The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-11

now exists, Congress has no power 10 interfere
but that IL is the duty of the Government to sep
arate itself from all support Of slavery, and, by
giving its influence in favor Of freedom To relieve
the American people from al responsibility for its
existence or continuance"
Convention Of the Northwestern Democracy.
held in Luc.s county, May 80, 1851, thus stated
it's views Of the Resolutions Of the State Conven-
ton:
ResOlred, That the principles indicated by
these Resolutions, upon which alone, in the judy
ment Of this Convention, the question of slavery
can be finally and permanently adjusted, are these
LIST Abstinence from all interference with the
internal legislation Of any State, whether upon
the subject Of slavery any other municipal con.
Germ and %. The disconnection of the General
Government from all support Of slavery, and the
exercise Of its legitimate influences upon the side
Of freedom"
In other counties, Democratic Convention
have adopted Resolutions of similar import and
am not aware that the correctness Of these con.
structions has been anywhere denied by any body
of democrats in any part Of the State
An indication, not less clear, of the sentiments
Of the Democracy of Ohio on the subject Of sla-
very, may be found in the recent denomination,
unanimously and by reclamation, of Judge Wood
for Governor, and in the adoption, without dis
sent of the following resolution
RESOLVED, That we approve Of the admins
tration of our Chief Executive, his manly bear
ing, prudent counsels, aud sound Democratic doc
trines and we commend him to the People as
worthy the position he occupies, and well de-
serving the trust Of our standard in the ensuing
campaign"
No one can reasonably doubt as to the meaning
of this Resolution, who recollects the avowal OF
Judge Wood, pending the canvass Of 1850, that
&C ha Anuhtad the constitutional 80
Congress to prohibit slavery in the Territories"
coupled with the emphatic declaration that " he
would not stop at paper prohibitions" or the
later but not less explicit expressions Of his In
angural Address. | refer especially to the follow
ing passages First, as to the extension Of sls-
very:
The Democratic party ever has and ever will
oppose either the diff fusion or extension Of slavery
into any free territory Of the United States by
every legal and constitutional means, and would
rejoice If any mode, not doing violence to others
could be devised to overthrow and eradicate the
eviln
Second, as to its abolition in the District of
Columbia:
That Congress, having, by the Constitution,
authority to legisste for the District of Columbia
in oil cases whatsoever may there abolish il,
(slavery) entertain no doubt Congress is, by
the Constitution the local Legislature Of the Dis
trict and all within the legitimate sphere Of
issSsLeiSa are embraced within the terms in all
cases whatsoever as used in that instrument.
Congress appesrs n re taspossess the saue legis-
lscve power over Slavery wnnih 'lne 'Nen niIies
square, that may be exercised by the Legislatures
OF the slave States il within their respective
Jurisdictions and that il has been considered in
those States proper subject for legislation their
history furnishes the clearest evidence. have
nj al aholttinn Of olavaru IN tho nia-
trict, not only as matter of expediency, but Of
absolute right to the colored race.
Third, as to the Fugitive Slave Law, which, it
is true Governor Wood, from habitual Difference
to precedents, but in my judgment enormously,
regards as constitutional:
"A law that makes eL parts evidence conclu-
sive of the masters right to recapture and return
his slave that denies jury trial here or else
where that provides for the appointment of
swarms Of petty officers TO execute it that gives
q double compensation to find every claim in ia
vor of the master and pays the expenses, in any
case, from the public treasury, can never receive
the voluntary cooperation Of the people,
After giving this condensed and striking sum.
mary Of objections to the law, Governor Wood
proceeds to deprecate resistance by violence"
declaring the constitutional and legal remedy
to be I" amendment or repealD
With these evidences before them as TO the
sentiments of the Ohio Democracy in respect to
slavery, few will, | think, doubt the correctness
Of the construction placed by the Democracy Of
Huron and Erie, Of Carroll and Of Northwestern
Ohio, upon the Slavery Resolutions Of lS4S, re-
affirmed in 1850, and 1851. la truth, this very
re-afiirmation with full knowledge of this con-
struction and of the absence of all contrary con-
struction, without qualification or modification,
is in itself the best evidence of it's correctness
Thara namacrata douht who do mt
concur in the doctrines Of these Resolutions
There may be many such but ] feel quite sure
that the Resolutions express the deliberate con-
victons OF the great majority Of the Democracy OF
Ohio, who, while they will steadily dscountenance
all interference by Congress with the legislation
and administration Of a sister State, will as
steady insist that the constitutional power oil
the Government shall be exerted for the main.
tenance, extension. and perpetuatiOn of Freedom
and not for the maintenance, extension, and per-
petuation Of Slavery.
1t is true that the Convention adopted no dis
tinot resolution concerning the Fugitive Slave
Act; but the position of the Democracy Of Ohio
in relation TO that odious enactment Is sufficiently
apparent, not only from the censure passed upon
it by the Convention in the unanimous re-nomi-
nation of Governor Wood and the approval Of
the counsels of bis Inaugural, but from the COM
ments Of the Democratic press Of Ohio upon IL.
The Cincinnati enquirer, on the 30th Of Octo-
Der, 1850, referring TO the constitutional compact
relating TO fugitives from service, said "0ur
own opinion is, that the Government Of the United
States has nothing to do with enforcing that
agreement. IL Is matter left entirely with the
States. We do not think that the
General Government has any right to send it's
officers into the States TO carry out what good
faith requires the States alone to don and the
enquirer justly contended that Z" this is the Dem
ocratic, not the Federal reading of the Constu-
tionp
The Sandusky City Democratic Mirror, com.
menting on the article Of the Enquirer, observed
" We agree with the Enquirer, that this is the
Democratic and not the Federal reading Of the
Constitution. What follows, them That the Flu
gitive Act lie an usurpation, unconstitutional,
void for want Of power in Congress 10 pass it-s
nullity under the tenth amendment, which re-
serves undelegs.ed powers To the States and the
people"
The Ohio Statesman, taking apparently the
same view OF the act, in answer to an interroga-
tory of the State Journal, and In reference to q
declaration by its editor that he could not have
voted for it RIhom essential mod6o0tionS,n de-
clared emphaticslly eve would not have voted
for the law, with or without essential modifca-
tionsn
The Cleveland Plaindealer characterized the
act as one Of internal origin" Whether consti-
tutional or not,n it said, ' IL is so manifesty in
conflict with the spirit Of the age, that it cannot
stand
The Youngstown Ohio Republican said The
Democratic Press of the State are opposed TO the
law Some Of our brethren regard 1t
as unconstitutional, while others consider it
clearly constitutional hut unjust in ts provisions,
oppressive in its character, impolitic, and unwor-
thy Of this progressive age, and all manifest a
willingness for its repeal"
The Helms County Farmer, not then, IL Is fair
TO say, under the control Of its present Editor,
describes the Law as an outrage upon the Dec
larstiOn Of Independence, contrary TO the Con-
stitution Of the United States, repugnant 10 the