The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-01-24
a.. rristeusan AHaendments.

itiou to the "Crittenden Amendments.
We now offer others.
a. The avoWed and unmistakable object
# the Crittsnden amendment is to extend
he area Of slavery and increase it's politi'
al power. As an American citizen we
san never consent that the Constitution
,f the United States shall be converted
Iato an instrument Of oppression and
v rong. We can never consent that
against the known will aud Interests OF
large majority Of the Republic all instltu'
,ion so deprarated by humanity, SO de-
mentsd by our fathers, SO 10 conflict with
the spirit, policy and interests OF human
liberty shall be foste'ed. protected and
perLetuated by the fundamental law Of
Iae land.
Slavery Of necessity strikes down the
..liberty of the press" What journalist
would dare establish himself in its midst
and avOw his honest conviction that Sla-
very ought to be abolished. l's censor
ship is as complete and severe as that OF
any despOtism on Earth.
Slavery Of necessity ProstrateS the
"freedom Of speech" American citiz MS
cannot to day, on slave soil. express them.
selves even against its extension without
eDdapgering their lives. 1t is as intole
qant as the religious madness Of the four
teenth century.
Slavery Of necessity abridses the "free'
dom Of conscience. No man dare raisC
his voice in exposition Of It's errors ol
condemnation OF i.s SINS. Shall We make
our Constitution extend and perpe'uat'
an institution prostraIing these great Snt
essential liberIips underlying and sup
porting rs they do, all that is valu"bls o
our insiituti ms?
We would not interfere with SLAYER!
where it is, because we neither have tn
power nor the right; but when asked Il
vote for it's extension, we shall answer IL
the language Of CLAY. that "no power. NJ
earthly power eau ever compel me b.
word or act or deed TO sanction the cx
tsnsion Of slavery over one foot of terri
tory now free"
7th. The adoption Of the Crit'ende
amendment would divide the country il
10 sections by the esab ishment of g. {
graphical line. Nothing could more ten
10 make Us a divided peope and perps
.us,c that division than tho establisbmer
ofsuch line. Against such measn'
.wo we're solsmnly admonished by Il
farewell address Of the imm Irtsl WAsI
JUNCTION. We are ore people with one Il
terest and one destiny The teellng
alienation and distrust that now so fea
fully distracts US, should no, DO fosteTe
The apprehension that either ct'on
the republic is struggling Tor power on
to Cypress and crush the other, shou
no. be strengthened by the building
an imaginary wall 10 beat back aggr'
sion. We might as well attempt to di'
buse the public mind oc these unft u
cd apprehensons by standing an arr
upon the borders 10 repcl al invasion.
This dangerous feeling had its birth
the establishment Of an almost similar j
forty years ago. ,nd seized by politici'
Tor partisan purposes, has been play
upon until wrought into madness.
the South he undeceived. Lot them |
derstand that their institutions aud tn
rights 10 the government will not be
terferred with by the North, no mat
how powerful, and their mad struggle
MAINTAIN possession Of the government
end. The Southern ppople are not
maudiug new slave territory because Il
are in need Of the soil for oultivati
They have now more than they can pr
eriy develope 10 the next century. II
race is one for political power unde
ken and stimulated by the unfounded
liti tba, increased power 10 necessary
their preservation. Let them be d
bused Of this apprehension. and pc
quiet ana fralernal feeling will return,
9Th. We oppose tho Crittenden amt
meat because it embodies a principl
which fve.sixihs Of the American pc
arc opposed, and being opposed t.
from principle and honest convict
would arraigu themselves against it
moment the present danger and ex
ment is passed, and thus the stu
would bs renewed. This fact is rIeu
fed 10 the history Of all our comprom
In 1920 the Missouri line was eslabli
10 moment Of danger aud ex"ileu
Thirty. four years later i, was stri
down. because the people were opp
to its principle and policy. In ls'
the midst of a similar crisis was p
the Fugitive Slave Law. When the
ger was over. when the du,ess wa
moved from the minds Of the people,
rose up to strike down its Odious
visions.