Sec. 13. No person who is conscientiously
opposed to holding slaves, or who does not admit the right to hold slaves
in this Territory, shall sit as a juror on the trial of any prosecution
for any violation of any Sections of this Act.
The party lash and the fear of ridicule will overawe justice and liberty;
for it is a singular fact, but none the less a fact, and well known by
the most common experience, that men will do things under the terror of
the party lash that they would not on any account or for any
consideration do otherwise; while men who will march up to the mouth of a
loaded cannon without shrinking will run from the terrible name of
"Abolitionist," even when pronounced by a worthless creature whom they,
with good reason, despise. For instance--to press this point a
little--Judge Douglas introduced his Nebraska Bill in January; and we had
an extra session of our Legislature in the succeeding February, in which
were seventy-five Democrats; and at a party caucus, fully attended, there
were just three votes, out of the whole seventy-five, for the measure.
But in a few days orders came on from Washington, commanding them to
approve the measure; the party lash was applied, and it was brought up
again in caucus, and passed by a large majority.
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