The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-05-31


cess. The conquest of the southern
church to the sanction and interest of
slavery has given it city of refuge which
it always before lacked, and has made it
bold III the enormity of its demands. We
are required to fell down and worship it.
This is sectional view that we never can
sanction; and We appeal to tie justice Of
God and the moral sense of men to sus-
tain us in our refusal
The effort to justify the origin of slave,
ry, however it may be regarded by those
taught in different theology, cannot be
more objectionable than the means used
TO coerce them into he adoption. Some
of these iC is my purpose to refer to; and
regret that | cannot command the time
to speak of them with that particularly
which is demanded by their Importance.
The people of the northern States en-
tertain loyal attachment to the Cousti-
tuition and the Union. Those who would
DENY the declaration have fallen into the
mistake Of assuming the singularities Of
few to the type Of the mass. We will
maintain the Federal compact in its in
tegrity. There is no law written, organic
or statute, against which we will raise the
hand of rebellion; and we are fast 1orm-
ing the determination to restrain others
from doing so. There is no record of a
time when we fell short Of a discharge OF
our whole duty. We have not only
fought our own battles, but the battles of
a common Brotherhood Wei have striv-
en- long because we loved well, and we
gathered victory because we were devoted.
We have branded treason, 1ebuked the
fanatcism, and Kept the faith. And now,
having thus acted, strategy makes use Of
our patriotism to overcome US. Those in
the South for whose rights and welfare
we have struggled and exhausted our
selves through long and arduous cam
paisns, feeling our passion for tbs Union
to be our weakness, break in upon or
needed rest and startle our fears with its
threatened dissolution. This crv always
comes from the SAME quarter, and is sec
tonal 1t has been wonderful, magical
in its Office. 1t has secured tribute, sub
sides, and esteem. Where our judg-
ments would deny, our hearts have grant
ed and stung by cur wrongs, we have
even caressed their cause. This cry that
has so often startled the nation in the
past, Z" the Cn'oH is IN danger" has by
no means been a groundless one. 1t has
been in danger. 1t has been placed N
surroundings of danger by the political
speculator for the mere purpose Of hav-
ing it saved. It will be again in danger;
how frequently it may be so, it is not for
NE to predict; bat this | will venture to
declare, that danger will periodically as
sail it until the lessons of justice shall be
better learned on one hand, or concessions
shall be refused upon the other. When
ever that Danger has existed, security,
transient from its very nature has been
easily purchased, and always at the same
priee-by weakening the strength of one
portion Of the Union aud by strengthen
ing the weakness of another portion Of
the Union. The consumptive system Of
slavery can no longer feed upon itselfand
live. 1t Is to be nourished by milk drawn
from the healthy breast of vigorous liber-
ty. The sinking energies Of the one are
to be invigorated and sustained at the ex-
pensc Of the otalwart natural energies of
the other. In this way is an equilibrium
to be maintained in the Republic. The
laws of God and nature are to be counter
acted, and principles Of vastly unequal
forces, and always at war with each other,
are to be made coequal by human enact
ments Shall God or man rule Shall
the temporal law repeal the eternal law ?
If the Unicn is to be preserved, it will be
by bulwarks and not by flight. Seces-
sion, now so fippaptly promised, is vi
olation of more than sworn obligation it
is worse than treason; it is the destruc-
ton of the happiness of numb 'rless pos
terity; it earns the fellon's death !; and
we trust its punishment first to him whom
we shall call to rule over our destiuies,
and if he fails US, then to sef-preservation
and the uncouquerable energies of truth
as it t,presides in the hearts of educated
freemen
The years from 1914 to 1850, incIu-
sivc, will long be remembered from the
most remarkable, as 1t was the most bold
and adroit sectional movement known to
our history. 1t had for its object gi-
gantic slavery extension; but under a
pretext very different in its form. Il was
nothing less than its forcibe acqui,ition
of one half, if not the whole Of Mexico,
for the purpose Indicated, under color of
the annexation Of Texas. 1t is worse
thau folly to suppose that the determina-
ton to sustain what tho South call the
balance of power, but which would be
more appropriately named the supremacy
of power, has onlv Just been determined