The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-01
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
THE OHIO DEMOCRACY AND WASHINGTON
UNION


UNION.
The Sandusky County Ohio Democrat, 9
Democratic paper in Masillon Ohio, comment
| ing upon the late remark of the Washington
Union, that it had never recognised Mr. Chas
as Democrat says:
Now, what as the position of the Ohio De
mocracy, Mr. Chase included Does it in
fringe upon any right of the South, or the in
stitution Of slavery? No 1t distinctly dis
claims anything of the sort (by the way,
courtesy which never ought to have been ex
tended rs no courteses are ever returned IL
kind While disclaiming all desire to inter
tere with the domestic institutions and mum
cipal and local regulations of the South, it sim
ply declares
THAT the Democracy of Ohio do now, "A
they always have done, look upon slavery a
an evil, and unfavorable to the full develop
ment OF the spirit and practical benefits of FIRE,
institutions; and that entertaining these senti
ments, they will at all times feel il to he theil
duty to use all power given by the terms o.
the national compact, to prevent the increase
| to mitigate, and finally eradicate the evil
We desire all readers TO note that this Ian
guage is far milder more moderate. than any
on record from the pens of Washington, Jeffer-
son. Madison Franklin, and our fathers, when
writing on the peculiar institution which
we admit has become the "cOrner- stoner of
political Dominations-but must still be Der
mitted to deny of "our free institutions In
the purer days of the Republic, oil statesmen
characterized slavery as an unmitgated curse
and there was not dissenting voice to the YER
dict among their constituents. But now even
the Ohio Democracy-morc liberal moro dar-
ing in the expression of its sentiments than the
Democracy OF any other State, has, by the pow
er of outward pressure and from consderate
attention to the feelings of our Southern breth-
ren-salved over its condemnation with crinp.
ing apology. This course has gained us no fa-
vor with the South and the class of men who
were of US but seek their mess of pottage at
the expense of their brthright
Fillmore Wing papers denounce the position
OF the Ohio Democracy This was to be ex
pected, and with it we find no fault.
The Washington Union, forsooth, dene,
that we belong to the party, unless we repudi
ate certain heresies which it says conflict will
some antiquated and musty resolution passed n
Baltimore Convention on some occasion sine
the luckless hour when the administration o
Government fell into the hands of Galphins
and second and thrd-rate men.
Now, we have but few words in reply to tn
modest charges and demands set forth. an
they shall be spoken briefly and i'm plainness
First the State of Ohio has z. 900 600 popuIa
ton-a tenth of the whites of the Union Ser
ondly: the State of Ohio has about 300 600 Va
tiers. Thirdly: the Democracy of Ohio have ,
clear majority of $4,000 ouer all, carving 2:
electoral votes-and the vote of the State i
Anti-Whig, Anti-Administration more thar
10000 votes A few years since the State O
Ohio was reliably Wing by 10000 or more. III
Democracy laid down platform, we are aware
differing from that Of some other States on sla
very, the currency, freedom of public lands
homestead exemption, and almost every other
question involving the progress of Democratic
principles. Without desiring to boast we af
firm that the Democracy of Ohio now leads the
van in progress, REFORM and increase Of mum.
bers, and permanent strength This is the re.
suit of its liberal principles, and nothing else
The Democracy Of Ohio seeks TO lay down
no test for the Democracy Of sister States, on
the slavery or any other question The Democ-
racy Of Ohio will submit TO no tests sought to
be imposed by Presidential aspirants puHed-up
editors, or from any other quarter We ask
no aid comfort, advice or rebuke, from Wash
ington or Memphis. All we ask is, TO be let
alone and that those no DESTROYS for our wei
fare and increase, will initiate our example in
strengthening the cause of Democracy and lib.
eral principles, on their own appropriate fields
of labor--the necessities of which they ought,
and il is to be hoped do, understand better than
they do ours-with which they volunteer to
intermeddle.
In addition, tce demand, @ dscontinuance of
Caude lectures" from Washington and else
| where firmly believing that our party in this
State is grounded on eternal principles of
right-and can get along better without the
aid of those who strive TO teach us duty and
manners, than they possibly can without our
aid.
Ohio is permanently Democratic for the next
ten years, if rid Of selfish influences from with
out We have no desire 10 make it permanent
ly Wing for the same period, by efforts to foist
into high places Of power those whom the peo-
pie do not wish to exslt
From The NorwaM (O) Experimental Demo
cratic paper.
WASHINGTON UNI0N-0III0 DEMOCRACY
Some days since chance threw in our way
for we have not the honor of an exchange-the
Washington Union Of the 18th ult, containing
an article in reply to the Memphis appeal, in
which the editor, A. J. Donelson, undertakes to
define the position of the Ohio Democracy, and
also takes it upon him 10 repudiate our Senator
in Congress, Hon Salmon p Chase. The Union
asserts that the Ohio Democracy approves and
endorses the Compromise measures, including
the Fugitive Slave Law! Now, NO far from ap-
proving the measures in question: we aver that
the Ohio Democracy distinctly disapproyo them,
and for the evidence ofsuch disapproval, we refer
TO the last 9Th Of January convention, the larg-
est delegated convention ever assembled in
Ohio when direct attempt was made to en-
dorse the Compromise measures, but failed by
an overwhelming vote. This, with the re-
enactment Of former resolution on tho sub
jcct of slavery, gave the most entire satisfac-
ton. Upon the principle that whoever is not
in favor of a measure must be opposed to it, we
nre quite willing to rest the position Of the Ohio
Democracy ON this subject. In reference to
the cavalier treatment Of Senator Chase by the
Union, we have only TO say that Democracy in
the latitude Of Washington seems fast becom-
ing different thing from that taught by
Thomas jefferson. According 10 the obiier
dieium Of A. J. Donelson, no man can be q 81.
mon pure Democrat who does not include in
his faith an approval Of slavery Instead Of
denying to Mr.. Chase the fellowship Of Demo
Gratis, we would be greatly obliged to the Union
man IL he would point out wherein our Sena-
tor by either word, vote, or action has ever
sweryed from a strict Democratic course. IL