- ^ F1 * .*?' I_-_ _ '-- ""—'UMT'* 'r'-- - j. ll . - - -' -~ ""* LL - - -—lu.l ■■! mil i--. ''Hi. JP'CcJUI tin
Be No. 2407.
! TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
OAK DOLLAR PER AAALU,
IV ADVANCE.
For six months, 75 cents.
Ml NEW subscriptions must be paid in
:. If the paper is continued, and net
thin the first month, §1,25 will be charg
int piid in three months, §1,50; if not
six months, §1,75: and if not paid in
nths, §2.00.
apers addressed to persons out of the
will be discontinued at the expiration of
• paid f >r. unless special request is made
rintr try or payment guaranteed by some
inle person here.
ADVERTISING.
ines of minion, or their equivalent, cori
a square. Three insertions §l, and 25
r each subsequent insertion.
KJO3EPH A. NEEDLES,
MANUFACTURER OF
He. Silk & Eair-Cloth Sieves,
|H, medium and fine in mesh; large, middle
t size, and small in diameter.
Mft'tl Lie t LOTUS OR MGIE* WIRE,
f (■, n, st qualities, various sizes of mesh,
omKos. 1 to 80 inclusive, and frcm one to
x Ml in width.
TV: are numbered so many spaces to a lin
fjKh, and cut to suit.
a Is > keeps constantly on hand
Sand, Ore, Lime, Grain, Gravel, Gu
gSKmnac, Sugar, Salt, Bone, Coffee, Spice,
Dvestuffs, &c. Together with an as-
t
9# 4. 11l A .YD AY.YEALED IROY WIRE.
the above sold wholesale or retail, by
J. A. NEEDLES,
vtfßp 54 N. Front St., Philadelphia.
■ L. B. MUSGRAVE & CO.,
I Wholesale Druggists,
AND DEALERS IN
|D IFLTJ Gr &> ,
SPICES,
GHEKIOALS,
mJI * 3 *
|| TaiNTSr v
Oils, Glass, &c ,
IMBnrkct st. above Ilth, 8. side, Phila.
and country merchants are
to gi\e them a caii and examine
>vk and prices, before making their
GAS FIXTURES.
has ju-t received a splen-
a-orluient of Gas Fixtures, among
BD\NTN, BRACKETS, DROP LIGHTS,
■tMBI.I TIDES, GLOBES & SHADES
f iswd- scriptions, arid a general assortment of
all which he will sell at Philadel-
Varices (cut, fitted and put up free of
i.) Call and examine for yourself,
pipe put into houses, shops, stores, &c.
shortest notice.
aifcl G. W. STEWART.
I GAS! GAS!
U. SEI.MKIMER would respectfully in
form the citizens ol Lewistown that he
paring to put up
as Fixtures of all kinds,
jrcln-s, Stores, Dwellings, Public Build-
Shnps, &c., in the best manner. Hav
rocured an experienced workman from
_tj, recommended to me to be one of the
in the State, I can safely war-
Hall work and feel confident of pleasing
Lewistown, May 22, 1856,
1T27/ FJRNt.
subscribers, trading as McWilliams &
have leased the Lewistown Mill
now prepared to buy all kinds of grain,
they wilt pay the highest market
will he taken in store on the same
B as heretofore ly John Steirett &. Co.
r- who wish to have grists ground, or
chopped, will he accommodated on the
notice.
will always have on hand for sale a full
B el
■Flour, Grain and Feed,
will be delivered to anv part of town by
eiders at the office in the Mill.
of them will at all times be found at the
Hto give their personal attention to the
and they hope to merit a continuance
B patronage bestowed on the old firm.
GEO. W. McWILLIAMS,
F. R. STERKETT.
January, 17, 1856.
■GEO. W. SLEEP.,
Attorney at Law,
in West Marketstreet,opposite Eisen
Hotel, will attend to any business inthe.
p™H°f Mifflin, Centre, or Huntingdon couu-
Lewistown. Julv 1, 1853.
So 2k> ffIDKEfWIJa
HM'iji.i;O\ lu.Vll-T.
A L business promptly attend
to, and charges reasonable.
Bmce on North Main street, second door
the town Hall, and nearly opposite the
office. je 21, 1855—tf.
take this opportunity of informing the
that we have obtained direct from
KSTOM HOUSE all kinds < f
L.IQTJOTIS,
are as pure as can be obtained in tliis
y, expressly for medical purposes.
J. D STONE ROAD,
Bek Hive Drug Store.
ipjßSSj'iftajß) ipwxs&insiHEais)
The West Branch Insurance Co.
OF LOCK IIAIE.Y, PA.,
INSURES Detached Buildings, Stores. Mer
chandise, Farm Property, and other Build
ings, and their contents, at moderate rates.
DIRECTORS.
Hon. John J. Pearce, Hon. G. C. Harvey,
John B. Hail, T. T. Abranis,
Charles A. Mayer, D. K. Jackman,
Charles Crist, W. VVnite,
Peter Dickinson, Thos. Kitchen.
Hon. G C. HARVEY, Pres.
T, T. ABRAMS, Vice Pres.
Tlios. Kitchen, See'y.
REFERENCES.
Samuel 11, Lloyd, Thos. Bowman, D. D.
A. A. Winegardner, Wm. Vanderbclt,
L. A. Mackey, Wm. Fearon,
A. White, Dr. J. S. Crawford,
James Quiggle, A. Updegralf,
John W. Maynard, James Armstrong,
Hon. Simon Cameron, Hon. Wm. Bigler.
for Mifflin county, G. W. STEW
ART, Esq. ap23
liulfiijiiity from Loss r.ihi Damage by Fire,
the Perils of Marine ami Ivlav>' Transportation.
CONTINKNTAL
INSURANCE COMPANY.
Incorporated by the Ijtyislature of Pcuimylva
miia, with a Perpetual Charter.
Authorized Capital, $1,000,000.
Office No. 01 Walnut St. above Second, Pliilu.
Fire Insurance on Buildings, Furniture, Mer
chandise, &c., generally. Marine Insurance
on Cargoes and Freights to all parts of the
world. Inland Insurance on Goods, &c., by
Lakes, Rivets, Canals, and Land Carriages, to
all parts of the Union, on the most lavorubie
terms, consistent with secuiity.
DIRECTORS.
George W. Colladay, William Bowers,
John M. Coleman, Joseph Oat,
Edwin V. .Machette, Howard Hinchman,
GEORGE W. COLLADAY, President.
GALEN WILSON, Secretary.
for Mifflin county, Wm. P. EL
LIOTT, Esq. * fcbl'J-ly
INIOMTY AGAINST LOSS BY FIRE.
Franklin Fire Insurance Compa
ny of Philadelphia.
Office 1634 Chestnut street, near Fifth.
Statement of Assets, *1,827,18.* 80
January Ist, 1637.
Published agreeably to an act of Assembly, be
ing,
Fist Mortgages, amply seeuri <l, §1,519,932 73
Real Estate, (present value, §109,-
000,) cost, 69,114 18
Stocks, (present value, §83,881 12,)
cost, 71,232 97
Cash, &.C., 64,12156
§1,827,165 eO
Perpetual or Limited Insurances made on every
description of property, in Town and Country.
Kates as low as are consistent with security.
Since their incorpoi atiou, a period of twenty
eight years, they have paid over Three Millions
of Dollars' losses by fire, thereby affording ev
idence of the advantages of Insurance, as well
as the ability and disposition to meet with
promptness all liabilities.
Losses by Fire.
Losses [ aid during the year 1856, §301,638 84
DIRECTORS.
Chas. N. B.neker, 1 Mordecai I). Lewis,
Tobias Wagner, | David S. Brown,
Samuel Grant, I Isaac Lea,
Jacob R. Smith, Edward C. Dale,
Geo. W. Richards, | Geoige Fales.
CHARLES N. BANCKEK, President.
( has. G. Uakcker, Sec'y.
|r3="Agent for Miflliu county, H. J. WAL
*I'ERS, Esq., Lewistown. marlO
HATS. CAPS & STRAW GOODS
For the People,
AND TIIE PEOPLE'S CHILDREN.
ill HID J3 Li I,
I]IAST Market street, Lew istown, opposite the
Post Office, has just returned f rom the city
with a large and elegant stock of Fashionable
HATS, CAPS, STRAW GOODS,
&c., suitable for spring and summer wear,
which, notwithstanding the advance of almost
everything else, he will dispose of at low pri
ces. His store has heen fitted up with large
eases, with glass frouts, so that the stock cart
be examined at a glance.
%~Hc w ill manufacture to order any descrip
lion of hats, (having the best of workmen in Ins
employ and an abundant supply of material,)
should his extensive stock fail to furnish a suit
able article. Parents are especially invited to
cali and examine his variety of Children's Hats
and Caps, comprising a fir.-t rate stock, from
which they can make choice to please them
selves.
His Ornish fricDds will find they are not for
gotten, and they may rest assured of finding an
article to their taste, or can have one uiade at
short notice.
Thankful for the patronage heretofore so lib
erally extended to him, he solicits his friends to
call—those indebted to square up and begin
anew—and any number of visitors from this or
the neighboring counties, to take a look at him
| day or evening.
api G N. J. RCJDISILL.
To Builders and Contractors.
LUMBER! LUMBER!
HERE 18 THE PLACE FOR CHEAP LlttBF.R!
JUST RECEIVED,
I O (KNI FEET 1 \ Yellow Pine Work
ed Flooring,
5,000 feet 1 Yellow Pine Worked Flooring,
10,000 " 1 White " " Boards,
47,000 " 1 " " " "
70,000 " 3. 3£, 4, 4* best Susquehanna Plas
tering Lath,
20,000 feet Roofing Lath,
12,000 •' Common Plank,
10,000 " 2 in. Panel,
1 1,000 Lights Sash. Any quantity of Doors,
Shutters, Blinds, &e., which we will sell from
10 to 20 per cent, cheaper than any other
dealers in the country.
Hemlock, White Pine Joist, Studding, &c., al
ways on hand,
j 1 respectfully invite all persons wanting any
I kind of Lumber to call and examine our stock
! and prices.
All orders for Frame Stuff for Houses, Brid
i ges, Barns, &c,,"Will he filled with promptness.
! uu 28 F. G. FRAN CISC US.
Freeburg Academy and Normal
School.
r PHIS INSTITUTION, located in the beau-
JL tiful and healthy little village of Freeburg,
Snyder county, Pa., will commence the second
(Spring) quarter of its Second Session on the
23d of March. In view of the great want of
proper instruction for Teachers in this and oth
er counties, a YORIIAI. DEPART.IIKYT will
hereafter be connected with this school, in
which Teachers will be prepared for the ardu
ous duties of the school room. That justly
popular Teacher, Lecturer and Author, Prof.
J. F. STODDARD, has been engaged to deliver a
course ol Lectures and assist in arranging and
conducting the Normal exercises and training,
and it is hoped Teachers will avail themselves
of his services while in the county. An addi
tional Female Teacher has been engaged, and
other arrangements made to meet the wants of
all.
TERMS.
One-half payable invariably in advance.
For Board, Room, and Tuition,
per session of 22 weeks, §SO 00 to §55 00
Tuition only, per qr. of II w'ks, 2.50 to 8.00
Instruction on Piano and use of
Instrument, 9 00
For Circulars, <&c., address
GEO. F. McFARLAND, Principal.
Freeburg, March 12. 1857.
LOG-AiT TOTOTORT.
THE public are hereby respectfully informed
1 that we have leased the above well known
fr oundry, situate on Main street, in the borough
of Lewislown, a few doors south of the stone
bridge, where we will keep constantly on hand
a full assortment of all kinds of STOVES,
__j| viz,: llalhaway Cooking Stoves, different
sizes, Egg Stoves, Nine Plate Stoves, &c.
and also
Iron Fence, Hollow Ware, Water Pipes,
&c., and w ill make to order all kinds of CAST
INGS. All orders sent to us w ill be filled with
care and despatch, and on as reasonable terms
as at any other establishment in the State. We
hope, friends, you w ill call and examine our
stock before buying anywhere else. You will
undoubtedly save money bv doing so.
DANIEL BEARLEY & SONS.
Lewistown, March 20, 1857.-y
New Arrangements.
\FTER returning our sincere thanks to our
numerous friends and customers for their
continued patronage, 1 would inform them that
i am still to be found at
c C-£r'DO.cs sUU-iJ. gy. 7 ;>rc.~v.-e 1
With a desire to bring my business nearly to
CASH, after the first of April our credit term*
will be Thirty Days and accounts not to exceed
Fifty Dollars. W'e hope still to conduct our
business so that we shall enjoy the good will
of our numerous customers, and that the num
ber may be greatly increased.
mar! 2 F. J. HOFFMAN.
m oiii) sbiiiiii
Has Just Opined a Splendid Assortment
OF
SPRING & SUMMER GOODS.
IF you want a cheap Diris, call it ill* Old ("inner
If yon waul a cheap .-hawl, call at ih>* Old Curlier
If you want cheap Silks, call at the Ohl Corner
If ynti want cheap Muslins, call at the Old Corner.
If yon want Kentucky Jeans >.r Tweed*, call at the Ohl
Corner. Al-o, Flannels, all kinds and colors.
If yon w ti.l abulia £or ilcreges, call at lhe (>ld Corner.
If you want Brilliunles or Lawns, call at the Old Corner.
If you want I.a Villa Cloths, call at the Oil C' fuer.
If you want Silk (.'ravelins, call at the Old Corner.
If you want .Mourning Goods, call at the Old Corner.
If you want stuped .Skirting Muslin, go to the Old Corner.
If you want patent Crinoline Lining,go in tin Old Corner.
If yon want Collars, Cndersleeves, Edgings, Inserting*,
Flouncing*, or any Embroideries, go to the I lid Corner.
If you want Corded Skins, tSonlag Skins, or 1100, s, call
at the Old Corner.
If you want Cloths, call at lite Old Corner.
If you want Cassiun res, call at lite Ohl ('ori.cr.
If you want Satinells, call at the Old Corner.
IV YllLi H.S.YT A MYTH !VTG I. AT 77/ K Pit Y
GO UPS /.EVE, GO TO T/fl. O/.1l COHJYKIt
If you want to maki choice from over EtIJ styles i f Wat!
Papers, go to the Old Corner.
If you went a Carpet of any kind, go to the Old Corner.
If you want Groceries, Uucet.au are, or Cutlery, call at
the Old Corner.
If you want Clothing, Boots or Shoes, Hats or Caps, call
at the Old Corner.
If you have Country Produce to exchange for Goods,call
at the Old t orner.
If you want Bargains in anything, call at the Old Coiner.
rVCotlnl ry Dealers supplied with Goods hy wholesale
at a verv small advance above cilv whnl.'sale prices.
aj>23 GEORGE BLYMYER.
BOOKS!BOOKS!
. A'J'
GIFT SALE.
V HANDSOME GIFT, ranging from 611 cents to $lO,
will he given to each purchaser fa llouk atJunkin's
Book and Jewelroy Store The following comprises a
poitiou of the hooks on his shelves ;
Periscopics, hy William Elder,
Sense and Sensibility, by Miss Austen,
Geoffrey Moncton, hy Mrs. Moodie,
Three Hundred Religious Tales,
Clouds and Sunshine in the Life of a Village Pastor,
Headley's .Sacred Plains,
Language of Flowers,
Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons,
New England Tales, hy Mrs. Sedgw ick,
The Elder Sister,
Fashionable Life, by M. A. Eastman,
The Young Lady's Mentor,
Home Scenes, or Christ in the Family,
Uueechey, by the author of the Wide Wide World,
Visit to Europe, by Professor Stllimau,
Lectures 011 the Progress of Arts and Sciences,
England and its People, by Hugh Miller,
The Youth of Madame de Longueville,
The Aroh Bishop, or Romanism in the United States,
Ups and Downs, hy Cousin Cicely,
Dred, by Mrs. (itowe,
Mechanic's Text Book,
Wager of Battle, by 11. VV. Herbert,
Eventide, by Effte Afton,
Salad for the Solitary,
Household Narratives for the Family Circle,
The Three Colonies of Australia,
Pious Dead of the Medical Profession,
The Christian Family Library,
Can Eden, or Pictures of Cuba,
The Poetry and Mystery of Dreams,
Lives of Generals Scott and Jackson,
My Courtship and its consequences, by Wykolf,
And an endless variety of other useful, scientific, teli
gions, aud miscellaneous books.
in the country remitting mon
ey for any book named on tho bills, cau have
the book and gift forwarded in any manner
they may direct. If by mail, tbey must send
25 cents additional in stumps or money to
prepay postage. ap23
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1857.
THE CONSIDERATE DOCTOR.
A poor girl, who had just recovered front
a long spell of sickness, gathered up her
scanty earnings, and went to the doctor's
office to settle her hill.
Just at the door, the lawyer of the place
passed into the office before heron a simi
lar errand.
"Well, doctor,'' said he "I believe I am
indebted to you, and I should like to know
how much."
"Yes," said the doctor, I Attended upon
you about a week, and what would vou
charge me for a week's services, or what
do you realize, on an average, for a week's
services?"
"O," said the lawyer, "perhaps seventv
live dollars."
"\ erv well, then, as my time and pro
fession are as valuable as yours, your bill
is seventy-five dollars."
The poor girl's heart sunk within her,
lor should her bill be anything like that,
how could she ever pay? The lawyer paid
his hill and passed out, when the doctor
turned to the young woman, and kindly
inquired her errand.
"1 came," said she, "to know what 1
owe you, although I know not as I can ev
er pay you."
"I attended you about a week" said he.
"Yes, sir."
"What do you get per week?"
"Seventy five cents," said she.
"Is that all?"
"Yes sir."
"Then your hi!! is seventy-five cents."
The poor girl paid him thankfully, and
went hack with a light heart. An old and
rich man ol my acquaintance was once re
marking to the doctor, that no one earned
their money so easily as the doctor, or could
get rich so easily. The doctor reminded
him of the many losses incurred, as thev
must visit the poor as well as the rich.—
"W ell," said my old friend, "you must
charge the rich more, and then you can af
ford to lose by the poor."
Not many weeks after, the old man was
obliged to employ the doctor for some lime.
At the last visit his bill was presented, anil
strongly resisted as enormously high.
"But," said the doctor, "you know what
you told me, and 1 have only followed your
advice."
Not a word more was said, but the a
mount was immediately paid.
CAL T tillT*iN~A TRAP.
It was lately that a strange event occur
red 111 the village of Champignolles,
France. One of the inhabitants had dug
a pit for tiie purpose of catching a wolf,
and, after covering it, put on the top, to
attract the animal, a living goose. Anoth
er inhabitant of the village saw from a
distance the goose, fluttering and strug
gling to get loose. The obscurity (it be
ing twilight) not permitting him to distin
guish the trap, he approached and fell to
the bottom of the pit. The pit was Bor
ten feet deep and the sides perpendicular.
Cheat was the astonishment of the man,
and greater yet was his embarrassment, at
lindiug himself in that position; and it was
not until after having for some time called
in vain for help that he resolved to wait
patiently lor daylight, and meanwhile
inade himself as comfortable as possible.
But hardly had he taken this resolution
when he felt a heavy weight fall on his
shoulders. This was a wolf, which, at
tracted by the bait, had also been caught
by the trap. You can easily imagine the
fright of the unfortunate man. Indeed,
the terror of the four lpgged animal was
not less, for it retreated at once and laid
itself down in one corner and did not
move during the night. At length day
broke, and to the poor companion of the
wolf it seemed time for it to break, lor the
night had seemed terribly long. The
owner of the trap came early to see what
he had caught, and found his neighbor in
the pit. lie drew out the unfortunate man
more dead than alive: but he was less gen
erous towards the wolf, which he killed,
notwithstanding his exemplary conduct
through the night.
£3P*Next to being upright and faithful
in the performance ol our duly, be decided,
and then vou will make either friends or
foes worth having.
CWSubject for a Debating Club:—lf a
man had a grizzly bear by the tail, would
it be policy to hold fast or let go?
3j)ol(t(rai.
Judge Wilinot's Acceptance.
Towaxda, April 23, 1857.
GENTLEMEN: —On my return home, after
an absence of two weeks, I found your
communication informing me of mv nom
ination as a candidate for the office of
Governor, by a Convention of the Free
men of Pennsylvania, opposed to the lead
ing measures of the late and present Na
tional Administrations, which assembled
at the State Capitol on the 25th ultimo,
together with a copy of the declaration of
principles promulgated by that Conven
tion.
I accept the position to which I am cal
led by the unsolicited suffrage of the body
whose organ you are; profoundly grateful
for so distinguished a mark of the confi
dence of my fellow citizens, yet painfully
sensible of my inability properly to meet
its responsible obligations.
The approaching election is one of no
ordinary interest. Important questions of
Slate policy, affecting the public welfare
and prosperity, are not alone involved in
the issues presented. As one of the lar
gest and most powerful of the sovereign
States of our confederate Republic, the
honor and interests of Pennsylvania are
deeply concerned in ihe principles thai
animate her National Government. She
cannot, with safety to her independence
and the liberties of her people, be indiffer
ent to the momentous questions of Nation
al import in progress ol settlement—ques
tions touching the constitutional powers
of the Federal Government, and vitally
affecting the dignity and riglils of free
labor. Nor can she, without dishonor,
withhold her protest against the wrongs
inflicted upon her sons in a distant Terri
tory, under 'he license of Federal author*
iv.
The dearest rights of freemen, secured
by plain, constitutional guarantees, are
ruthlessly violated on the soil of our na
tional domain. American citizens are
made the victims of a tyranny unknown
in the despotisms of the old world. The
annals of civilized and Christian nations
furnish no examples of cruelty and out
rage on the part of a government towards
its people, such as has been endured by
the people of Kansas, unless they lie found
in the persecutions of the Huguenots, un
der Louis the Fourteenth, of France, aud
of the Protestants of the Netherlands, by
the Duke of Alva, under Philip Second,
King of Spain. Indeed, lfie barbarities to
which the people of Kansas have been
exposed, were of a character so inhuman
as to provoke incredulity in the minds of
a large portion of our citizens. Thou
sands have been deceived into the belief
that, for partisan purposes, fictions were
substituted for tacts; although no events in
Ameiican history are better authenticated
than are the murders, robberies, arsons,
and lawless rapacity inflicted upon the
free settlers of Kansas. These outrages
had for their object the subjugation of that
Territory to the curse of slavery.
We speak of quiet being restored to
Kansas, because armed bands of lawless
men do not to day infest her highways
and plunder her people—because her towns
are not sacked and the cabins of her set
tlers in flames. This peace is deceptive
and insecure. It will be broken the mo
ment iliat the people of Kansas make a
vigorous effort to recover those rights of
vtfiich they have been fraudulently and
violently deprived. The purpose of her
enslavement is inexorably pushed forward.
A system of ingeniously devised fraud,
kindred to that employed in the usurpa
tion under which she now groans, is being
carried out for the cousuinmatien of this
great wrong. To this end also the power
of the Federal Government is basely pros
tituted. We are given words of fairness,
but persistence in support of the wrong.
Every appointee of the President in Kan
sas is an active co worker in the scheme
for her enslavement.
Principlus of eternal truth and justice,
which lie at the foundation of a Christian
civilization, and upon which repose the
rights of humanity, are defiantly assailed j
, by the power that controls in our National j
Government. These truths, declaratory \
of the natural and inalienable rights of;
man, contained in the Great Charter of
our liberties, are condemned by our high- j
est judicial authority as unmeaning and
false. The sanctuary of our Courts of
Justice- is closed against an entire race of
men. The poor and downtrodden are not
allowed to petition for a redress of their
i wrongs, in those tribunals of human Gov
ernment that should most nearly represent
the beneficent attributes of the Creator
and final Judge of all men.
In view of these incontestible facts—of
j the wrongs perpetrated against the rights
of American citizenship, and the dangers
to which our liberties are'exposed—thus
I presented in its true aspect —the contest
before us assumes a dignity rarely given
to human affairs, and imposes duties upon
our citizens as high and solemn as ever
appealed to the hearts and consciences of
men. The question is before us—from its
demands there is no escape. Decide we
must, either for the right or for the wrong.
Sooner or later the verdict of this great
New Series-Vol. 11, No. 27.
Commonwealth must be pronounced 011
the issues forced upon the country by the
advocates of human bondage. History
will record that verdict to her endurin"
honor, or to her everlasting shame.
The repeal of the Missouri Restriction,
and the attempt to force slavery upon Kan
sas by fraud and violence, precipitated
upon the country a conflict between the
antagonistic systems of free and servile
labor. In the issue of this conflict is in
volved the democratic character of our
institutions of government, and the inde
pendence, dignity and rights of the free
white laboring man and his posterity.
Slavery is the deadly enemy of free
labor. The two cannot co-exist 011 the
same field of enterprise Either labor
will vindicate its right to freedom, or it
vvi'l sink into dependence and dishonor,
free labor is clothed with intelligence and
power. It stands erect in the dignity of a
true manhood. Ii sustains by its energies
all the noble institutions of a refined and
perfectly developed social life. It is the
source of our prosperity and national
greatness. Slavery is labor in ignorance
and chains—a brutalized humanity, stim
ulated to industry by the lash of a master.
It makes the laborer an article of mer
chandise, without aim and without hope.
In the place of an intelligent citizen, ready
to defend with his life the honor and in
terests of his country, slavery gives to the
State an ignorant savage to be held in sub
jection. It endangers the social fabric by
converting its great element of strength
into an implacable enemy.
Never, in the history of partisan war
fare were men more unjustly and perseve
ringly misrepresented than are the oppo
nents of the extension of slavery. This
arises in part from the intolerant nature of
slavery, and the weapons it is necessitated
to employ, and partly from the fact—so
omnipotent has the Slave Power become
in our government—that support of its
every demand is made the single test of
party fidelity, and the only road to official
preferment. The citizen who dissents in
terms of earnest and manly protest against
whatever exactions Slavery makes, be
comes thereby—in so far as the National
Government can impose disabilities—al
most as much an alien and outlaw as is
Ihe slave himself. If the freemen of the
Nortli consent to occupy such a subordi
nate position in the government of their
j country, the spirit of manly independence
will be crushed out in their posterity.
Our sons will become a submissive and
servile race, stripped of manhood and of
self-respect. The slaveholder, proprietor
ot the soil and master of the government,
will dominate ° v *-*r them with scarcely less
of arrogance and power than he rules over
his hereditary bondsmen.
io this condition are the non-slavehold
ing whites of the South already reduced.
1 hey have to-day little more of practical
power in the formation of public opinion,
and in the affairs of government, than lias
the slave. The same fate awaits our pos
terity, if slavery is allowed to monopolize
the virgin soil of this continent. It is the
inevitable retribution of heaven 011 any
people that have not the courage and in
tegrity to maintain their rights. It is not
true that the defenders of the rights of
free labor seek the elevation of the black
race to an equality with the white. They
do not propose the emancipation of the
slave, but leave that question, botli as to
time and the mode of its accomplishment,
with the States in which slavery exists.
They wish to deal with this great and em
barrassing evil in a spirit of friendly for
bearance towards these States, but they
cannot carry their forbearance as far as to
virtually become slaves themselves—as to
, surrender the soil and government of the
; nation into the hands of an aristocracy
founded upon property in slaves.
Free white labor has rights in the soil
superior to the pretensions of slavery.—
The slaveholding capitalist claims thai his
property, being largely invested in slaves,
will depreciate, unless the field whereon
he can employ it be enlarged. The white
laborer, also, has a property in his labor,
quite as sacred and as worthy of the care
of the Government; and where is the field
upon which he is to make that labor prof
itable to himselt and family, if slavery
shall monopolize the fertile and virgin
lands of the West? Labor is depressed
almost to the starving point in the densely
populated countries of the old world, be
cause of the narrow field upon which it is
imprisoned. The demand for labor is
I small, compared with the thousands who
have labor to sell. So it will be at no dis
tant day in this favored land, unless we
keep our past public domain as a sacred
inheritance for the free while laboring man
; and his posterity forever. In the soil of
our extended empire, the toiling masses
i have the only sure guarantee for their fu
ture prosperity and independence. This
! the cupidity of capital would lake from
them; and here lies the real issue that the
' Slave Power has forced upon the country.
It is a struggle for land.
e?D
On the one side stands the owner of
slave properly, demanding a field on which
to employ his servile labor—upon theoth
! er side stands free labor, claiming the soil
as an inheritance for a free posterity.—
| Central and Western Europe, teeming
j with its millions of population, is not as