The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-31
THINGS IN OHIO,

General Cass, whose opinions on the Proviso even
At that time, we're questionable, found themselves
placed in very awkward predicament. Public
Sentiment on the Slavery Question was to be sat
isfed and at the same time such position taken
rs should not involve the condemnation of Gen
eral Cass Accordingly, in the State Convention
of January s, ls47, resolutions were adopted
pledging the Party 10 all constitutional means
TO prevent the extension and finally to procure
the extinction of Slavery, while no expression OF
opinion was given concerning the nature or extent
of those constitutional means. The declaration,
it was thought would be sufficient to satisfy the
demands of Public Sentiment and retain the Anti
Slavery portion of the Party in its ranks and
yet, should General Cass choose to deny the con-
stitutonality of the Proviso, convey no censure
Of his opinions
The General assailed its constitutionality, was
nominated for the Presidency, and the Democratic
leaders in Ohio labored TO rally the Party to his
support We know the result. Although he
carried the State by plurality, there was ma
jority against him of nineteen thousand and
this would have been still greater, had not the
Democratic presses and leaders generally repudi-
ated the peculiar creed of the candidate they
supporting
SO well convinced were large sections of the
Party that the Principles announced by the Buff
falo Convention were the only platform on which
the Democracy could reunite and rise to complete
ascendency, that they began to affiliate with the
Free Democracy sometimes openly uniting some
] - Ia
kerism was jealous for the old platform, furious
against all new forms of political association,
and found, we doubt not powerful support in
| Ex-senator Allen.
Preparations were everywhere made for con-
/ trolling the action OF the Convention which was
to assemble on the sth of January Of this year, at
Columbus. The Hunkers mustered in their
strength, and Mr.. Allen WAS on the spot to super
intend proceedings. What these were is fully
and fairly set forth in the following address from
the Delegates of Summit and Medina counties to
their constituents:
From the Free Democratic Standard
Aciion and position Of the Radical or Free Democratic
Dtlegdtfs IN The lac Sth Of JppaTy Contention al
| ColumbUs.
To OUR CONSTITUENTS:
The undersigned, having been appointed Dele
gates to the Democratic State Convention, held on
the Sth inst, and having attended said Convention
and dicharged our duties according to the best of
our abilities feel called upon in view of the result
to render an account Of our doing Well know
ing it was your wish that the Democratic party of
the State should rally on the side of freedom, and
plant itself in deadly hostility to the extension OF
slavery, and to its continuance Of the disgraceful
unchristian, and wicked slave trade in the Dis
trict of Columbia, we, at an early day, addressed
to each prominent candidate the following Ques-
tons:
a. Are you in favor Of prohibiting the fur
Their extension Of slavery in our country?
"2 Does Congress possess the power to prohibit
slavery in the Territories
"3 Is it eIpedient for Congress to exercise
that power?
"a Should Congress abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia, else remove the seat of
Government to a free State?
as Are you in favor Of admitting any more
slave States into the Confederacy?n
To these questions four Of our candidates re
sponded to our satisfaction but we sorry &c
say that Judge Wood the nominee of the Conven.
ton, is not one of the four; he made no answer
We are further sorry, that a knowledge of the
fact that the other had answered in q manner
favorable 20 freedom, contributed materially tc
|
Feeling still anxious to preserve harmony in the
Democracy of the State with which we and our
constituents had long acted we concluded to make
an earnest effort for the adoption, by the Conven
ton, of such resolutions as would meet your
wishes and the demands of freedom at this time
In this we utterly failed. The committee upon
resolutions refused to report any upon the sub
ject of slavery except those adopted by the Stat,
Convention two years ago thus showing that they
| ! 81. ~.
two years. These resolutions are az follows
" Resolped That the people of Ohio now, as
they have always done, look upon the institution
of slavery in any part of the Union as an evil and
untiryorabe to the full development of the spirit
and practical benefits of free institutions: and
that entertaining these sentiments they will at ali
times feel it to be their duty to use all power
clearly given by the terms Of the national compact
to prevent its increase, to mitigate and finally to
eradicate the evil But be it further
Res0lped That the Democracy of Ohio do, Mt
the same time, fully recognise the doctrine held
by the early fathers of the Republic, and still
maintained by the Democratic party in ell the
States, that to each State belongs the right to
adopt and modify its own municipal laws to reg
ulate its own municipal affairs to hold and main
tain an equal an independent sovereignty with each
and every other State; and that upon these rights
the national Legislature can neither legislate nor
encroachp
Ii will be seen that these resolutions do not &C.
knowledge any power in Congress to abolish sa.
very or the slave trade in the District of Columbia
: nor upon the high seas, nor even any to apply
the Ordinance of 1877 to the territories acquired
from Mexico On the contrary, any one can adopt
them and oppose ali action by Congress for these
purposes In order that the first resolution might
be made specific, and mean something we tried 10
get the committee TO strike out the word "all y
| ,hn, 4. 4 tlost ~
would declare that we deemed il our duty to use
the power clearly given by the terms of the
natioal compact TO prevent the increase &c of
slavery, but even this amendment was denied us
When the resolutions were adopted by the
Convention, We asked them to adopt the fol-
lowing
l. Resolred, That the Ordinance of 1877, draft
ed originally by the hand which framed the
Declaration of Independence, derives its chief
excellence from the Democratic principle devel-
oped therein-that Of uncompromising hatred to
all tyranny over the mind or body of man
q Resoired That the principles of said ordi-
nance, conservative Of freedom, may be extended
by Congress TO all the Territories of the United
States, without any violation Of constitutional
law.
3 Roolred as the sense of the Democratic
party in Ohio, That lis both lawful and expedient
that said principles be practically applied TO all
of said territory, with the least possible delay.
t. Resolred, That we hold to radical Democracy
TO Liberty, TO Equality and Fraternity, and to
the most universal individual freedom only re-
strained by just and equal laws.
T s. ReSolred That the principles Of Democracy
are always the same, yet We intend to progress in
their application to all measures of public policy
until liberty and equality universally prevail
The two last above resolutions were withdrawn
by the mover, on a suggestion that the balance
could be passed by the Convention
We felt We could ask no less, in the present
condition of the country, than that the Democracy
Of Ohio in State Convention assembled, should