The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-17

government the p0rld erer saw - her ami
mus is the Goddess of Liberty her defence
in the consent of the governed her safety
in the intelligence and purity of her popula
tion Her trust is in the God of Nations
the religion Of her people, the religion Of
heaven. Her rawards-universal sufIerage-
the purity Of the ballot box-and natural
freedom Of the press, speech, conscience, and
the souls and bodies Of all men,. The novel
idea In our political economy, point in
which it differs from all others, Il the power
of the people for self. government. For three.
fourths of a century this has proved suc-
cess. The great central point in rendering
the idea Of sclfgovernment. practical, is to
learr and acqnicsce in the o,nnipotence OF
the ,eiU Of the majority, when expressed in
8 legal, and constitutional way.
Republican forms Of government never
sought unanimous sufferage, but teaches
the minority submission to the viii Of the
majority. A free form Of government does
not contemplate an unrcstrained license for
men to do as they may list, bnt guarantees
to all the exercise and use Of such liberties
as do not come in conflict will, the ryats or
happiness OF other citizens. This principle
of equal natural rights, is prominently de-
clared in that part of the Declaration of In
dependence. which holds that "al' men are
created equal" To guarantee these rights
to men, our civil laws are enacted, and forms
Of government are constructed. The gov
ernmcnt of the Uoitea States enac,s that all
men have natural rights that are bound to
be respected. Now, from distant stand
point Of eighty y-Rve years practical workings
of our Federal Constitution, we are prepared
to declare, that all these rights are guaran-
teed in that instrument We regard it what
the trainers Of it intended it to be /; free
constitution. Has it then worked out the
end designed are all who live under it free?
We answer no 1.-THE present rebellion in
one section Of the country answers no -
the 4 100000 Africans held in bondage 10.
dav, within our nations bosom, answers no /
Here is the great error and sin of our ma
ton here has been a practical Inconsistency
unparalleled in the history Of nations We
gained our freedom by the force of arms
then established laws to regulate and to pre-
serve it, but withheld both freedom and the
benefit of those laws from the helpless and
dependent African race among us. The ma
ton has been accustomed to excuse itself by
throwing the responsibility of this, upon
the Slaveholding States. For this weakness
and evasion of responsibility to-day, she is
paying fearful price this is the work and
responsibility of the General Government
1t is the constitutional right and duty of
the federal government. to see that the seve-
raj States of the cnnfede,acy, have Repub-
lican forms Of government, and that all the
inalienable rights of man are therein qua an.
teed. This STE has not done in those States
where are dispersed over 900 900 ofhuman
beings-all succeptable OF the image Of God,
in state Of servitude more debased and
cruel, than exists any where else on this earth.
The great and free people Of America mot
TIE South alone) have presistently refused
them this freedom until this time. Oh con.
sistency, thou angel of light, hast thou left
our world
II is now, matter Of history that the bar
barism of this system of American slavery
has been constantly increasing in those coun-
tries where it exists. 1t inculcates dispos-
iton to tyrany the cf.ild from its youth up.
is taught to command the slave. This spirit
grows with his growth, and strengthens with
his strength. Its ambition is to rule. In
assuming form Of power for governing it
constitutes an oligsreby. This in our
country has become most formidable and
bold 1t has long controlled this nation
dictated its political policies--while it has
been tax to the General Government to
support it at home mot a single Slqre State
meeting its expense to the nation--but not
content TO have its expenses paid while it
had the benefit Of the government to the
amount of eighty millions annually, for near
ly forty years. But to crafty its avarice,
would grasp with its polluted hand, the free
soil of this wide domain. When this is re.
fuse | by an outraged people, and the public
revenue closed against it, its rage is not
equaled by that of the aroused LioE from the
banks of Jordon Threateuings, naenaces.
and insults the nation pro-ests against the
doctrines of the Declaration of Independence.
styles It "Atheistical, Red-Republican doct-
rine" and declares that it must be trampled
under foot seeks to convert The constitution
into slavery propagating document, on
whicE follows series of atrocities. unparal.
leled in human history, oil to crafty this
"Hidra- headed monster. Its lordly sway,
not content to hold the Negro by laws OF
barbarous origin, bnt all the freemen ofthese
States must become the slaves Of this system.
Here was the origin of that infamous feature
of the Fugitive Slave Law. that commands
every man to become kind of police to catch
fugitives The crack ofthe slave drivers whip
has made the American ear to ting'e. We,
her patience was not exhausted. Then came
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise ot
1920; it could be fettered no longer by ma.
tional limitation. This act let loose the hords
Of bloodhounds Of slavery, on to the virgin
soil of Kansas the history Of that first vio