The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-19

/ luuOnS on naLl0nal alalrS passed In the Demo
cratic convention of l64S, and reaffirmed by
{ the convention Of 1850" to see what effect
this excellent constitutional rule would have
upon them.
Wehad naturally desire to see whatwere the
mysterious resolutions Oft 4S and 1850, when 10
our establishment we found those quoted few
days since, in which ''the people Of Ohio now,
as they have always done, look upon the insti-
tuition of slavery in any part of the Union as
an evil, and unfavorable TO the full develop
ment of the spirit and practical benefit offree
institutions, and that, entertaining these SEN
timents, they will at all times feel it to be
their duty to use all power clearly given by
the terms of the national compact to prevent
9 its increase to mitigate, and finally to eradi-
cate the evil"
| We proceeded to quote the qualification con-
tanned in the succeeding resolution, in which
the Democracy of Ohio do at the same time
fully recognise the doctrine held by the early
fathers of the Republic, and still maintained
by the Democratic party in all the States, that
to each State belongs the right to adopt and
modify its own municipal laws. to regulate
its own internal affairs, to hold and maintain
an equal and independent sovereignty with
each and every other State; and that upon
these rights the National Legislature can
neither legisate nor encroach."
To these resolutions we gave this interpreta-
ton, that the Democracy Of Ohio looked upon
the institution of SLAVERY as an EVIL, and that
they considered it at all times 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"
We could not see why our ''guide, philOso-
pher, and FRIEND" should denounce the Wings
of New York for affirming right to advo-
cate the repeal of any law, when the De
mocrats of Ohio were permitted to declare that
slavery was an EVIL, and that they regarded it
DUTY to use all power clearly given by the
terms of the national compact to prevent its
INCREASE, mitigate, and finally to ERADICATE
the evil
| One objection urged against the New York
call was, that it did not sanction the Compro.
mise. We mildly replied that the Democratic
resolutions of Ohio did not sanction the Com
promise. Another objection was, that the
| Wings Of New York were pledged TO repeal
the Fugitive Slave law. This we controvert-
ed, and responded that the Ohio Democracy
stood pledged to use all constitutional means to
eradicate the evil of slavery.
Enraged at the embarrassing position in
which it has been placed, the Union turns upon
and charges us with n variety of political in
constituencies, which we shall leave to public
judgment without comment or reply. We pre-
fer pressing the comparison Of the two sets of
resolutions now under consideration.
The organ of the Democracy says that the
Ohio resolutions which it defends only &" claim
the exercise of powers clearly given by the
National Compact" Very true. And the
New York call says the Wings of New York
will abide by the Constitution of the United
States in all its parts, and they will receive
its true meaning and construction frm the
1 Judicial tribunals it has created for that pur-
pose, and will always sustain and defend such
decisions as the law Of the land until they
1 are reversed by the same tribunals" Do not
4 both stand on the same platform, that they will
| respect the ''clearly granted" powers, except
that the Democratic purpose avowed is to
eradicate" slarery constiiutionalyl Whilst
the worst That can be said of the Wing call ID
that it afirms right to discuss the right Of re-
pealing any law whatsoever, subject to the de-
cisions of the judicial tribunals?
But in the Indignation with which the organ
visits our temerity for having dared to publish
u nc III a. c.I
lowing specimen of logic to prove that ''the
Republic has wilfully and deliberately charged
on the Ohio Democracy sentiment which
the Ohio Democracy never uttered We
would here ask the reader to cast his eye over
the resolutions which we have just quoted.
He will see that the hostility to slavery and
the determination to eradicate it are attributed
to the people Of Ohio The next resolution
says that, Notwithstanding. this fact, 'the De-
mocracy Of Ohio recognises the great princi-
pie of non-interventIon."
Well, we doubt whether KANT or CALHOUN
ever drew a nicer distinction than is herein adj
vanced. The hostility to slavery and the de-
termination to eradicate it are attributed to
the people Of Ohio" Certainly, and are not
the democracy of Ohio part of "the people Of
Ohio9" Because we call Democrats people, we
have, it seems, done them injustice. Well,
pray are the Democrats Of Ohio angels? Does
not the ensuing resolution declare that ''the
Democracy of Ohio do at the same time recog-
nise," SC.
What do the resolutions mean? Clearly,
that the ''people of Ohio" without respect to
party, entertain certain sentiments hostile to sla-
very, which the Democracy of Ohio, as part
they claim to be a maiority-of the people of
Ohio, also entertain, while sat the same time"
they will only exercise the common purpose to
''prevent the increase, to mitigate, and, finally
to eradicate" slavery, subject to certain consti-
tutionaI restrictions. This distinction between
"people" and Democrats is very curious. Does
it mean that the Democrats have peculiar priv
ileges of opinion; that they are exempt from the
usual responsibilities; that they have the right