Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-02
OHIO.

The following iniquitous resolutions passet
both Houses of tao Ohio Legislature on the als
ult:
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State Of
Ohio, That while this General Assembly would urge
the falhu observance of law upon all the people OF
this State, and OF her sister States of the Union as The
most effectua mode OF promoting their best interests
well as high duty they owe alike to themselves and
Inelf common country, would most earnestly recom-
meno 10 congress the necessity OF so amending and
modifying the provisions Of the Fugitive Slave Law,
that while 1t secures faithful compliance with all the
obligations imposed by the Constitution OF the United
States 1t will it becomes a free Government guard
with jealous care the rights of the freeman. And if
sad law, IN the opinion of Congress- cannot be amen
ded as 10 give TO persons claimed uotves from labor,
the benefit OF every legal defence Of their berty we
then recommend the repeal oisaid law
Resolved, That the law, commonly called the Fug;-
tive Slave Law, being law that makes ca pa,te evil
oence conclusive oil The masters right to recaptue and
return ms saVe that denies jury trial here eiseohere,
mat provides for The appointment of swarms of petty
ofilcersto execute it; that gives double compensation
10 tlnd every claim set up in favor of the master and
pays the expenses, in any case from the Public Treasu-
ryougn never TO receive the voluntary cooperation OF
our people, and ought therefore to be Immediately re-
| pealed
1t IS stated that these resolutions were sui
stltue for others that were still more offensive,
and proposed directly by the Free Sellers. The
vote on the adoption of the first was, in the Sc
pate, yeas 10, nays 10, Gncluding Freesoilers,
who objected that the resolution was not strong
enougho in the House, yeas SO, nays 10, 6
Freesoilers voting yea and nay) On the Sec
ond resolution, in the Senate, yeas 81. (ncluding
Freesoers) nays 8; in the House, yeas Al, Gin
GLIDING Freesoers) nays 81.
The wicked insincerity of these resolves
cannot be too strongly reprobated by honorable
men, The pretence of the Legislature, in its
first resolution, that it is in favour of ga faithful
compliance with the obligations imposed by the
constitution of the United States" is proved by
unmitigated hypocrisy. 1t is untrue that the flu
gitve law makes parte evidence conclusive
and the Legislature knew it to be notorious thai
rebutng evidence is freely admitted and consid
cred. 1t is untrue that the law denies Jury tr
al to the fugitive, for he is entitled to one in the
State from which he flies. The proclamation
that the law, thus falsely described ought never
to receive the voluntary support of the citizens
of Ohio, is nothing less than notice to them to
oppose its execution by force. But, bad as is
the construction we are forced to place on these
resolutions, we still have strong hope that they
will be found not to represent truly the sent.
ments of the people of Ohio. 1t must be recol.
lected that throughout the Northern States, the
Free Soil faction enjoys an adventitious impor.
lance in consequence of holding the balance oil
power, in many constituencies, between the two
old parties. The result is, that the politicians Of
these parties are constantly bidding for Free
Soil favour. Their conduct in the State Legisla.
ture is therefore not a just index of public opn.
ion. And we are persuaded, accordingly, thai
the fugitive law will be executed in Ohio, not
withstanding the criminal effort of the Legisa-
tive tricksters 10 procure its notification.