Lower Sandusky freeman. (Lower Sandusky [i.e. Fremont, Ohio]) 1849-1849, 1849-02-24

let him tell gentlemen, were as sound as the peo-
people of any portion of the Union, upon all con
stitutona questions in reference to slavery in the
Southern states. and they had no desire to inter
fere with it far it was guaranteed by the con-
stitution of the United States
They had in Ohio highly educated accom-
plished, plausible and eloquent gentleman from,
South Carolina, Mr. John G. Vaughan gentle
man whom he personally knew-who, he under
Stood wus engaged in the laudable business of ed
Iltlng an Abolition paper in the city of Cincinnati
to enlighten the people of the State with reference
to slavery in the southern states
They had also in Ohio Mr.. Stanley Matthews,
now Clerk of the House of Representatives in that
state,) formerly of Tennessee, where he edited a
Democratic paper in favor of Polk and Dallas for
the Presidency and Vice Presdency--now editing
what was called "Free Soil'' paper, and cultiva.
ting the spirit Of faction, to break down the beaut
full Institutions which our forefathers reared for us
Now, what do we see in the city of Washington !?
A Mr. Bally who, he understood, was from the
State of Virginia, conducting an Abolition paper
called the "National Era" If he was wrong he
hoped some gentleman would correct him. He
did not know the gentleman, but he understood he
was from the State of Virginia, located in this me-
tropols propogating his political Abolition doctrines
that our friends in the South might charge upon
the North that they instigating this spirit of
faction and political Abolition
Then again, during the excitement at the last
session of Congress, when the negroes were stolen
from this district by three kidnappers, and when
the excitement reigned at its intensest height, he
had seen, in Baltimore paper, thecard of another
gentleman ia Mr.. Snodgrass, he beieved,) who
edited similar paper in the city of Baltimore, and
who hailed from Virginia, and who eedorsed the
publications of the editors of the National Era.
Now. he trusted his friends from the south, when
they spoke of Northern fanatics who would destroy
this glorious Union of ours would recoect if there
were any such there, that they were not confined
in the North; the South had abotonists, fanatics,
disorganizers, who, if they could not live at home
came among them at the North, throwing in their
to excite popular indignation against
the institutions of the southern states.
He had said much more than he anticipated
when he rose; but he would embrace this occasion
to say, that he saw all the delieacy which surroun
ded this great question touching the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia He looked to
those who had gone before us for information up
on the subject. He was not disposed to legislate
hastily upon it and while he was ready to prohib
it the Importation of negroes into this District for
sale, he looked for information to the wise men who
had gone before him, and he found that the ven
cradle patriot who, honored and beloved sunk into
his chair (pointing to the seat formerly occupied
by Mr.. J. @ Adams) at the last session of Con-
sress, expressed himself as late as the year 1843
n the city of Pittsburgh, against abolishing sla-
very in the District of Columbia without the con-
sent of the inhabitants. He had a copy of the
speech of that gentleman before him, and he would
read an extract from it:
Mr. Adams was waited on by committee of |
;he political Abolitionists urging him to meet
md address them. This he declined; answering
hat he was as much opposed to slavery as any of
hem and especially to the representation of slaves
n Congress- but expressing his opposition to the
abolition measure of the day, as follows:
Son the subject of abolition, abolition societies
societies, the liberty party, have
never been member of any of them.
AS to the abolition of slavery in the District of
Columbia, have said that was opposed to it.
1ot because / have any doubts as to the power of
Congress to abolish slavery in the District-for
nave none-b@ regard 1t a violation Of re-
publican principles, to enact LaUs at the petatioR
u, people a0hich are to operate on another Peo-
BE AGAINST their coraseat As the lato stands
he people Of Mis District have property an their
'Laves.
/" do not admit these laws are in accordance
With Justice, for it can never be true that one man
,an rightfully have property in another man
STILL these laws have had an existence since before
hat part OF the country became the llStFtcC oI
Columbia, and was brought under ths DIVER of
Congress, and think they should noSlbe altered
Without the consent of the people of the District"
He would state that he could see no reasonable |
objection and he had heard no reasonable objec |
ion urged upon any one side Of the House, against
he adoption of the resolution of the gentleman
rom Indiana, offered substitute for the reso-
ution of the gentleman from New York-the SIM
Die effect of which substitute was to instruct the
committee on the District of Columbia to enquire
nto the proprety of preventing the Importation OF
negroes into the District of Columbia for sale
The State of Maryland prevented the importation
# slaves within her borders for the purpose of
ale Such a law, he understood. existed IN that
State; and he understood that the bill reported
this morning by his colleague Mr. Edwards) and
low under consideration, was merely conscrlpt
If the law of Maryland upon this subject But,
lie repeated, when such proposition was lntrodu-
Jed here instead of voting upon it without under
standing it. under the pressure of the previous
question Immediately after it was brought before
hem, let them have it printed and referred to the
committee of the whole on the Stasa of the Uuion,
hat they might legislate without haste, without
fiolence, and with a proper understanding Of the
whole subject.
He would avail himself of this opportunity to
say one word with regard TO the recent distinguish
ed sectional southern convention which was held
IN another part of this Capitol. He regretted to
see sectional meetings held in any part of the U.
States. He had read the two addresses presented
in that convention and II was needless to say that