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Buffalo Convention

Buffalo Convention image
Parent Issue
Day
28
Month
July
Year
1848
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

What raeans thesB mighty gatherings of the people 1 Why dot:. the heavy tramp of' thousands meet the ear, s tliey gather to the assomblies that have sprang up as it weie spontanuüüsly fram the shores of the broad Atlantic to t' e bright waters of' the Missisgippi 1 - VVhy do we meet at the turn of every corner handbills expressive of' ihe determination of an outraged people t Wo ask why 1 Pause and reflect. Is there any thing strange in all this ? Look back upnn the past. -Soi thern dictation, sacrifice of Northern rights, Slavei-j, unjust wars to extend and perpetuate ihat system, stare us in the face. Turn to the future ; servility is required by the South, subserviency demanded, dictaiinn claimed. with the extensión of perpetual and unmitigated Slavery to strengthen their infinence. Where are our hopes in the present crisis 1 Are they in the man whose servilily to the Slave Power has become proverbial amonglaisown people] or him, who, attonded by his overseer, puts the inhuman svstem into nractice T No, never! Our hopes must be in the election of John P. Hale, " the cha?nion of Liberty," or some other as good a min, selec'ed by the Buffalo Convention, to be held on the 9th of'August. The time is approaching that shall give us an index to our national movement. Continued and increased enthusiasm prevails. Our exchanges bring cheering intelligence of Free Soil movements throughout the entire North. Delaware, Virginia and Kentucky are also awake on this important subject ; meetings are being held and resolutions passed, that show that the people are becoming thoroughly aroused. They express a determination hitherto unknownin this counfy. Heretofore the North for the sake of peace, and to preserve the bond of confederation, has síooped to servilities unbecoming an independent people. But the spell of enchantment that has so long hung over us is dissolved. The whole current of popular feeling tends to one point, and that point is freedom. To gain this elevation is the obiect of the neonle. All are looKÍng towards the BufTalo Convention with a great deal of interest. Undoubtedly it will be one of the largest collections ever knovvn in uur country. The course which it pursues must bring about important results. If a unanimity of feeling can be preserved, and a concert of action effected, an entire political revolntion must take place, that will leave the tvvo old pro-slavery parties among the things that were. Let the result of the convention le what it may, this must be the effect. Much depends jpon tlie aclion of this convention in advancing or relarding the onward movements of this great reform. The issue of the approaching contest hangs upon this conclusión. Ifthe convention will nominare a man who will lay aside the paltry notions of expediency, and base his actions upon the_ principies of justice, lie will gather fo his support true men from all parties, who will move on with lope and confidence to certain victory. The united effbrts of the North and West wil ilace the normnee in the Presidential chair and thus give a fatal blow to Slavery from which it never can recover. To keep alive the ardor already manifest among the people, the convention must act with a decisión and promptitude worthy of the cause of freemen. Let it not stop at half way conclusions, and avoid the great question before the Nation. - To make the proviso the onhj test, will not answer the demand, Thf whole rights of the eople are what is called for.for their grievances have become insufferable, and they will ïave redress. The probability is that the juestion of the Proviso will be settlád by comiromise before the aiijonrnmerit of the present üongress, and if so where will be the issue. - This is not alone the ground upon which this convention should act. It should lay a broad and deep foundation, on which to establish the )ure principie of Democracy that shall secure o every man his right. To meet and make eloquent speeches, and pass a series of resoluions against the extensión of slaverv, hut still o admit the right of man to hold property in man undcr certain circumstances thereby fosering, by giving countenai.ee to the system s it now exists, will not satisfy the wishes of he people, but will créate dissatisfaction, disentions, and divisions, that will destroy the bject for which the convention has been calld. May the Buffalo Convention speak out 80 bat the nation will feeH May it proclaim lie inalienable rights of man, and f.he whole 'íorth will respond to the cali. Once nominate men n whom the people an place confidence, and every State from Iaine to Iowa will give thom their electoral ote. The Ballot-Box will teil a tale in Novemjer long to be remembered. Freedom wtll ecure a position from which it cannot be disodgetl, and tlie increased interests for Libary that wil! grow out of the result, will eoon vipe the stain of Slavery from our National haracter.

Article

Subjects
Michigan Liberty Press
Old News