Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-02-28
Hon James T, Hale aa6 his Constitu
ants


Of "J. S. NJ Mr., Mann we presume,)
undertakes to censure our member OF Con-
gress for his support Of the Border State
PROPOSITIONS. portions of which it charges
with being insulting, tavoriDg the exten-
sion Of slavery, &c, and AYERS that in Civ
: ine his assent to the last Mr. H. has "turn-
ed his back upon Republican principles. F"
We will not undertake to speak authori-
lively for our member in this case, but
knowing that oar sentiments on more than
one occasion, where grave matters were
concerned, were his sentiments, we will as
briefly as possible endeavor to answer oLr
friend Of Potter.
First and foremost, then, We are wing
Of 1886, when that party came into exis-
tenee- si.d belong TO that school taught by
the immortal Clay which ever held the
doctrine that Protection to American In
dustry was the great lever which would
not only render US Independent OF all for
cign nations, in peace or in war, but forev-
er prevent our labor from degenerating to
/ the pauper wages Of Europe
. "a. We have ever been a strenuous ad-
vocate Of the Missouri Compromise line,
and would have much rather seen it extern
dCd to the Pacific in 1854, than to witness
its repeal in that year by the democratic
party under he miserable pretext that such
repeal was carrying out the compromise
measures of 1880. That action gave rise
to the Republican party in the Eastern
and Western States and led to the forma-
ton Of the Peoples party Of Pennsylya-
MIA, which acted with and as an aid to the
Republican for the purpose Of driving the
Goths and Vandals from Washington
The Chicago platform was endorsed prin-
cipally on account of the tariff plank, and
certainly sustained by thousands on that
ground who did not for moment suppose
they were binding themselves down, under
all circumstances and all contingencies. not
to recognize " the persons" spoken of in
the Constitution in the territories. They
regarded that declaration as an opinion
which they had g right to express, to advo-
cate and to vote for, if they saw proper
but if circumstances arose to Justify
change, to make one, because in effect those
persons held as slaves were locally re-
eognized by the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States. We believe, with that plat |
form, that the normal condition of the ter
ritories is freedom, while on the other hand |
portion Of our brethren in other States |
contend that it is only partially so. Who
is right? The Supreme Court, to whom
for the time being we must bow down as
the arbiter, has informally decided against US;
and until that decision is reversed, We know
of no mode to stop the extension of sla-
very there except by outvoting its adYo
Gates when they come to form State Con-
stitution. Such state Of things will keep |
slavery agitation alive as long as there is
territory enough to form State-a condi- |
ton Of affairs not desired by the mass of I
the people.
Sd. Finding this evil upon US, it is no !
longer matter Of opinion to be adhered |
to without regard to consequences. Dem
agogues in the South and democratic dem
agogues in the North have poisoned the
public mind in the Slave States until many !
believe that it is the mission Of the Re-
publicans t. destroy slavery in States
where it exists by local law with the tacit
assent Of document far higher than the
Chicago or any other platform. In such |
an emergency we say it is the duty of all
good citizens to look the matter in the face |
and see what is to be done, just as a bust
-ss man will do when he finds himself |
surrounded by unexpected difficulties.
Mr.. Hale has done this. Discarding the |
extreme views of both sections. his promo |
sition re-affirms the compromise origina-
ting with the Sage of Ashland with an
amendment carrying out what the Supreme
Court has in measure affirmed as law
Where then is the wrong? 1t will not
add slave to those already in the United |
States, and save in isolated cases not inter
fere with white labor except where white
labor is not desirable. Our friend in Pot |
ter must bear with the world as it is, not
as he would wish it to be. Millions would |
rejoice with him if by some miraculous