The Portland daily press., 1889-01-21

Anybody can see that all the danger springs
from the existing fact of slavery. If a pa
TENTS life is threatened by a cancer, swhat
doctor gives medicine to increase 1t and
scatter IL throughout the whole system? 1t
should be cut out at the earliest moment.
Yet that was not the course taken by the
thirteen doctors. They proposed by various
provisions and expedients to extend the can
Ger slavery all over New. Mexico and Utah
and to take into the Union as many slave
States as can be carved out of these terrific
ries. Instead of ordering the cancer to be
cut out at the earliest practicable moment
they ordered medicines to increase IL and diff
fuse it over the system. Now the more the
cancer of slavery increases and the more 1t
is diffused, the less likely 1t is to be. cured
and the more likely 1t is to destroy the pa
tient. have no fear that your party will
pass sedition law prohibiting us under PEN
atty OF fine or Imprisonment from speaking
the truth concerning slavery, when they re-
member that the old Federal party was over
thrown. finally and forever, for passing Sc
dition law which allowed the publication OF
anything that was true. and only provided
for the punishment of willful, scandalous
and malicious falsehoods. You stand
pledged to abide by the compromise meas
ures. One of them was the admission OF
California as free State. You can use
your influence to prevent the division of Cal
ifornia and the admission of the southern
portion as slaveholding State-because 1t
would be violation of the compromise
Cuba ought not to come in with slavery, be-
cause it would be increasing ana spreading
the cancer in the system which endangers
the Union. 1t would strengthen the PEE
culiar institution in Maryland, Virginia and
North Carolina, Kentucky apd Tennessee,
and put off the day OF emancipation, be-
cause it would stimulate the cupidity Of the
Shareholders and slavetraders, by opening a
new and large market for their slaves. You
can throw your Influence against this, be-
cause 1t would break down the compromise,
reopen the slavery question and be the
means OF renewing agitation In the country.
The same with Porto Rico. would be glad
to have Cuba come In with her own consent
and the consent of Spain and without slaves.
You are not pledged as to the appointments
to office. Now 1t is undeniable that the ter
ritories conquered from Mexico came free
and are still free by law although few per-
sons are there held in slavery. In the Utah
and New Mexican bills there Is no direct es-
Enlistment of slavery. and 1t Is equally clear
that Congless had no constitutional power
to establish slavery in those Territories. In
those Territorial bills there are certain hints
and innuendoes which pro-slavery man, and
regardless of the interest, bent on mischief,
might adjudge to establish slavery and thus
he might decide that Congress had constitu-
tional power to establish slavery. Now you
will have the power to appoint judges in
those territories who shall be humane men
and who will decide the law as 1t is, In favor
of universal freedom. This is great point.
4 uOPt yOu Will w ~ lUI but sdk6 VI tut
future with no care Of consequences. In the
Supreme Bench you will have it in your
power to appoint judges favorable to the
cause OF freedom. trust you will do 1t.
Many opinions of that court In relation to
the Amendments to the Constitution will
have to be revised. 1t was formerly thought
we had bill of rights. Under the opinions
of the Supreme Court it is not so. III you
are so disposed think you can easily avoid
putting your name to any act for the admis-
sion of slave-holding State without using
the veto power. The population is sparse as
| yet and will continue so during your term
There can be no great occasion for the ad-
mission of any siave-holding State within
| the next four years without a division of one
| of the present States which ought not to be
| permitted | suppose you know enough of
| the evils of war to favor peace. Ii we should
| have war with Mexico and conquer more of
her territory the territory is free, and, &C
cording to your platform, which prohibits
the discussion of slavery, it must remain
| free.
l have drawn out my letter to great length
Ii you should think as ! do, the slave power
will gain no additional strength during your
| administration. In that case | have many
suggestions showing how slavery may be
| gradually got rid of without collision, but by
| legislative, judicial and popular action.
| think it is not too late. The cancer may be
| taken out and the Union saved. But have
no room to write these suggestions, nor is 1t
necessary. Yours with Respect,
JABFZ o. WOODMAN.