Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-01-19
INAUGURAL MESSAGE,
Gentlemen Of the Senate,
and House Of Representatives:

OF klnoneSS ana Parual!ty, l now tende
the acknowledgment. of my humble graft.
iude to each, md every member OF .hi
General Assembly, as the proper channe
through which it may be conveyed to m,
constituents If there is anything in ,hi
lille that desire to retain, it is the conf
dence OF my fellow citizens, and amids
the unspeakable emotions Of my bosom
ieei assurance that SO long rs merited i
will mol be withheld
shall enter on the duties which have
been assigned me by The late election, un
der the new Constitution, with no vain be.
liei that am equal 70 the occasion, bu
with the hope confirmed from what has
hitherto occurred that shall be literally
and zealously sustained, not only by the
constituted authorities, my associates in
labor, but by the people Of Ohio. without
party distinction, in every honest endeavor
to promote their true happiness and vel.
fare. Having buta few days since com,
municaied to the General Assembly. in
! the annual Message, my views on whal
was then supposed to be the most impor.
tant subjects Of Legislation at the present
session, it can neither be expected or de-
sired that | should again repeat what was
at that time expressed.
On occasions like this it has especially
of late become customary to speak of the
value OF the Union to these States and of
the necessity of sustaining it in the spirit
of the Constitution. 1t has occupied the
attention Of the Executives of several of
our sisters of the coEfederucy within the
las, few weeks and their communications
both north and south Of Mason and Dix.
on's line, breathe a true spirit of patriot-
ism by the expression Of the most loyal at
tuchment 10 the Union This evinces a
much better state of feeling than has hiih
erlo existed. 1t is true the term "North>
ern Fanatics" ore occasionally employed
as if they were known only ia the North;
but apprehend even this fault will here
after disappear, when the true history Of
some of our southern friends shall be fully
rend and understood. But in her attacks
ment to the Union and in her unfaltering
determination to support it, Ohio permits
no others to lead. She never knew disloy-
atty. She neither has nor will she Assem-.
Bile in Convention to weaken the Union by
means in palpable violation Of Constitution.
al duty. Ifshe feels herself aggrieved by
the measures of Congress or the acts of
other States; in the Union she will seek
redress and not out of It
TO nullify constitutional obligations is
not favorite remedy with her people
The law known as the compromise which
has caused 30 much i'll feeling is the act Of
the National Legislature, held 10 be CoE>
sti,utional by the Judicial Tribunals, au-
thorized to decide that question, and if the
measure itself as one OF policy, necessity
or justice, were it not worth the parchment
on which it wes engrossed, the people Of
Ohio, il is believed, will never sully their
integrity by its criminal violation. Under
all circumstances Which surround it, it
should remain undisturbed, and this fruitful
source of agitation and excitement be for.
ever closed. The time for the agitation of
lie repeal, has not at oil events arrived, for
The results which will flow from ii for good
or evil cannot have been fully tested in
SO short period.
By letting it remain, neither its policy
or justice is admitted merely that the
reag;taion of it would produce greater evils
that the measure itself can effect. While
public opinion may be divided, perhaps,
IN the subject Of ngitating the repeal Of
the Fugitive Slave L-w, there is, never.
:heless, another matter in close sconnectlon
with it, on which il is believed the senti.
ment of our people is entirely united
fhe area Of slavery mus, never be extend.
ed in this Government, while the united
voice and action Of Ohio, in any cons.i,u-
tional form, can stay it Here, with pro.
priety, We may take our stand. Thus far,
proud wave, shalt thou advance, but no far.
thsr shalt thou come. That slavery is an
evil, that |. was brought upon this nation
by no moral right, and exists by what is
believed to be the force Of necessity, be-
cause it is interwoven with every political
relation and civil institution of the South,
IS not TO be controverted. What is to be
its end, the future can only disclose 1t
has long appeared to me that the African
Colonization Society presents the most eff
fectiye organized agency to eradicate, and
finally wipe away, the institution of slave.
ry. 1t is true it has encountered great
preju6ices, and determined opposition, and
its operations, consequently, have been
slow; but the signs of the times now indi-
cate that The general ano State Govern
men,s will, ere long, contribute their infn>
ence and means in support of individual
philanthropy. That our African colony
will become the home Of free and pros.
porous coored race, spreading christianity
and ciyilization-,he natural results Of
free iusti,utions-through the vast expanse
of that dark and benighsed quarter of the
globe.
am not myself among the number who
believe that the evils Of slavery, must nee.
essarily overthrow this government. This
great fabric of human wisdom, erected by
our fathers for our welfare and protection
will be preserved, and those who think diff.
fereatly, in my opinion falsely estimate
the elements by which it will be sustained,
the interest, the intelligence and the patri.
otism Of the American people. see no
reason why generations may not look upon