The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-09-30

Your Committee, in their letter of invitation,
were pleased to allude to my expulsion from the
body of which was member, for asserting your
right TO be free from the crimes OF slavery Wen
recollect the time when then addressed you, IN
yonder church, care-worn, enfeebled in health and
anxious for the cause which had espoused, aP-
peared before you. You listened to me with
kindness which reached my heart You approved
my Independence and encouraged me in the course
mad adopted. You bade me return, and main
tam, to the extent of my humble talents, the eoc
trii,eS mad avowed. obeyed your Instructions
and when l again entered the Hall of Representa-
tives, and at the altar of my country again swoe
to maintain our Constitution as shareholders ard
services were looking at me with envy hatred and
malice, can truly say it was the proudest moment
of my existence. then lived an age in a single
hour.
Ny friends, it is notthe hot-blooded soutberner
with bowie-knfe and pistols that causesNortherners
| to shrink from duty. | am aware that many award
to me honor for meeting those weapons 1t is true
have seen then, apparently drawn for my assassin
alton, but they have awakened little concern when
compared with the ISLANDERS, the fasehoods, With
which servile papers of the North do the dirty
work of detraction, which shareholders despise.-
Southern men will surround young member, will
use all the seductive arts in their power, to win
him to their interests They will ply him with at
tention, with dinners with wine, and all that sort
of thing. Failing in such appliances, they will
| try their hand at intimidation, and if all their
prove unequal to the task, they will then call
Northern servile Editors, and other minions, to
attack his reputation, to do up the work of SANDER
| of caumny. You all recolect remarkable IN
stance of this character. Two years since, / found
myself charged through the Wing Press of Boston,,
New FORK, aud Philadelphia, with abstracting pa
pers from the Post Office Department, crime tor
which, if guilty, ought to be in the penitentiary,
instead of receiving your public appreciation The
! slanderwas then copied into every Wing paper of
the Reserve The story was got up with much
care Circumstances stated which appeared
conclusive against me. My friends Were alarmed,
| and anxiousy enquired how could defend my
self against men who, they assured me, would tes-
tify TO any fasehood likely to affect me injurious
| w. All could say was, that God and myself knew
the charge be false that wicked men nor devis,no,
| not doughfaced slanderers, couldchange truth
into faIsehood verify facts which never existed
The result of the official investigation you know
| The whole plot concocted, and put forth by
men of political standing in city some thirty
miles from US, and within own District. An9
refer to these facts merely to say, that Northern
slanderers more to be looked to than Southern
slave holders The former are more dangerous to-
Freedom.
When entered Congress, it became my duty to-
look my whole country, and to consult Its lis
tory and examine the great evils which afflicted IT.
Those evils found to be the spirit of lcdT and OPP
preston. The too popular idea, that it is an hon
orabe and glorious employment for man to en-
gage in the work Of butcherng his fellow man had
its source in ignorant and barbareus age Its
aOSurulty neeuS, mere, Ho " CAPoSo ~
God has put us here to aid and assist each other,
to confer happiness upon fellow men, and to-
elevate their enioyments. But for man to engage
in the work of devastation and bloodshed by which,
property is destroyed, lives sacrificed, and mourn
ing and anguish inflicted upon the survivors, is re-
pugnant to the feelings of every humane person.
1t is with great satisfaction, that look back upon
my votes and official acts and say that IN neither
| have at any time encouraged war or bloodshed Is
and even when vote of thanks was proposed by
tn officers and who had deVdS-
! tated Mexico, slain her women and children, l.
alone voted against the measure 1t was, perhaps
| the only instance in which Member OF the House
voted against the united voice OF all the States
| Yet look upon that vote with as much pleasure
any which l ever gave.
As TO Slavery, 1 will say nothing. My whole
course is known to you. l have kept nothing hid
den from the people, on that or on any other point
icaL subject.
| In short, desire to say, that whatever talerS
| God has bestowed upon me, has been honestly
exerted for the support of your rights, your inter-
T ests and your honor could have done no more
| l aoould have done less. You had taken me
| from the employnents of professional life, and
| placed me upon the watch-tower of freedom. Had
1 neglected to give notice OF approaching DANGER
should have proven traitor to the confluence you
reposed in me, and a traitor to my country. L re-
peat, that have faithfully served you, according to-
| the humble talents possessed.
| For so doing, 1 claim merit, no applause. l
| have done more than it was my duty to do But
| 1t YOU, the people OF pidCcU
me in situation to act. 1t was you who sustain
ed me and to you, and not to myself belongs the"
honor of what has been done for freedom, for hu-
manity, in this District For whatever regulations
I possess, for whatever standing have attained,
am indebted to you. And when reflect upon the
obligations which your kindness and confidence
have imposed on me, l. feel overwhelmed with
gratitude. But, on this point, dare not trust my
self to speak. l feel more deeply than have Ian
| guage to express. l had intended to say more.
had marked out train of thought which purposed
to have pursued, but my feelings have dissipated
all thoughts of formal address. And will only
add, that in taking leave Of you find pleasure and
consolation in the belief that you will hereafter bs
represented by one who will show himself worthy
| of this people, they are worthy Of his best
efforts.
Ladies and gentlemen, may never have the
pleasure of appearing before you again With
feelings of the deepest gratitude and with the ar
dent desire, that you may, and all, continue to-
be guided by the principles you haveh hitherto mani
tested; that you may enjoy the richest of Heavens
blessings; and that may all meet m that world
where oppression and unknown, where
peace, harmony and friendship shall be enjoyed in
perfection; with these grateful feelings, and with
this earnest desire, bid you an afectionate fare
| well:
Mr.. BIERCE'S LETTER.
AKRON, Sept. T3, 1859.
GENTLEMEN Your favor is received. inviting