The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-03-12
An Appeal fIom Missouri To the People of
the Free states.

/ From the ST. Joseph MOI Free Democrat
/ To you who are born upon free soil; who
have never known what it is to meet organlz
ei oppression hand to hand, and face TO face
who have never suffered ostraci,m and perse
cution for opinions sake, we would address 8
few words.
We kn w what slavery means. for we were
born on its Territory aud reared amid its in
s,itutions and on this account we expect you
to listen to us We also expect hearing, be,
cause the hazard which we incur in advocating
the cause nearest our heart is greater than
yours. You may lose little trade, we may
lose our oil.
Lorg and anxiously wo had toiled I'd hop.
cd ior tho happy result that crowned onr
efforts on the 9th day of last November, when
millions Of freemen cast thsir votes as 1t pleas
Cd thom best, and elected-a principle. Need
we state what that principle was! THen it
was settled, that henceforth this Government
should be administe rs in the days OF
Washington and Jefferson. No,O nothing
seems to be settled. The vacil.ation which
hitherto cursed our opponents, threatens us
with ruin. We look to YOU in tEo Free States
for moral support in this hour of trial. If,
before the last election, we had been told that
if tho American people dared to do their duty,
traitors would try to destroy the heritage we
love: if, endowed with the gifts of seer, we
had behcld them tramping our flag in the
dust, and pering the cause of Freedom every
where. we would nevertheless not have falter-
od a single instant, but the fear that IN IT.
k2w of triumph our friends would prors rec.
reant. icould hare ulnerved as completely.-
We could have borne with cheerfulness tie
prospect of Punishment from our homes, had
We only possessed the assurance that still our
principles would be victorious.
IN the last campaign your battle-cry and
ours was, NO moro slavery in the Territories" :"
DjF Vou mean h'--or was Il op'V an empty
.oua41 Uds IL the weH reiqhe erpre'sion
Of deep conpietion e1ap-frdP TO
catch roteS?
You all know that we Republicans in the
slave States are in peculiar danger, and your
sympathy for US may lead yon to make con
cassions to the slave power which could not
otherwise be oxtortel. Bit IRE feel that what
erer quiet n,yy be Qajped for he present by
V,ch course rW be IF short dur0tion-so
'bort Hdt IL is not rorH the sacrifice. In
fa'al by one victory gained bv Intimidation
and hu Wing, and dospisine party whom
they can successfully browbeat, our enemies
will cnlcavor 10 stop our mouths bv violence
1t is part Of tho Roruh'ican creed that tho
party has no right to Interfere with slavery
whore it ALREADY exists un1"r the sanction Of
State laws You who live in the fren States
canro' ius'fohlv a1nch crusad" against the
institution of Missouri or Virginia; but, in the
name of God have we, who were born here, no
right to discuss those institutions? The veTy
doctrine that State NAV regulate its eternal
affairs secure from outside interference, i'm
plies orr privilege to be heard. Bit If you
surrea8er your principles, or recede from
VoWr position "a t,he Of a hair." yoa are
de,0nrajjzed and ,re are lost. The onn'aG"
and unshakan steadfastness Of true R"pub-
licqn in Maine Strengthens the heart Of his
brother in Missouri. Then, we pray you,
stand firm and Jetrdy as not.