Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-12-14

,racticed and attempted tyranny over the
rec States than the things set forth in the
Presidents last message. The truth now
appears that the Democrats are dissatisfied
withour present Consultation, and the Pres.
ident proposes three distinct amendments,
ALL FoR THE STRENGTH AND SPREAD OF
SLAVERY. and nothing TO sustain, advance,
and spread freedom. Is anything IN ,re
wanted to prove that Democratic rnle il
biased, prejudiced and partial? And yet two,
thirds of the population, industry, virtue,
common education, strength aud power of
the:nation, morally and politically, is in the
Free States. ....... .--..
Now, our reasonable dtmand is that we
have two thirdso the Cabinet, Judiciary, and
acts OF Congress, and benefitsof our expendi-
lures, turned towards freedom. The North
will, as shey ever have done, sustain the
Constitution, as tits Yes, the "Fugitive
Slave part and all" as my brother says he
will. Strange doctrine from Black Repub-
lican, some Democrats will say. We propose
to sustain aFugitive Slave law, and not the
Fugitive Slave law, as it is now in most pal
pable violation of Some other parts of our
Constitution. That noble Constitution was
mostly male for free men and their produc-
ton and advancement. That Constitution
says (''Article VII" of the amendmens)
I'm suits at common law, where the value
in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars,
the right Of trial by jury shall be preserved"
&C.
The liberty of freemen is greatly in dan
ger, by this, our present, Fugitive Slave
Law. Tht, slaves are gradually bleaching
out" to whseaess. Some them'fre aboq,
as white as,my swarthy complexion. Sup
posing this monstrous communication--this
liberty of the press. which I yet enjoy inthis
Republican land of boosted freedom Of speecl
and of the press - should meet the eye o
some southerner, tyrsnnizing men, Two G.
their unprinciped slave catcters might come
here, and unscrupulously swear that l was
their slave land sure they would swear tc
the truth when am once in their clutches,
and take me before that officer who the
Fugitive Sldpe Law sets oger our liberties
Where is lay constitutional right cftrial b.
jury' Am worth 500? Isppeal to Gov
Kirkwood TO adhere to that assert ton, thai
answer he gave Gov. Dodge. "that no power
on earth could compel him to assist in taking
fugitive slave anG when lie shall see mt
fleeing, do not assist the pursuers.
Such is the effect of tyrannical law, i,
violation ofthe best principles Of cur saoret
Constitution. We are freemen; and W
will not abide by that monstrosity which 81
conflicts with our sacred rights. If this b.
treason to the Fugitive Slave Law, a mer
thing of Southern Democratic tyranny
thanks to the wisdom of our fathers, it i
not treason to the Constitution itself. No
not to any part of it Mark the differenc
between a slave fleeing from bondage and
crimina! fleeing from justice-the former j
a ehattel, the same as horse, and the
demand Of US that we help our Southern
neighbors about their property, and it i
not demand that we help to return Grim
inal to justice.
Amendments to the Constitution :-Whal
the Democracy open that up for amendnen
to perpetuate Slavery, have an amendmen
to propose 20 perpetuate Freedom. Whel
our fathers framed the Constitution they ha,
considerable difficulty with the slave inter
ests, and, as compromise and for peace
sake, the North agreed that the South nigh
have a slave representation in Con sress AM
in the election of President. We Dough
that peace with wrong principles with al
uni ust price - and We never got what W
bought, except at short intervals, long sine
entirely suspended. AS an equivalent 70
that slave representation, propose that W
have every school-house and every church il
the Free States count equal to fifty slaees
The school-house and the church are tn
pride of our self,goUerning people. Withou
them, we should not be qualified for self
government. They are what Webster will
such pride pointed out as the great bulwark.
of our country. 1t is true; and we ough
all of US to know it and cherish the idea
Are not these moro fit things for represent
alton than slaves - men who have no priv
lege of reading, of voting or of speaking
no privileges Whatever, not even of self
existence? l appeal to common sense, tc
know if my one amendment is not worth
| OF mis- I'D hoe
than the Presidents three? And if l have
one amendment to propose, there are five
| hundred thousand men in the North each of
whom has better amendment to propose
than any of Buchanan's three. Then how
futile to attempt to amend our Constitution
| at this time! Does cur retiring President
attempt to throw fre-brand among US
He could not have taken a more sparkling
and lively brand Is that his peace meas
ure, to feed US with the same fuel which
ki.dled up the Republican party and elected
LincolnS
We intend, after the 4th of March next. to
hurl back all such fre-brsn Is as "Slavery in
the Territories" f'the Missouri Comprom
ise," Unconstitutional Fugitive Slave
Laws" s'Dred Scott Decision" 'sslavery
amendments to the Constitution" the can
ing of our Senators, their naurderers in our
Congress, and the thousand other insults and
crimes Southerners have committed against
US. We intend to straighten these things
out - to let all such insults, broilsrs and
murderers find their proper place - to make
a substantial peace with the South, and then
attend to the legitimate and important bust.
uesr for which our Constitution and our
Government was framed.
Bat we are told that we ought to be very
cautious as to what We say to offend the
South. to irritase. to agitate. But STOP,
friends Of the South l too am
getting offended at their agitation, insults,
outrages, and disturbance of my peacesble
pursuits aud my freedom in uoting. am
getting my back up; and appeal to YOU.
Democrats and foreign-born true Americans,
who have taken or who intend to take the
oath of allegiance to our country, to see if
you cannot do something to pacify me, and
r