The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-05-04
ScraD Of History.

hundred and iOrty-eight,a marvellnusCon'
vention assembled at Columbus, made upI
ofthe New-Light Democrats. They de-
clared the State without Constitution or
Laws. They said the Constitution had
been torn to pieces and destroyed, by yio'
latons of its principles, and that there
was no law to elect Legislature under.
They told the people that they were
without Government,-thrown back upon
first principles, and needed the care Of a
Provisional Government. They loved the
people too well TO allow them to remain
long in that predicament. and of course,
very soon took them under their care,-
sent Committee ofSafety into every part
ofihe State, and promised 10 besiow up
on the people a Constitution full ofbless'
ings.
Mr.. Whitman was a member of the
New Light Convention. Helooked very
much like Lorenzo Dow; and, for that
reason, had great influence in its move
menls He declared vehemently, land
seemed to believe it,too,) that the oldShip
ofStaie was all wrecked and lost and that
he and his new sect of Democrats were
the only men, under the sun, who could
make new one, in which the whole crew
would be exactly equal, and not even
one poor mortal should be pressed down,
by any distinction whatever.
The people, in these parts, loved
Whitman before all this; but now they al
most adored him, thinking he had been
especially sent for their delverance from
The dire evils that were upon them. And
knowing he had found out all these things,
which not one of them would ever have
thought Of and knowing too, that he only
lived for tho good of Gods poor creatures,
they longed to send him TO she Leeisla.
ture. This did not much shake his mind
concerning the stand he had taken in The
Convention. Bnt he had very hoan.
ing to do good for the people; and, with
out even so much as thinking of The three
dollars day, he allowed himself to be
talked about for that high place. but said,
all the time that he would not take his
seat, if elected
There was Gen. John Lydy, in the
same district, who wanted to be honored
by the people. He had at the same time,
respect to the three dollars day. These
two things made him love Office more
than Mr.. Whitman did, and caused him
TO say, to the men, sent up by the people
to pick out candidate, that he believed
we had Constitution Laws and Govern.
ment, and that he would stand by them,
and hold good Office under them.
if he could get it. Mr.. Whitman again
turned the malier over in his mind, aud
seeing that the people painted to honor
him. aud feeling almost like laying down
his life for them, he declared, to the
wise men. the whole exercise his mind
concerning the grave things in hand, and
6 finally promised that he would go into
the Legislature a little piece, just fal
enough to stop any body from linkering
up the old Constitution aud Laws, and SC
as to leave the people in the hands of the
sage men set over them by the tenth ID
May Convention, until the head Linen
could write out Constitution that would
make one man as good as another, ant
every body rich. Whereat there wat
: exceeding great joy, in the meeting, be
fore the assembled multitude, and Mr.
Whitman was right away put up for lh'
Legislature.
. The people broke out into loud rcjoic
-. ings, at these acts and duings, aud Mr.
h Whitman was elected by great MAORI
| ty,-he consenting thereto only for TIT
= comfort his heart would receive from do
ing good for his fellow creatures, an,
8 without even zone eye" on the pay
y Mr.. Whilman's quick mind saw clea
f through tho whole affair at once. HI
saw how the blessings of equality coul
bc given to the people under the old Con
stitution. So he got some decent ne'
: clothes, fixed up for long tarrying q
| Columbus, went there in good season
got into the Legislature before any bod
else, went clear in, hung on, and coul
u not be cot out aud lift had not have bee
o for the treachery ofone ofthe New.Ligl
t Democrats, who voted tha. the Assembl
O should quit and go home, whereat Nj
Whitman was very mad, aud spoke pov
erful things against the same, ho would sli
" be in his seat, rejoicing his free spirit
IS sending freedom to every breathing mo
tai, and adoring the old Constitution f
4 allowing him to tear from the limbs ofh
colored brother the shackles of prejudit
and wicked oppression, himself Who'll
J. lost in the intensity of his own philanIhr
O. py.
k. But it is a gratifying chapter, in m
,r history. which chronicles the delioiol
" truth, that before he would leave his sea
"' or take one dollar out of the People
a Money box, his delighted eyes saw all Il
III laws repealed. which made ono huma
q. creature bettor than another,- that b.
foro he quit the seat he once thought
would never take, he saw the Assembl
under the old Constitution, make Il
white man almost equal to the negro; al
as saw Mr.. Chase, a man of honest life al
TO good repute, and an elect preacher
no liberty To the blacks, sent into high place
as where he con have chance of giving Il
n same rich boons to all the States. Al
r. his heart swelled with unutterable jo
on when he saw these blessings descendl
ed upon the down-trodden negro.
ot Mr., Chase was a very proper man
Is the post, and for Mr.. Whitman's vo
He had said aud done hard things agail