The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-12
LETTER FROM CINCINNATI.

state Constitutional COnvcnton-Ohio Legislature
Young Mems Library Lcc,ures-C. Nj. Uay-Cen-
sus OF Cincinnati.
CINCINNATI, December s, 1850.
70 The Editor Of The National Era:
The State Constitutional Convention which
met at Columbus in May last, and adjourned in
midsummer, re-assembled in this place on the ID
instant Most of the members were present at
the opening session. and all the regular officers in
attendance Hon. w. Medill, of Fairfield Co., is
President; w II. Gill, of Guernsey, Secretary /;
j. v Smith, of Hamilton, Reporter. No business
of Importance has been done as yet Several Pc
ttions have been received and referred one Of
which signed by $50 persons, asked for provi-
sion prohibiting all blacks from coming into the
State. resolution was passed to have the ses-
sions opened with prayer; one on the printing,
which has been done at Columbus, providing for
the transmission of the manuscripts to that place,
from time to time, as the business proceeds and
one to correspond with the United States marshal
of Ohio and the Secretary Of the Interior, to pro-
cure copy of the census returns.
The political complexion of the Convention is
decidedly Democratic. Among the members are
many men prominent in the State as politicians,
and men of talent and the body, as a whole, is
evidently superior to our Legislatures-though, to
say the truth, that does not necessarily imply the
possession Of any great amount of talent or dig
nifty. In the course of a debate, yesterday. on
the privileges to be granted to colored persons,
in which DR. Townshend and James w. Taylor
took part, Mr. Sawyer said that the Fugitive Law
would prove the greatest blessing ever conferred
on the people of the State as it was already drv-
ing the negroes by hundreds to Canada and the
sooner we were entirely rid of them the better
This subject will engrOss not little of the atten-
ton of the Convention
The Legislature met in Columbus on the I'd ;
but after four balotngs in the House and eight
IN the Senate, for Speaker, failed in making
choice in either. 1t was not until the second day.
after repeated trials that the Ulcers were chosen
Ia the Senate, c. s Covers (Whig) was elected
Speaker, Henry A. Swift free Soil Clerk, and
- j. A. scranton lWhig) Sergeant-at-Arms, In the
House. Morse Free Soil was chosen Speaker.
the Democrats Withdrawing their candidate, and
voting for Morse Charles w. Blair Dem Clerk,
and Mitchell Dem Sergeant -at-Arms The Gov
ernors message was sent in on the 4th, and APP
pears 10 cur city papers to-day. The great con-
TEST OF TINS session will be the election of United
states Senator to nil the place now occupied by
homas Ewing The indications are favorable to
the election Of Free Soil Democrat or WHO
and very likely the former Ewing will be the
Wing candidate, bot that party have not the
strength necessary TO elect a man of the CLAW and
ril,mGre Compromise stamp and no one of the
Old liunkers of either party will be chosen.
The opening lecture of the season was delivered
on tuesday evening, before the Library Associa-
ton, by Cassius Nj Clay of Kentucky. Attracted
by the celebrity Of the speaker. an immense and.
ence aSsembled-every foot of the hall and oa,ls.
ries being occupied, and hundreds being compelIed
to leave for want Of room. Mr.. Clay was listened
10 oy TWO thousand persons for two hours. with
great attention His address was extemporape cons
Morals ''' 'n' heory Oh
amer stating the theories of the ancient philos
P1erS-the PlatOnists Stoics, Epicureans &c
Saa the uo'lat2 aJstems of Hume. i,rntaam. Pa
ey, aud others-he pointed out their errors and
maintained that in none of them was n perfect
II''uuaId OF ethics to be found. This was yet to
Dy se' 'orth. Even Christianity, though of Divine
's''i' was defective from the imperfection of hu-
man language and the weakness of the human
a. Nhether viewed abstractly or In
Ie Ves OF its ministers and disciples il fell short
=, 'ne desired completeness An these points
"''e elaborated with considerable ability the
''''cfes OF Protestants by the Catholics, the
~%'',ors OF the lnquisition, the persecution Of
I"hoiics by Protestants, the intolerance of sects
p n1 each other, were brought up against the
I;q as a standard OF morals, on account Of the
'ereht interpretations of il from which these
- sprung lie referred to the Coperncan sys-
.' VI astronomy and the revelations Of geology,
JO'ef'hrowipg the Mosaic history and TO the
rihes OF total depravity, atonement as a vica-
i,'us "erihce and salvation by faith. as common.
=, Naght, ms dogmas of the Priests ard the
lief - ana condemned them as unworthy Of be-
10 strong terms
in 49, Oay then attempted TO state his orn ttsorv;
trn% which, he exhibited plainly enough the
do,rn Of The old saying that IL is easier 10 tear
IEs an old cdihce than TO construct better.
tLo man idea was, that Benevolence. directed by
ne,ieiectnal powers as monitors and guides. Is
leaI lieut. 70 direct human faith and conduct. and
dn,;.eu 10 carry out into practice their two great
seno. ove TO God, and love 10 man. The ABB
can y. VI an prHnaldy in his system, (if such it
ces.;,s oaiea the neglect Of recognising the me-
conraSy " IRVINE Influence either to create or en-
mar disposition 10 do right In the heart Of
tura vas hial even to its plausibility The lee.
10 ~. whole, was illogical inconclusive and
lv " ms hearers, IL cannot be doubted high
he snsa'isfactory IL was relieved here and ,her.
On , rp'ne noble truths and fine illustrntions and
al 'ne evils Of slavery his rems-ks wsrs i.s, -
some Of bis views on theological points