The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-12-04

copy OF Oranam s magazine ana the
Spirit of Democracy for one year.
Stafford Fugitive Slave Meeting.
The editor Of the Waynesburg (Pa.)
Messenger, thus lights down on the citi-
zens of Stafford, for uttering their opinions
on the Fugitive Slave Law, and on us for
publishing them:
ga meeting was recently held at Stat
ford, Monroe county, Ohio, at which Sc
ries of resolutions were passed, which
would have been lasting disgrace even
to the Hartford Conventionists, and which,
if the exigencies of the times required
sanguinary measures, would Justly entitle
their authors to wear hemp cravats about
thirty minutes. Such proceedings are a
disgrace, not only TO the actors in them,
but also to the community that will tolerate
them; and the editor who will stand aloof
and wink at such treason, at his very door,
deserves not the confidence of his party,
or the respect of the community generally.
Monroe was proud Democratic county,
but we fear she is falling from her high
estate; and we have even heard those
who were formerly proud Of calling her
their home, felicitating themselves upon
their escape from her, before the day of
disgrace had come upon her, The man
who will openly bid defiance to the laws
of the land, should be made to feel the
full weight Of their penalties. We can see
no difference, morally speaking. between
stealing neighbor's servant, and stealing
his horse, and the man who would do the
one, we would very much fear would do
the other, if an opportunity would offer"
| We suppose the editor OF the Messenger
thinks he is "some in pig .fght.-"
The doctrine that error of opinion may be
tolerated while reason is left free to COM
bat it," pals upon his appetite; and in
stead thereof, he would, were he at the
head of affairs, cause the authors of the
Stafford resolutions. "to wear hemp cravats
about thirty minutes" And further. in
the opinion of the Messenger. man who
would steal negro would steal horse.
Such language may all be very fine, and
calculated TO do great amount of good,
but we confess we cannot see it. Suppose
we had said to the Stafford meeting, as
the editor ofthe Messenger has, "You are
all traitors and horse thieves, and deserve
to be hung" does anybody suppose we
would have accomplished any good by it!
Certainly not. Some doctrines flourish
most by being continually assailed and
abused. The language of the Messenger
may suit the political atmosphere of Penn
sylvania, but it will not do here. In this
country men are convinced of error by
reason, and not by brute force. Again,
reason does not teach us to fan flame
to extinguish it.
When the proceedings of the Stafford
meeting were sent to us, they were ac-
companied by polite request, from the
author of the resolutions, to publish them,
stating at the same time his knowledge
that their temper and tone would not suit
us. We publish the only paper in this
county, and have been in the habit of
publishing such matters for wings and free
soilers. Could we reasonably refuse
their request!
Whether we "deserve not the conf.
dence of our party, or the respect Of the
community generally" is a matter we will
leave to the decision Of the people of Mon
roe, and not to the editor Of the Messen-
ger. When we assumed the control Of
the esprit" in March, 1914, the largest
majority that had ever been given for a
democratic candidate for President, in this
county, was 992, for Martin Van Buren,,
in 1910. In 1914, James X. Polk received
1888, and in 1848, Lewis Cass received
1875, being the secondhighest in the State;
and we confidently believe, that under
similar circumstances, in 1859, we can
and will give 1900 majority. Can the
editor of the Messenger say as much for
his county, and does this look like Monroe
falling from her high estate?" Two
years ago Martin Van Buren, received 800
votes, in this county, as the freesoil can
didate for President--this fall the freesoil
candidate for Governor received 80 votes.
Does this look like Monroe "falling from
her high estate?"
From the tone Of the Messengers arti-
Gle, we suppose he has the vanity to think
that he can mould public opinion at his
will; and this appears to be his great forte,
as he has some nine or ten articles, origi.