Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-05-10
PARIS. MAINE.

tingui.hmen,. Acting under this ,ons,i,u.
tijn 81 framed. and by way we may well
soppO.e Of illustrating i,s spirit and design.
jefferson proposed and carried by clear vote
the notable ordinance Of So, 80 called, by
which tho right Of freedom was established IN
all the then great northwestern territory.
Siuco the adoption Of this ordinance. several
States have been formed out OF this territory,
and freedom has been accorded TO the people
Inhabitips them. 80 true is it. according to
tho Constitution and the practice drawn
from IL, tha, slavery has no inherent righ, 10
our territories, bat claims only bold upon
the evil where hitherto IL has been. that
some Of the most distinguished southern
men esen admit the fact. Alexander II
stephens, Nici President Of the Southern
T Confederacy OF States. said lately in speech
/ deliycrcl at savannah. Georgia. addressing
himself TO the people in reference to the
/ constitution, which the secession convention
/ had then recently formed at Montgomery,
Alabama We have now got a constitu.
ton that is in aecordance with our liberty.
quote tie scuse and meaning Of what hc
said, and no, hi. oxac, language. ehave
at length succeeded in getting constitution,
sail be, that sus,Ains our principles and
gives 10 slavery the right 10 90 where Il
pleascs IN the bound, Of the e,nfcdency,
right denied To w under tho old con.,itu.
ton undel which We have lived 80 long.
That limits slavery, and Consequently with
hold. from Ne some privileges now accorded
u by the new instrument. The question
now cones. IL according % this admission Of
Mr.. stephens, the old Constitution. made
for all the States, cspccIAlly a. construed
by Jefferson and Others. withhold. slavery
from the territories. then why should anti.
slavery men now be ecn-urcl frr teaching tho
same doc,rins9 Why should they be con.
siiercd trOublcrs oi the land ior laborins
through argument aud voting alone to keep
slavery on; Of the territories. Becaus, tie
South has fallen away from the doc,rin"'
or the father should they do -. too? Cor.
tainly these iather. who framed the old Con-
s,ituiion may De considered as understand.
ing iis spirit as well az least as any others.
Now because the South. interested IN slave.
~. ha. easel to follow in the track. marx.
Cd out by their teaching. aud practice. must
We then, pos;eriiy, ecasc to doIt. Certainly
not. There is scarcely the shadow oi a rea.
son why We shoald 10 It.
\ single plain remark now shall close
our subrct.
rs TO the question where the blame really
rests. touching the troubles ia our country,
| am reminded Of the case. OF Ahab aud
Elijah coming up IN our text and context.
Ahah. as Ne have seen. charged Elph :"
bring the cause OF the troubles existing in
I.aael. at hi, time. Ia reply to this, Ellph
,ays. '' have not troubled Israel. bat those
Of Thy fathers house, in ,ha, We have for
sakcn ihe commandment. Of the Lord"
The South, and some at tho North, now
charge slavery men with being c,roablcr'
Of our land. They DO u on the ground tha,
they excite the country by means Of slavery
agitation. In answer O. this. thee anti.
slavery men cay they righ, to speak IN
the subject o: slavery. especially when t'ey
speak with candor and calmncs. They
don I trouble the land bu, the South. and
IL. adher,nts az the North do I, 10y ior-nSins
the sylrit and instruction Il our fathers.
In rc.pCc; now 20 the cases Of Ahaba i
Enah. we know certainly which Of the two
vas the real roublcr Of Israel. twas
Ahab aud IS /, les certain now which are
the real troubler. in our land. the nbettors
Of slavery. it, indefinite extension, or those
who would limit it, extension. Certainly
not. IL must be the former. composed Ot
the south, and It's adherents at the North.