The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-01-27

community, lTecOmtnenu tue Tepeal u
both those acts. But if upon due con-
sideration you shall be of the, opinion
that the interests of the State forbid
such repeal, | must then the more espe-
ciaIly press upon you: consideration the
repeal of the fourth section Of the act
Of lSO7, and this, from a full conviction
that the only operation Of that section,
is to prevent public and private justice.
This is the section which prohibits the
estimony Of black or mulatto persons in
any cause, either civil Or criminal,
where either party is a white person.
In a State where slavery exists,
there may be some pretence of reason
why the enslaved race should be pro-
hibiled from testifying in controversies
between those who enSlave them.-
But in a State whose constitution de-
clares all equally free, and where all
are entitled to the anne protection Of
life, liberty and property, and where
all have the same personal. though not
the same political rights, it seems alb
surd that the competency of a witness
should be tested, or the truth excluded
from u courts of justice by the color
Of the skin. The oppression and in.
justice to the colored people are not
the only reasons which call for the re-
pea! of this section, but it may be urg-
ed as a measure Of justice to the white
population as well as to the Sta'e it.
self. Instances are not unlrequent
where white men have been deprived
of their rights by its operation, and ex-
amples are not wanting where the muir
derer has escaped punishment because
the commission Of the crime could be
proved by the testimony of colored
persons only.
Adverse as | am in the administration
Of State .ffairs to any interference in
those matters which seem more appro-
priately to belong to the general gov.
eminent, yet there are occasions when
from the interest involved, it is proper
for a State 10 make known its opinions
upon questions Of national policy. The
United States alone present to the
world the spectacle OF thirty indepen.
dent sovereignties united under one
general government, with a constitution
so framed that neither can interfere
with the rights of the other, nor can
the general government interfere with
the reserved rights Of the separate
The benefits Of this Union are meal.
culable, and its preservation OF inesti.
mable value. Those who seem lightly
to regard it cannot have duly consider.
ed the consequences Of its dissolution.
The Union dissolved, and there is an
end Of the controlling Influence Of a
General Government. The national
constitution ceases to operate. In.
stead of a great and powerful nation,
these United States would become thir.
ty separate republics, controlled by
separate and conflicting interests. New
confederacies might be formed and
might not. The fatal consequences are
too many and TOO fearful to be contem.
plated with indifference by any friend
of freedom or humanity. 1t has been
said by an eminent citizen, that, "those
divisions which arise from different
views of administrative policy, are in
their nature transltory. But those
which are founded upen geographical
divisions. adverse interests of soil, eli
mate and modes Of domestic life, are
more permanent, and therefore, perhaps
the more dangerous" While we should
adhere to our own rights with deter
mined firmaess, yet TO do justice and TO
guard against any cause of detection,
we should regard the rights of our sister
States with a like interest and equal
anxiety with which we would protect
our own.
No one subject OF present more gen.
orally or justly agitates the public mind
than does that Of the extension of sla-
very. 1t is one OF fearful import as the
division is one Of geographical lines and
adverse interests Of soil and climate"
So far as the State of Ohio is concerned,
there appears to be but little difference
of opinion on this subject. Although
our people differ upon questions of
state or national policy, yet upon this
one subject all or nearly all are agreed,
that slavery ought not to be extended.
This unity Of feeling has been hereto
fore manifested by legislative action.
Upon one occasion when n of the
great political parties into which the
State is divided. was in the ascendency,
and the question was agi.ated Of adding
more slave territory to this Union, that
project was unanimously condemned
L., L. C.oaroI Aooomhlv And ot.a