Brate organizations have beer formet i al of the free and in some of the save states; and over neaty al the To fret soi assocations and the most enfhusiastic meetings have extented. Ever a routine of these wout swell the Work II at unQue size. For the reason the frant and night honorable letter of the FoL. Jour P. Bat. Withdrawng husbane as the candidate of the Liberty Party, and supporting Tar Burer and Scams, has been omiteċ

The bref nuistory of this question in the 290 Congress, ast. I covered but in par. by fue speech of the Hon. Dani Wine & Servines-New York, though 10. the first was in the var of this great movement. Eer wie Senator, John A. Dix, in a most powerful free soi speech in the Senate in March 1847, on the ← Tum Million Bill" near W vers aut closed with these emphatic wards :Bu. I say for her. New-York, ani nie name, and I belem I àu wa nusunderstand ter resolutions, fuat she can remo consent to become a pay u fie exERSION of slavery, to fra rury on this cocANENT.”

i

Many of the documents contained in these pages are among the abiest political papers which have come belare the country since the formation of this government. They disclose the honesty, firmness and melligence of those who have enlisted under the Free Sol hamet, and that with the names of VA BUREN and Anams inscribed on its ample faits. They we dete mined never to yield the contest

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

The years 1846-7 and '8 memorable-events in this country-treaties of government since '46-their result. Revolutions in Europe-their extent and causesreform in the British Parliament-the three leading questions:-corn laws, poor law, and a system of national education-decisive result in reference to corn laws-remote effect on the cause of freedom-moral effect of the Irish famine 7-10 Italy-events which subjected her to Austria-her position-area-population and associations-condition prior to the ascension of Pope Pius IX.-Pius IX.-his previous life-his reforms-the jealousy and encroachments of Austria-their effect on national spirit in Italy-outbreaks-the Pope yields the civil power-its effect on Church and State-the army-offensive and defensive league-her present relation to Austria-intervention of higher powers 10-13 France-its extent-climate and associations-her constitutions since Louis XVI.— Guizot and Louis Philip charter of 1830-the policy of Guizot-harmony with Louis Philip-attached to the doctrinaire party-attempt to prove the King's right of suceession-his practice and theory-his influence in carrying the three laws of 1835-the nature of these laws-condition of things at the opening of the last Parliament-the prohibition of political banquets-the result-the nature and prospects of the new republic 13-16 Revolution in Denmark—in Walachia—in Germany-its progress and result in Germany-the nature of the new German confederacy-Arch Duke John-the result of these revolutions-tendency in regard to civilization-new empires-boundaries of nations-new Sclavonian empire 16-17 Two propositions in regard to the duty of America in the general cause of freedom— her parent stock-her example-her debt of civilization—our federative systemancient systems;-Grecian-Italian of middle ages-modern European—their nature and defects-the nature and superiority of ours-opinion of the elder Adamsour responsibility and duty-the trial of our fidelity-decision at the ballot boxextension and restriction of slavery-view and design of our fathers in regard to slavery-our treatment-the nature of the question-two great moral points in the crisis-two classes of facts-their nature 17-21

CHAPTER II.

The position of our fathers in regard to slavery and its extension-the character of the early emigrants-compact of the Plymouth colony in 1620-spirit of the compact— by whom inherited-the patriots of that day-the conduct of British Parliament through a century and a half-its acts-the first Congress of America in 1774— who composed this body-their compact of non-importation and non-consumption— its bearing on slavery-the declaration of independence-by whom drawn-charge against the King of Great Britain-bearing of declaration on slavery-eight years' war-treaty of peace-the men of the Congress of 1774-debt of the countrycondition of its finances-Congress recommend a cession of territory-object-compliance by Virginia-conditions-who executes the deed-government required— Jefferson drafts an ordinance-prohibition of slavery after 1800-the yeas and nays on this clause--who supported it. The Congress of 1787-committee which framed the ordinance of 1787-unanimous passage-its provisions-the yeas and naysstates absent-who of this Congress were acting in the Convention to frame a Constition-all sanctioned the ordinance-Convention to frame the Constitution-character of this body-who were in it-the method of procedure-committee of detail-the draft-how discussed-4th section 7th article protected slavery-motions to amend