St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-07-10

The victories of slavery, il fact, have been its
defeats. 1t triumphed III the Missouri COM
compromise Of 1929; but that triumph, by be-
getting new exactions, kindled and ,diffuscd
an unslumbering anti slavery sentiment .rbich
kept pace with every usurpation of it's foe.
1t triumphed in the annexation Of Texas; but
this, by paving the way for the Mexican war.
more fully displayed its spirit of rapacity, and
led to an organized political actien against3it it
which finally secured the control Of the Gov
eminent. l:triun'phed in 1850, in The passake
OF the ,fugi.iye slave act, the Texas boundary
DILL the overthrow Of the Wilmot provise, aud
the Inauguration oftLe policy Of popular SOW
erelgnty IN our Territories, which afterwards
brought forth such bloody fruits in Kansas
But these measures, instead of glutting the
demands of slavery, only whetted his appetite,
and brought upon it the reused and Intensified
hostility OF the people. It triumpEed in the
repeal of the Missouri restriction; but this
was, perhaps, the most signifc mt defeat in the
whole history of its career Of aggression and
lawlessness, completely unmaskins its real
character and designs, and appealing to both
conservatives and radicals to combine against
1t: 1t triumphed again in the Drcd Scott de-.
cision and the election Of James Buchanan az
President; but this only enabled slave-brced-
ing Democracy to grow to its full stature and
bud and blossom into that perfect 4uxuriance
of diabolism through which the Republican
party mounted to honor. Slavery triumphed.
finally, when it clutched the national Treasury.
sent our Navy into distant seas, .plundercd our
arsenais, fired on our flag, and sought to make
sure its dominion by wholesale perjury, trea-
son, raplne and murder; but all this was only
q grand challenge to the nation to meet it in
mortal combat. giving us the right to choose
any weapons recognized by the laws of civili-
zed warfare. Bafied and overborne in all its
previous encounters, slavery has now forced
upon the nation the question of liberty and
death and | cannot doubt that the triumphs
Of freedom thus far will be crowned by final
victory in this grand struggle. The cost Of
our victory, in treasure aud blood, and the
length Of the struggle, will depend much upon
the madness or wisdom which may dictate our
policy; but am sure that our country snot
so tar given over to the care Of devils as to al
low slavery to come out Of this contest with its
| life: To believe this, would be to- take sides
| with "the fool who ''hath said in his heart,
there is no God.'' .....
The triumph of anti-slavery is sure. In the
day of weakness, it faced prescription. perse-
cution, violence, and death, but it never de-
serted its flag 1t was opposed by public opin-
ion, by the press, the religious organizations
| OF the country, and by the great political par
| ties which it finally rent in twain and tram
pied under its feet. 1t is now the master of its
own position, while Its early heroes are taking
their rank among the ,;snoble of allsagessu~
has forced its way into. the presidential chair,
and rules in the Cabinet. 1t dictates the leg
islation of Congress and speaks in the Courts
of.thc Old World. 1t goes forth with; our. ar
mics, and is every hour more and more imbue-.
ing the soldiers OF the Republic with its spirit.
Its course is onward, and WHILE :: '!.nf!.
''The polite statesman looks back with q
sigh,
There is doubt in his heart, there il,
| fear in his reye," :;3.;1.. =. u3l:,
and even those Shiny doughfaces and creeping
things that still continue to hiss at s.aboition-
ism, betray tormenting apprehension that
their day aud generation are rapidly passing
away. In the light of the past the future is
made so plain that che that runs may read. -
lr the year 1850, when the slave power tri :.
umphed through the final settlement" which
was then attempted, had the honor to hold
seat IN this body; and | said, in speech
then delivered, that --:. -
"The suppressio of agitation in the non
slaveholding States will not and cannot follow
| the peace measures recently adopted. The
alleged death Of the Wilmot proviso will onlv
| pAo'S IAAS OOuAA VI LAOSC WIN u8ES sought 70
kill it, wkile its advocates will be multiplied in
every portion of the North. The covenant for
admission Of additional slave States will bere-
pudiated, while renewed and constantly in
easing agitation will spring up in behalf Of the
doctIineof no more slave States The outrage of
sur rendering free soil to Texan slavery can
not fail to be followed by the same results, and
just as naturally as fuel feeds the fame which
consumes it. The passage Of the fugitive slave
bill will open fresh wound in the North, and
it will continue to bleed just as long as the law
stands unrepealed The existence of slavery
IN the capital of the Republic, upheld by the
laws OF Congress, must Of itself keep alive an
agitation which will be xwellcd with the con-
tlnuanee OF the evil. Sir, these questions are
no longer within the control of politicians
farty dispilne, presidential nominations, and
the spols OF office, cannot stife tho free utter
anee Of the people respecting the great struggle
now going on in this country between the free
spirit of the North anda domineering olIgarchy
in the South. Here, sir, lies the great question,
and 1t must be met. Neither acts Of Congress
nor the devices of part'sans can postpone or
evade 1t. l am aware that it involves the
| bread and butter of whole hosts Of politicians;
and do not marvel at their attempts to escape
it, to smother it, to hide from the eyes of the
people,, and to dam up the moral tide which is
forcing it upon them. Neither do marvel at
their firing of guns and bachanalian libations
over the dead body of Wilmot.' Such labors
and rejoicings are by no means unnatural, but
they will be followed by disappointment tt
vain to expect to quiet agitation by continued
concessions to an institution which is becomes
ing every hour more and more stigma to the
nation and which, instead Of seeking new CON
quests and new life should be preparing itself:
| with grave clothes for decent exit from the
world !; concessions revolving to the humanity
the conscientious convictions, the religion, and
| the patriotism Of the free States.'' .-,,- 80.
Sir. speak to-day in the spirit Of these
words, uttered nearly twelve years ago,
and verified: by time, "A small band Of
men in Congress braved public opinion,