The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-09-27
For the Carrier

question is, what shall be the condition OF the
territories now owned by the Unit ID States?
Shall those territories be free territories, or
shall they be slave territories? Shall slave
labor be the condition of the laboring man in
these territories, or shall free labor such as
we have here in the glorious State of Iowa,
be the distinguishing trait of the laborer in
those territories? Never since the adoption
of the Constitution of the United States, has
there been presented to the people Of this
country questions of greater magnitude, or
one which involves such vastly important
interests of the people of this country, and
their children down to their latest posterity,
for just as your territories are, so your States
will be that are carved out of them. II those
territories be free the States coming out of
them will be free. IF they be slave the States
coming out of them will be slave We have
believe one thousand million acres Of pub.
lie lands now belonging to the United States
And before we shall have passed half a cen.
tury, we will, in all probability, extent the
territorial limits of our country to the 18TH
mus of Panama On the south, and to the far
thest northern latitude of the country. We
will cmbrac, the whole of the North Amcri.
can continent. If not in half century we
viii in the progress of time; for who can
look at our country as it is with its great
powers physical, mental and moral, can 10 >k
at its great resources, can look to the capa-
bility and invincible enter prise of the people,
without coming to the conclusion that the
manifest destiny Of the county is to spread
its jurisdiction over the whole North Amer-
can Continent; and therefore the question as
to what shall be the character of our terri
tories, grows up into mountain of magni-
tude, higher and broader than any question
ever submitted to free PEOPLE of any corn-
try under heaven in ancient or modern times
We say these territories must and shall be
free, except where slavery exists, as in Cuba,
for instance, if we should acquire it; and in
that case, it would be for Congress to deter
mine whethe: Cuba should come in as a State
or not. We say Our territories are now ac-
tually free, and so far as we may have any
power to determine the permanency of their
character, they shall be torecer FREE How
do we propose to accomplish that great end
Why we propose to do as our fathers did,
and as their children did for the first sixty
years of the republic. To prohibit by Con-
gressional enactment the extension Of the in
stitution of slavery into any and all of those
territories. We say that that was the origin
al policy of the country, as shown by the Or
dinance OF 81, which was approved and con-
firmed by the Congress of the United States
under General Washington, and was approx
ed by all our Administrations down to and
including Mr.. Folks, when he signed the
bill passed by Congress for the prohibition
of slavery in the territory of Oregon. We
say under the benefcient influence of this
wholesome policy, that we have rescued ter
ritory after territory from the grasp of slave.
~, and have dedicated it, and the States
carved out Of it, to perpetual freedom in this
great and glorious country of ours.
Now shall we change the whole policy of
our government? No sir believe the peo-
pie will say in November tina: it is better for
us to walk in the old pathways marked out
by our fathers of the revolution, than to take
up any new tangled hercsies, though they
have the endorsement of Stephen A. Doug
las, and all the little and big giants now pa.
rading through the country. We know that
the majority must rule, that the people are
the reservoir of all political power. and that
all just governments must be founded upon
their will. These principles constitute the
palladium of liberty, and for seventy years of
this republic have they ever been experienced.
The country increasing in political import
ance and power up to the present day, and
presenting to the world the truths that the
people are capable of self government-tha
a republic is better than monarchy-that
free labor and free men are better than slaves
and tyrants-that education and religion are
the best foundations for power and greatness.
Long has our country stood amidst political
commissions, and it today sustains the mag
nificent edifce which freedom constructed
upon it; ever may it remain "the land of the
free, the home of the brave" Never may
the people abandon the good old policy of
the fathers for any new dogma Never may
the squatter sovereignty of to, day find well
come in the hearts of our people shouting
with its siren song those who love freedom
better than slavery; may its serpcnt-ike in
fluence never reach our glorious escutcheon,
nor Americas brightest star be blackened
and made to totter and fall from its meridian
altitude and 60 down in sea Of blood by
this the will the-wisp of the nineteenth
century. The most complete humbug that
ever was presented to an intelligent people !;
the veil that demagogues wear for pass port
to Office and power; the last resort for few
depraved politicians; the shroud that is to
enwrap the political carcasses of Stephen A.
Douglas and his followers.
Bloomfield, Iowa. WIN. L. BURGESS.
ST.. JOSEPH. Sept 2O.-The Pixies Peak
Express reached here last night with S45,-
$50 in dust, besides some $40, 900 or $50 900
in the hands of passengers. This is the
heaviest treasure arrival Of the season.
Business at Denver City is fast recovering
| and the streets nrac INF n vory lyo1,y oppoor