slavery with il bad not been invented,
most all of the States were slave States.
But so long as THE rule of action was adhered
to, the progress Of anti slavery sentiment
was steady and unceasing, even in the slave
States. One BY one the States shook of the
! institution; provided for its ultimate and
peaceful extinction, and became, as theg BOW
are, free States.
! This work wouli have gone on, and the
dream and hope CT the fathers of the Repub-
I lie, who framed Constitution which il not
suiliod even by the name Of slave, would hav Q
! been realized, and not a slave would have
clanked bis chains beneath the flag of our
Union.
But, in an evil hour, the policy of the gov
eminent wac reversed. The power, the pa
tronage, The influence OF the government was
all directed toward the encouragement, the
protection and extension of slavery. From
this moment the institution, then almost ut
its last gasp, received new life into its veins
IL ga .hered strength, and becoming more and
more audacious - tie government yielded to
it's demands and invited il to new aggrss
sions, reared its bead above oil Law, ali ia.
tice, all equity, and now demands not only
, protection where IL now exists, but the righ
TO occupy every foot Of soil underneath our
flag as its proper and legitimate home.
The work Of the Republican party is t.
bring the government back to the policy OF
the fathers Of the Republic, to Withdraw from
slavery the protecting hand of the fedora
administration, and TO place that unchristian
barbarous and inhuman institution whsr
the pu5io mind will rest in the sure belief o
it's ultimate extinction.
/ This can aud must be done by Constitu
tlonal means-by strict adherence to tn
laws and the Constitution. The States woul,
have been all free long ago, bad Tic govern
4 ment not been prostitated TO the work OF pro
: tecting anu extending slavery We shall Sc
: that this no longer continues, and that th
progress OF free thought and of free princi
pies Is not impedod by legislative and gov
h ernmental restrict ons.
!. The Republican party believes, with all IL
: soul and mind, in preserving inviolate Stat
q sovereignty. IL Is pledged 60 protect tn
e right of each State 60 manage its own affair
r IN its own way. Ii has no disposition, a
!, certainly IL has no right, to interfere with 90
:. State right. Bus II IL equally pledged /
r. place the General Government on the side 0
| freedom, and not on the side of slavery.
d is determined that every foot of Territoris
soil that now exists shall be forever fire
soil. 1t lie resolved to surround the slav
States with line OF free States, aud to pre-
10 sent before their eyes living and an unan
n swerable example Of the comparative bless
y ings Of free and slave institutions.
b Thus, deprived Of the fostering hand OF til
General Government, with no Federal oiRce