The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-03-06
OGT Position.

We have recently been assailed, through
the columns of certain so-called Demo
cratic newspapers, as being an Abolition
ist For this there has not been even the
shadow of foundation, as every honest
man who knows us will readily admit.-
To make charge is one thing TO prove
it is quite another thing. The former has
been made, it is true, but the latter, we
submit, has not been forthcoming, and
with o sublime consciousness that 1t could
not be adduced from any thing we have
ever done, or said, or written, we have
hitherto contented ourself with merely
interposing our denial against a baseless
fabrication, dictated only by party spirit
and personal envy. We propose now,
however, to set forth our views and opin-
ions in regard to the grave subject Of
American Slavery, and to discuss the
position we occupy towards it; and in
doing SO, We will be as plain, practical
and temperate as possible.
We hold that Slavery, in this country
or elsewhere, is social, moral and polit-
ical evil We deny in the most emphatic
manner, that any man has right to hold
another in bondage for every man has a
natural right to his own liberty, and TO
deprive him of this, except for crime, IS
to perpetrate a most henious wrong. In
proof Of this, we need only refer to our
immortal Declaration of independence,
which declares as self evident truths, "that
aH men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
tadAenGble rights; that among them are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"
By placing our finger upon this admirable
text, we are at once enabled to refute in
the strongest manner the absurd doctrine
that one man may rob another Of his ijt-
alienaJ2e right to his own liberty. The
principles here stated are broad and COM
prehensive, and it cannot be denied that
they apply to Slavery, no matter where or
under what form, it may exist. Such,
too, were the views aud feelings OF WASH
INGToN, OF JEFFERSON, of MADISON, and
of all the illustrious fathers of our Repub-
lie, They were all opposed, in principle,
to the Institution of American Slavery,
and each Wed with the other in his efforts
to secure its ultimate abolition. And if
We come down to later period, we fnd
such pure patriots as HENRY CLAY an
imated by the same sentiments. The 'old
man eloquent was always most ardent
friend of system Of gradual emancipation
Referring to Slavery, in a speech before
the American Colonization Society, in
1927, he said: ''If l could only be in
strumental in eradicating this deepest
stain upon the character of our country,
l would not exchange the proud satisfac-
tion ! should enjoy, for the honor of all
the triumphs ever decreed to the most
successful oonqueror.'
But we need not multiply authorities
on this head. Our position has been like
that of most Northern men, born, and ed
ncated, and residing in the free States !;
We have always believed Slavery to be
orong and therefore never we're and new
er could be It's friend Yet it by no
means follows from this that we are, or
ever were, an Abolitionist The premi-
ses viii by no means warrant such concIu-
siou. While, to a certain extent we
agree with the members OF that party in