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Communications

Communications image
Parent Issue
Day
7
Month
August
Year
1847
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The above question, of en propoed recentiy, hy Whigs and Demócrata, forcibly reminds me of a certiin urehin, who, conscious of 11 de;ert forsome aberration of conduct und duty, on mwtirrg the parental eyc, cominmioed storming and scolding most obstreperou.vly ; and wben asked the cause of sucli uncontrollnble conduct, said, '-thcre was great udvantage n raising a storm in whicli to hide his retreat." So with VVhiggery and Democracy. - Feeling themselves involved in an inextricable mnze of slaveholding toils ; and conscious that, not only Liberty men, but the whole world, snvago and civilized, are eyeing tliem with stern and withering contempt, for their appnrently willing subserviency to slaveholding dictation, - and in order, if pns-ible, to screen themselves from desorved reproach nnd scorn, and have tha supposed advant.igc of the urcliin - oflen, very often, propose the above inte.rrogatory, with an airof sornething like npparent triumph. But, gentlemen, allhough we perfeclly understand your motive, nnd appreciate your situation, we will, with all our hearts, grntify your quorulous nierrogatory, by candidly informing ou, firstly, wint wc do not propose : Secondly, what, nl least many of us, do propose - and, thirdly, we will taka llie Yankee privilege of modest]y inquiring of you, gentlemen Whigs and Democrats, North of Mason & Dixon's line, what you propose to do ? For South of that line we have rio difficulty in learning their position - they are at least bold in their out'age and wrong. lst. Believing and knowing, that, under our United Stalen' Conslitution, there is no provisión, (and were there one, it would be void) by which men's politica], social, civil or religious rights, depend upon the color of their skin, or the crisp ur other.vise, of their hair ; and belieing and knowing, as well from the auihority of God's word, as from the Constitution, that the support and protection of personal libcrly and cqualiltj are great, nay - the grealest moral as wel' as political dulies, we proposp, and will nol Ie diverlcdfrom our purpose by "Wilmot Provisos'" or any other holfway, or water measurc, to withhold, now and farever our countenance and support, morally civilly and politically, from all men who praclically trample upon the civil, moral, or political, equal, God-given righls of any immortal, reasoning, and therefore accountable boing, whatever his color or situation - and from all who sustain or countenance the oppressor and the ro bber. Because, we believe our liberties are not, and cannot Ie, safe, in the kceping of any individual or party, who exhibit, in their private and social relations, the chnrncter of a despot, and lyrant - and we suppose it will be difficult for any man of common sense, to convincc himsclf, much less others, that if he continuos voluntarily in the attitude of a lyraut over one, or one hundred individuáis, he will not, when opporlunily serves, nlso trample down the liberties of millions, or nations. 2d. As individuáis, and most of us as a party, do propose, to continue a constant, ceaselcs, and energetic opposition to tyrants and despots, (as well menstealers as all otl;ers,J whethei their tyranny nnd despotism is exercised over white, black, yellow, or copper-colored persons - and whether over one or one hundred millions of human beings ; - and because slavery is tyranny and despotism, and therefore inconsistent with republicam'sm, morality and religión, we will never intermit our exertions till the Presidential chair, and every other federal office, is cleired from the foul pol'ution andoutrage of slavery. And we say to Whigs and Democrats, we cannot support them, for the same, and infinitely higher reasons, than actuite them when they refuse to support each other or us : Their differences boing more questions of expediency - doubtful and disputad expediency - while our principies are admitted, undisiuted, and fundamental - and our differencc froin them is as wide as truth, consistenoy and righteousnoss is from error, corruption, neonsistency and wrong, in principie and practico. For they will admit slavery to be wrong and inconsistent in principie, as well os in its effects, bolh upon the free as well as the bondrnan. 2d. But gentlemen - Whigs and Democrats - what do Yot; propose to do 1 Do you propose longer to submit to hlaveholding domination - and elect a Taylor for your next President, accidcntaily ? Do you propose to continue the Moxican war, either to get up and magnify tho national debt so as to mnke an excuse for increasing the tariíTin favor of the eastern millionary aristocracy or cottonocracy ; or to obtain a part or all, Mexico, for slave-hunting ground 1 Do you propose longer to a'low less than a third- nay, less than a sixtieth, of the people of the nation, to continue in undisputed control of the military, naval, civil and judicial, as well as executivn power of tho governmont t and to wield it lor the exclusive benefit of the Peculiar, chai, Pificidial, Ireasnnabe, institution 1 Do you proposë, gemlemen, to continuo, while all tho mnnarchical and despotic, semi-baibarous, as well as civüized govarnments uf Europe nnd Asin, are fast tiaring down this horrld romnnnt of savage days, to su.slain, apologize for, or defend, in this professedly Model Rcpublic, nn institution fi-om which the Autocrat of olí the Russias, the Bey of Tunis, and even the Grand Turk turn with disgust and loathing, as utlerly abhorrent to their Meas ol" moráis nnd human rights ? Do you propose longer to continue the silly slang and ;retoCíMhat you are opposcd to slavery, vvhilc you are continuing all the power of tho nntion in tiie hands of ts supporters and defenders 1 Gentlemen, come out - let us hear from you. For once be consistent, and either say you intond lo support slavery,or show by your future acts, that you are not so verdant as to suppose you deceive nny body when you prelend to abhor i', mul vet in fuct sustain it. Centreville, 21st July, 1817.

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News