The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-10-20

now ask Southern men, what have you gained
by the course pursued at Baltimore have you
stopped agitation convention of men calling
themselves Democrats assembled at Baltimore.
and resolved 10 put stop TO the slavery agitation
n Congress. This piece of impudent as
SUMPTION Did that body mean to forbid us t.
speak what our several constituencies send US
here to say7 But if Southern men in Congress
should attempt to carry out th resolution. will
they succeed. They have not yet. Tha gentle
man from South Carolina. Mr.. Orr, from Ten
nessee, Mr.. Gentry. from North Carolina Mr.
Stanly.l ftom New York, Mr.. schoonmaker.i
and fr5m Massachusetts, Mr.. Rant"u, have
made sneeches op that subject, while only one OF
any Ieogth has been made on any other subject
since the adoption of the resolution. But that
promise to stop agitation in Congress is not merely
an empty sound; it is worse-it is fraud PROM
ise nude without the ability the intention Of
performance. You stop agitation here! would
like to the operation tried. Tho rules of this
House are SO framed. as every bo ly knows. as TO
give 10 a minority the power TO put stop TO al
business when they choose. This has heretofore
enabled shareholders, always in minority. to do as
they pleased. How many months did they stave
off the admission Of California +! But this is
game two can play at. 1t is poor rule that will
not work both ways. Does anybody think debate
could be stopped! Nobo " supposes it. What
would become of business, if this Quixotic enter
prise of stopping agitation should be attempted
The pledge is an insult and fraud. You cannot
stop mouths if you try; and you dare not make
the trial. But have you all forgotten the maxim
of the all true Democrats delight to honor,
THAT error of opinion may bo safsy tolerated.. so
l1ng US reason is left free 20 combat 1t ~ Only
think of men calling themselves Jeffcrsonian DEM
ocrats, saying the Declaration of Independence is
merely rhetorical flourish, and that the J, fer
sonian Ordinance of 1898, is unconstitutional. aud
that free discussion on any subject must not be
toIe rated.
But viii tell you when agitation will stop.
When you root out all sentiments of humani-
ty and justice from the hearts of the American
people; when you can still the voice of conscience
in the South, and keep your own sons ami daugh-
ters from disclosing the secrets of your "prson
house," when you can hide from view the effects
of that blightng curse of slavery upon your soil !;
then. perhaps, you may hope TO stay the sound of
agitation. But before you can stop agitation you
must, in addition TO everything else, render men
insensble to sentiment of natiolal honor and
reputation.
Some twelve years since, was medical stu
dent in Paris. On one occasion, while we await
ed our professor, one of my friends, eloquent
young nun, was called up for speech. He rose,
and spoke admirably of the advantages OF repub
lcan form of government, and he illustrated The
good effects of the Democratic government by so ne
| IL. 4
took his seat, another student attached to the in-
terest of Charles X rose t. reply, turned ridi-
cue all the illusions to this country as niton ia
which one sixth of the whole population were in a
state of absolute slavery chattes personal all
tents and purposes whatsoever. Ny fiend who
spoke first rose, and, not being well posted up in
relnt on TO our int ernal affairs denied that slavery
did exist in the uited States; that with the D-cl
: ration OF independence, and all their noble lecla
e raons OF the inherent and inulenabe rights OF
J, man, the exis' of slavery was imp. ,ssible-
If Looking around his eye fell upon me. Hsimme-
:. dately called me out by name, Introducing me 10
f the class, and demanding that should have an CD
portuni,y 10 defend the injured honor of my coun-
try by eontradictng the foul sanders of the egit-
imist who had aspersed her.
that l felt myself in a tight spot. Not able to
: speak the French language with fuency, but.
: worse than all, knowing that slavery did exist in
= many Of the Sta'es of this Republ c, made the
best defence l couid-not of slavery. but for the
!. country-by stating that the Uni ed States a
Union of sover eign and Independent States, each
having its separate Government, and own cole 8
: laws and Institutions, with which other :ates hac
, nothing to d." that though slavery did exist in snme
y States, the other States were not responsible fo
10 i,s existence, and that the same was also true
T. the United States Government-it had no powe
e or authority the subject in the Statess ant
b therefore no responsibility. Well do remembe
ii the look with which those students heard from tn,
OF admission that slavery did exist in some of the U
o. nited States, and the astonishnent and almos
- despair with which my friend exclaimed-horrib
horri6le-it nest pas possible que rous ayez rescll
;, cage en- les Ettts Uhis If l had not then hatet
" slavery with my whole heart and soul, shou
&c have done so from that moment
D. In Dublln ac ompanied friend to temper
ct ance meetipg-it was while some controversy WA
er pending between Mr.. Stevenson our Minister II
the CouIt of St. james, and Mr.. O. Council. NJ,
p friend. who had the name S:e,enson associate,
), with everything American introduced me 10 tn
80 meeting as Mr.. Stevenson, from the United States
:, The true Irish love of liberty was imfnediate
aroused, and one and another began 10 say H
: is stakeholder" He is slave5reeder!. sH
" sells women and ch ldren !" "Put him out !!
IL "Oh! the ihifi' Put him out" My frien
us was utterly amazed at the confusion until l ex
e planned to him his mistake. Wien he CO -recie
nd the blunder. You must make men inseasible t
OF such influences as these if you expect them 10 lie
slavery rest in e'e nal quiet.
+ also ask, have you made success cert,in
r know you hive saved the great nation of Sout
!. CnrolIn"; but the speech of the gentleman fror
:, that State, MIR. Orr. in which that fact WA
' officially announced, will probabl, opernte III
I! candidate 1t was intended TO benefit much as eel
&c. tain articles in the Democratic Review o,erate