The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-06-03
zen colonies were cursed by the

presence of human bondage. The
southern colonies, by reason of eli
matte conditions could use them to
greater advantage and therefore
Icouraged the evil, while the Yankees
OF the north became largely interest
ed in the African slave trade, be-
cause, f%orsooth, there was money in
it, and, to a large extent, they were
the ones that htted out slave ships
that piled between Africa and south.
ern ports. Thus, while the south re-
ceived the influx Of slaves. it bought
them largely from their northern
brothers, who we're in the business
as a speculation. And thuS-to a
large d~egree-both sections of our
common country were partners in,
defenders of and protited by this
nefarious business.
When that period in our country's
history had arrived in which public
sentiment demanded a separation
frcm the Mother Country, Great
Britain, and Jul Wisest statesmen
were called together to draft a consti-
tuition for a federal government that
should bind together the thirteen
colonies in a closer pact, and that
should possess greater stability than
the federation Heretofore existing,
this question of what to do with
slavery caused more discord and veN-
atious anxiety than all others COM
bined. The conviction forced itself
upon the fathers that it was an evil
of such magnitude that it might
easily-later on-prove the rock on
which the to be republic would split ;
and so deep was this conviction that
Jefferson was induced to embody i'm
his original draft of the Declaration
a clause strongly condemnatory of
the African slave trade-a clause af-
terward omitted to placate South
Carolina and Georgia, who were de-
termined to continue slavery and its
necessary adjunct-trade in slaves
brought from Africa. thus it will
be observed that even before we had
gained our independence, and viii lie
we were %condemning England for
partially robbing us of our liberties,
we we're in fact and deed subjectine
over a half d million of black men to
involuntary s%ervitude, tratficking in
human blood, and riveting the links
in a chain that bound the unfortun-
ate black man hand and foot. True,
there was protest against the in
humanity of such business, but the
protest was stit1ed and as the years
flew by the traffic in human life in
creased until at the breaking out Of
the Rebellion over four million
slaves were in chains, and by reason
of allowing this Upas-tree to develop
and Spread-rOot and branch-the
very life of the nation was menaced.
During all these years compromise
81 Ff0r nNrn ~rOt,icn Nod 1,cor nnl Nror
the question Of slavery, that like
and each compromise simply post
for, as the years had fled. the public
the agitation of the question, and
upon sectional lines--the south up
holding and defending the right to
traffic in human blood; the north
moral and religious grounds. Even
the church itself was involved in the
controversy, and almost every de-
nomination was divided into the
North or South Branch. The South
ern Branch preached the Divine
right Of slave-holding, and using the
bible to justify their position; while
the Northern Branches condemned
it and in every way opposed it.
AT each presidential election the
south demanded the selection of a
president who would not disturb ex-
listing conditions, and demanded be
side that they should be favorable to
che extension of slavery.
in 1860 Stephen A. Douglas was
the nominee Of the democratic party
at its convention held in Baltimore,
but the Shareholders were not salts
fed with his position on the extern
sion Of slavery, and they-with a few
northern sympathizers-bolted, and
held a separate convention at Rich
mond, which finally adjourned to
meet later at Baltimore, when it
nominated John G. Breckenridge, Of
Kentucky, and thus gave to the
country two democratic candidates
for the presidency. One, Douglas,
the choice Of the northern wing Of
the party, the other the especial
champion of the s~laye-holding dem
ocracy of the south.
At about the same time Abraham
Lincoln, the immortal, was nomin-
ated by the republican party at Chi
cago, and a battle royal was fought
until the votes we're counted in
November, when it developed that
although having only a ninority Of
the popular vote, Mr.. Lincoln had
a majority IN the electoral college,
thus ensurlng his elevation to the
presidency, and on March 4th, 1861,
he was sworn in as president Of these
United States.
AS soon as it was known that Lin
coin was surely elected, but before
the electoral votes had been cast,
hotheads in the South swo1e that he
should ncver be inaugurated and
talk Of secession was openly INDUCED.
On the day before the National
election, in November, Governor
Gist, of North Carolina. called the
legislature together in extraordinary
session and in his message, said: 81
recommend that this legislature re-
main in continuous session and take
such action as will prepare the state
for any emergency that may
arlse............and IN the event Of
the election Of Lincoln to the pres
:l2,~. -