The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-07-25

setting or the sun, ana lnen SCdIcSiJ nan vi
them would be told. There is DO project
however bold no undertaking however great
but what American genius and American en-
terprise are ready to undertake. Is there
mountain to be tunneled or a Niagara to be
spanned, American genius is at once engaged
in the work Is an electric wire to be laid in
the bottom Of the sea. or railway to be hung
on the side Of the beetling elf, are the bowels
Of the earth to be pierced for precious ores, or
the clouds out-capped by the aerial ship,
American perseverance and daring are at once
called into action. What another half centu-
nv will develop in this direction, is impossible
for rs to conceive,
But another, and the principal element of
our prosperity, consists in that patrimonial
estate which the God of Heaven has granted
us in the possession of this broad land of ours
with its fertile SOIL It's genial climate its
golden sunshine, its sparkling fountains, and
rich luxuriance and ceaseless variety of its
Vegetation. Here we have a world in minia-
ture as far as Natures bounties are concerned.
And then the mineral wealth, her abundant
water powers and other resources for manu-
featuring purposes when all these are taken
together, we see no reason why she may not
take rank first among the nations Of the earth,
as regards her internal resources. We have
every reason to bless Q kind Providence that
has permitted our lot to be cast in q land so
favored; and unceasing praise should ever
ascend from our hearts to the great source
and fountain of all blessings.
But my fellow v-citizens, while we dwell with
pride and satisfaction upon the abundant
prosperity and vast resources of this beloved
country OF ours, yet we would not present her
20 YOU in any untrue light; every picture no
matter how high its coloring, must have some
dark shades or else it will not be true to ma
ture While we would remember the things
which have been so conducive to our couar
try's progress, we would not forget those
which have iplpeded that progress; If we for
get the lessons Of the past, the future to US
will have no redeeming power whatever.
The immortal Jefferson, in that famous doc
ument which does such lasting honor to his
name, asserted a principle, which, if it had
been adhered to in the governmental policy
Of our country, would have made us the most
powerful honorod and glorious nation the
/ sun ever ahone upon. And chat principle or
fact, which I believe to be as true as the verv
existence Of God himself, is this: {" All men
are created equal, and arc endowed by their
Creator with certain inalinable rights, among
which, are life, liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness" Mr. Jefferson did not assert that
al men were equal in intellect or physical
development; bat he did mean that they were
equal one with another, as regards the rights
God had given them. These were the pos
session Of life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
pinoss, without let or hinlorauce from his
fellow man. Il has been q disputed question
whether the Federal Constitution, which was
adopted eleven years after the declaration.
recognized this difference in the equality Of
- -
at least Winked at the eNistapce Of such inc
quality in the several States where it was
recognized under the laws thereof, in the
form Of Slavery. The future legislation Of
cur country did not fail to recognize it if the
Constitution did not. Itwas doubtless thought
to be wisdom on the part of our fathers to
recognize to a certain extent, the existancc of
slavery in the Federal capacity, on account Of
its cXistance in the States. 1t would perhaps
have been difficult to have formed govern
ment without. But It strikes me that if they
could have forascen the evil that it was to
produce, they would have taken more stronu-
Gus measures to prevent its increase. It may
however, to some, se9m Inappropriate to refer
to this subject upon an occasion like this
there are some, who in times past have con-
sidcycd this q sectional subject, butIam frank
TO ayow that never considered it q sectional
enc. and l think events trauspiIing now
abundantly testify it was always a national
question, at least it must be patent to every
mind, that it is now national question, for
none can deny that it is the primary cause of
our present national difficulty.
If there is any one mere who is not Union
st if there is any one here who is not in favor
of the perpotuity of this glorious Union Of
ours, which is the only guaranty Of our pros
l.
only to Americans, and no one deserves the
title Of an American who is not in favor of
the continuance of this glorious Union of the
States Of America. would eala Canadian
an American if he was in favor Of our Repub-
lic I would call a South american Pataeo-
nan Indian an American if he respected our
laws, but q Sccessionist deserves to be hnnted
IS the hawk upon the mountain is hunted
wonld not shoot him if ] could help it, but
would catch him, and cage him, and see if
I could not bring him to better state Of mind
Yes sir, it is the effect Of the doctrine that
al men were born free and equal rs regards
human rights, and the erection of distinctions
among men other than those which God has
made, that has brought al this upon US. Do
not misunderstood, ] do not say that the At
rican as race is equal to the Anglo Saxon
although many OF them are possessed of
high order Of inteleet-but I do say their in
dividual rights are the same, and do not
think that man can be guiltless before God
who deprives him Of them. IF God has seen
fit to create our race with greater powers of
mind than another, that is His prerogative
we have no right to interfere or take away
his rights. It is no merit Of ours, that we are
not as black as the tawniest negro that ever
burned under an African SUM-
And now here is q great oligarchy at the
South, consisting of280, 600 slave holders who
say they will either rule this Nation or they
will ruin it. Two hundred and eighty thous-
ands over twenty millions and that too in
country Of democratic institutions, or where
majoriiies are supposed to rule Is this in
accordance with the spirit of American free
men? Why, how these men talk! They say
The Declaration Of IndcDandence is nothing