Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-01-20
The Ohio Senate and the
War.

" Sts
Some days ago we perceived iha! the Fed
eral Senate of Ohio has rescinded a petition by
solemn vote, asserting that our glorious Un
ion was at an end, or that it should be dis
solved Shortly after, petition, OF whie
the following is a copy, was read IN the oel
a.e. 1t was presented by SENATOR REM
ELM:
To THE HONORABLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
THE STATE or O4Iqo:
Your petitioners would respectfully repre-
sent, that being engaged in just war, brought
on by the act of Mexico, as solemnly declared
by the united vote of our Representatives in
| Congress; and, whereas, the Hon. Thomas
Crrw In, Senator from this State, has by his
speeches and other acts, given ''ad and com
fort" to the enemies of our country. while IN a
state of war, thereby prolonging said war, and
increasing the expenses of the nation, causing
the lives ofnaany brave and patriotic soldiers,
whc have left their families and friends, at the
call Of the Government, TO sustain its honor
and redress its wrongs, to be placed IN great
danger, and thereby preventing an honorable
peace; we therefore respectfully ask your hon
orable body to take into consideration the pro-
priety of asking the said Thomas Corwin to
! resign his seat in the Senate of the United
States; and further, if in the wisdom of your
! honorable body it should be decided necessary.
that he be KEEP: in close confinement in the
| Ohio Penitentiary until the close Of the pres
| ent war; lest by the influence he may exert
upon weak and fanatical minds, dissolution
of the Union may be effected, and himself de-
clared dictator of Mexico.
[Signed by 81 citizens-many Of them sign
ing as Wings.
! Mr.. Reemelin moved that the petition be re-
| ferred to the Committee of Federal Relations
The reception was Objected to by Mr.. John
Mr.. Reeme!n said that he conceded fully
| with that part of the petition which prayed for
steps to be taken to bring about the resignation
of Thomas Corwn. That man had on more
than one occasion disgraced the Senate of the
United States, and especially the State Of
Ohio. His position on the existing war with
Mexico was repudiated by all good men in O.
hio, and among them were eoodly portion OF
patriotic Wings.
But much, said Mr.. R., as agree with that
part of the petition that refers to the reslgna-
lion of Corwin must decidedly disapprove of
that portion oftha petition which asks the con-
finement of said Corwin in the Ohio Peniten-
tiary. Far from desiring Corwin to be confin
ed, am in favor of letting him run at large
There is no danger from him as long as his
sentiments are known, as long as they come in
bread day. The people of Ohio are too patriot
ic, too fully devoted to the Union, to appre-
bend any danger from Thomas Corwin MIR.
r. closed by saying, that he believed that the
| General Assembly had the power to ask Thom-
! as Corwin to resign his seat, and that it should
be exercised, and that his place should be fill
ed by a better man. The other part Of the
pet ton we had no power t. grant, and if we
had the power, it should MT be exercised.
I Mr. Johnaon said he objected to the recep-
ton Of the petition, because he thought it dis.
! respectful in the Senate, and because it asked
| that which the Senate could not grant.
Mr. Reemelin said that he would only brief
| ly say, that on inquiry, he had been informed
that the petitioners were good, respectable cit
izens The petition was couched in respect
full language, and he had believed it to be his
! duty to present ito move its reference to the
| Committee of Fedora! Relatons-and should
vote 50 to commit it. There is distinct diff
ference between this petition and the one pre-
scented by the Senator from Portage, (Mr.
Lewis) That asked the General Assembly
to "declare the Union dissolved" The one
under consideration asks the General Assembly
to bring about the resignation of Thomas Cor
win, SO that his seat may be filled by better
man. The one needed no consideration from
any who believed that this Union should not
! be dissolved. The one now under considera-
| ton asked fer the exercise of lawful power
one that has often been exercised.
Mr. Randall replied to Mr.. Reemelin: Put She
vote to the people Of Ohio to-day, and large
majority would vote to put an end to the war
at once--to withdraw the troops from Mexico.
| Mr.. Corwin has been branded as traitor
! When the present abominable war was brought
on by the President, by ordering the troops to
| the Rio Grande. Mr.. Corwin did, and so did
every other member Of Congress, save four
teen, vote that the war existed by the "act Of
| Mexico" Because he has announced his in
tenion TO vote against supplies, Thomas Cor
win is branded as a traitor by men, who, for
moral worth, Thomas Corwn is as far above
as Heaven is above He'll.
The Speaker suggested that the Senator
must ccnfine his remarks TO the subject under
consideration.
Mr. Randall continued, and in the course Of
his remarks, spoke of the President. charging
that he gave the Mexican army leader, i'll
| the person of Santa Anna, and that if any one
was a traitor, such conduct deserved that
name He (Mr. r. would vote for the re-
ception of the petition.
| Mr.. Odds remarked that this petition he
thought should be referred He did not wonde.
that citizens of Ohio, irrespective Of party,
should, in their honest Indignation. knowing
that the Legislature of Ohio had placed Tom
Corwin in power, feel that the same body
should ask him to resign trust he has so sig
nalIy failed to execute to the interest of his
country. and to the satisfaction of his consti,u-
ents. They know that their feelings have
been ou,raged-the high position Of this be-
loved State degraded-and a foul and SANDER
Gus libel been published against their beloved
country. They feel, said Mr.. O., that one of
Ohio's Senators has perpetrated treason, deep,
dark. and damning. and that the fonl stain can
only be wiped from her fair escucheon by pla-
cling the mark ola traitor upon him.
| Can they, shall we ask them to forget that
this notorious individual. having less than two
years ago. voted in the Senate of the United
States, "that whereas war existed by the acts
Of the Republic of Mexico" and that the Pres
/ el,o /, 10 al IL