The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-26

From tie OHIO Statesman, February IL.
Ohis Anti slavery Cenvention.
Official Proceedings Of the Freesoa Conuention
Free Democratic Stale Convention.
Agreeable to call Of the State Free Demo
cratic Central Committee, convention OF the
friends of freedom in the State Of Ohio, met in
convention ut the old Council Chamber, in the
city of Columbus on the lth day OF February,
1852, at l | o'clock, A. NJ, and organized by APP
pointing f. d.. Parish, of Erie county, president,
and j. +. Asper, OF Geauga, secretary.
The following letters were read to the con-
vention, and ordered published, with the pro-
ceedings of the convention:
LETTER FROM SAMUEL LEWIS.
CIscINNArI, February 8, 1852.
GENrLEmEs IL should be- glad indeed to at
tend at our State convention, on the llth inst,
but am not able to get there, having suffered
severely for some days, and only in part recov-
cred.
1t is probable the convention will be small
considering the magnitude Of the subject before
you; but you should not BIO prevented from
transacting the business, as it is not probable
there will be another State convention before
the national nominating convention. One OF
your duties, it seems to me, will be to appoint
your delegates at large for the national conven-
ton, which will ba held sometime in June ut
Pttsburg The call will be prepared and sent
out in short time. You should endeavor to
induce the several districts to be prompt their
appointments of delegates to the national con-
venti0n. That convention must be held, nomi-.
nations made, and ardently sustained, or we must
abandon all hope Of influencing the Legislation d
the country in favor of freedom
1t is now certain that neither the Wing or
Democratic party will nominate any man that
can be supported by the friends of freedom
We must have our own nominee, and must not
incumber ourselves with too many questions that
do not bear directly in favor of our cardinal doc
tripes and measures. We must not be influ-
enced by those persons who protesting to be
lovers of Freedom continue to support political
parties that eschew liberty and sustain slavery
1t is worse than idle to con6de in any man who
helps to put into power parties pledged by prac-
tice, or otherwise, to continue national support
of despotism; for when such party is in.power,
the voice of individual advocates for freedom,
in or out of office, is powerless for good, though
the action of such must have been potent for
mischief.
Let mo entreat you to secure support for
several travelling agents or speakers, to traverse
the State diligently, and get up organizations in
each county. Our Buffalo movement, and the
singular course of those who brought that
measure about, has discouraged many of our
old, tried friends of liberty. We have host in
Licking, Muskingum, Washington, and many
other counties, who would gladly rally again, if
they could confide in any movement resolved
upon. We need the right men to visit all these
counties, not only county sites, but villages, on
the plan sketched in my letter to the True Dem
ocrat. i will stand to my Offer Of 1916 to each
of four agents toward making up fair COM
pensation, though some months have passed
when this work ought to have been progressing.
Pardon these suggestions claim no right
to influence your deliberations, and hope you
will be guided by divine wisdom to the course
that will produce the best results.
May the good God prosper the cause of lib
erty and justice, is the prayer of your friend,
SAMUEL LEWIS.
LETTER FROM JAMES MORROW.
To the President Of the FreesoH Mass Meeting
at Columbus:
DEAR SiR-Being private character, it may
appear ostentatious TO address you in this pub
lie MANNER but circumstances not within my
control prevent my appearance among the mass
es yet my heart is with you, and desire to ex-
press the hope that providential blessing may
attend your labors, and lead to favorable
issue for am one of those who believe in a
higher law than sinful act of Congress- and in
n higher power to produce favorable results
than the policy of men governed by sordid mo-
tives.
| am now, under kind Providence, passing
my seventy eighth winter, yet my heart is warm
in the cause of humanity, and it will doubtless
be pleasing to my old friends to know that my
zeal is nothing abated.
have been favored with moral courage to
bear with all the odium heaped upon Adolf
tionsts, all the taunts touching liberty men, all
the abuse of Freesoilers, Free Democracy, or by
whatever name right-hearted men may be called
under all these circumstances was cheered by
the feelings of good conscience. In this |
claim preference over some of our great men.
The consciences of Clay, Cass, and Webster,
appear to be worn out, and Fillmore in the
pocket of Crittenden. We are not to expect
success in any great undertaking without pa
tience and perseverance. Let me say, then, to
all true-hearted men, persevere. Let the honor
of God and the rights Of man be the motto, in
capitals, on your banner. With all the obstacles
thrown in the way by hunkerism, you have en-
couragement Bear in mind that in the first ma.
tional movement of liberty men, notwithstand
ing the Wing forgery, to the injury of our can
ddate, about 1000 election Of l840l were
found who would not bow the knee to the Mo
och of slavery. The next such movement
about $4,000 Election of 1874 such men were
found. And again, with all the nnconquerabIt
party prejudice, we found about 100000, cleo
ton of ls4S,] and be assured that just as gooc
men Of all the old parties can overcome thei
prejudices, and. give conscience fair play, they
will flock to the right standard, and may we mo-
hope that under a higher law, and controlling
| Providence the time is near when 100000 will
not tell the numbers. | say, then, persevere.
Very respectfully, JAMES MORROW.
| LETTER FROM A. A. GUTHRIE.
PUTNAM, Feb. 10, 1852.
To the President Of the FreesoH Convention a
| Columbus: