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50
trict have been active in promoting the cause. A Free Soil
association was formed—a Free Soil ticket voted for, and an
admirable address to the people of the United States published,
‘both in newspapers and pamphlet form, which has already been
referred to. In the address it is said :—
‘The great evil which clings to the District, and encumbers its pro-
gress, is the weight of Slavery. This, fatal malady makes the emi-
grant shun it—the active and enterprising born in it fly away, and
those fixed by controlling circumstances, supine and incapable of the
self-prompted, respected, inspirited industry which animates the bosom
of the independent free laborer. Hence it is that the broad bosom of
the Potomac is’ almost without ships—the great canal reaching far
into the interior, almost without boats—its sluices, commanding the
best water-power in the world, without manufacturing establishments
—its cities, penetrated by large convenient channels, without business
—and the fine, healthy, easily-cultivated country surrounding, to 2
great extent without population or cultivation. .
The address concludes thus :—
“ The'members of the Free Soil Association of the District of
Columbia renew the pledges of the first declaration of principles to
their brethren throughout the Union. Their faith is immovably fixed
on that trae Magna Charta of human rights, in which Mr. Jefferson as-
serted the liberties of his country. They will give their best efforts to
accomplish its great designs by all legitimate means. They will labor
to extend the Ordinance of 1787, to preserve the freedom of the Terri-
tories, and will promote the progress of emancipation, through the
safe, judicious and practicable modes suggested by Mr. Jefferson.
We give our adhesion to the party formed on this basis; and from:
that party we expect an unfaltering support, to accomplish the objects
of the multiplied petitions addressed by the people of this District to
Congress, for deliverance fram the oppression of the slave institution
and the sla\e-trade oe ae
>
rs
’
-
Tn Congress during the last brief session, the friends of liber-
ty live been active, intrepid, and in several’ efforts successful.
Mr. ‘Eick moved that the committee should .vepart on all the
petitions and meniorisls for: thé abolition of Stayery and the
slayc-trade in ,the’ District of -Celumbia, and the vote was 54
yeas and 89 nays. Mr. Giddings moved that the inhabitants of
the District should express by vote whether Slavery should be
abolished within its limits or not, ‘‘ all male citizens over twenty-
one years of age”? being allowed to vote, slaves and free colored
men, of course, included. The.proposition was voted for by 79
members. The House of Representatives, on a motion of Mr.
Gott, instructed the committee for the District of Columbia to
introduce a bill abolishing: the slave-trade in the District by a
“y
itt ene
wt? So,