Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-02-28

ton to repeal personal liberty bills is not
interfering with State legislation. So far
as kidnapping is concerned those clauses
are right enough, but there are superfuous
sections which, while not unconstitutional,
are Of no manner of use; their repeal,
therefore, is or would be merely conciliatory
The 4th proposition forbidding the aboli-
ton Of slavery in the district, dock yards,
&c, is not met in proper spirit by our
cotemporary. 1t has always been a moot
ed point with US whether slavery could be
abolished in the district without the as
sent of Maryland, or if that power exist
ed whether it ought to be exercised with
out the wishes of the owners. as to abolish
it would render slaves brought there by
members Of Congress very precarious chat
tells. There are certain rights which can
not be invaded, and others which policy
forbid. We are probably in feeling as
much opposed to slavery as the writer of
the article in the Journal-we write against
it and we would vote against it should the
democracy Of Pennsylvania (for Heaven
only knows what that party will next do)
propose to introduce slavery into this
State but still if the people in a constitu-
tional way expressed their approval, We
would submit, because under the recogniz-
ed institutions Of this country there is
nothing to forbid the exercise of that pow
er. 1t is in this view Of the case that the
present question ought to be met, and we
think it has been met by Judge Hale. He
prefers to tender an olive branch Instead
OF fire brand to an excited people, un-
necessarily so it is true, but still excited.
He deals in facts as they exist, not in ab-
stract theories. As member of the Leg
islatiye branch of the Confederacy he is
bound as much to represent all its parts ,as
well as his district, not with reference to a
single idea, but for the good Of the whole.
At present the choice seems to be wheth-
or We shall leave the masses of the south
madly follow in the wake of Benedict Ar
nolds who have sprung up there by scores,
or by a well-timed and judicious move
counteract these tory efforts by showing the
people there that even in the hour of tri-
umph we can be both magnanimous and
generous. The former may bring civil war,
anarchy and c0nfusion-the latter may con
fine whatever evils will arise to few ports,
and end in the restoration of peace and
good will We know not what feeling may
exist in Potter county, but We feel we'll as
sured that if these propositions were sub
mitted to the people Of Miffiin, Centre,
Lycoming and Clinton, they would be rati-
fed by majority Of the voters in them,
and that not one in ten would consider it
subyersiyc Of his rights or his dignity to
yield thus much to those Border States
which have recently shown their attach
ment to the Union by voting down the
gilded Idols set up by the democratic tory
buccaneers of South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana
and Texas. Were slavery new thing in
this country, we might side with the Journal
in its views; but our fathers found it here
it is here with us and it is therefore of
FAR more Importance to bear the ills We
have, than fly to others we know not -
Dur motto is, first, "Our Country, when it
is right" and secondly, "Our Country,
right or wrong"
In all we have said we doubt whether
Judge Hale will find much to disagree with,
1t least under present circumstances. Fa-
niliar with the views of the people on this
1exed question of slavery, he knows full
we'll that while in sentiment opposed to
hat institution they will deem any fair set
Element and the restoration of business and
confidence Of greater moment than wheth-
.r q few negroes shall labor both in New
Mexico and Arkansas, or only in Arkan-
;as
Cheap Jewelry.