The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-21
OHIO poL1T1cs-cHAsE AND WELLER

OHIO POLITICS CHASE AND WELLER
We referred last week to the attempt OF the
Senate, acting without quorum, to vote mon
ey out of the Public Treasury to pay the Nd
tional Intelhgencer for publishing, during the
summer, speeches made byits members last win
ter and already published in the Union and
the Globe This week we reprint from the
Union the debate ON the resolution of Mr.
Seward, emitting for want of room remarks
by Messrs Weller, Butler, and Rusk, in sup
port of it.
The debate it will be observed, ran into a
discussion of Ohio politics, and of the position Of
Mr.. Chase, Senator from that State. Mr.. We'll
Ter undertakes to arraign this Senator as not
representing the Democratic party of Ohio,
and sets himself up as its only legislative rep
resentative on the floor of the Senate. A very
modest claim for d man who has abandoned
his native State, and identified oil his interests
with California; and who, when running for
Governor in the former, was defeated, although
on ordinary occasions his party there is in the
majority On the other hand, Mr.. Chase has
fully identified himself with Ohio, represents
the opinion of nine-tenths of its citizens on the
slavery question, represents faithfully the doc
trines of the Democracy Of the State, az set
forth for successive years in its State platform,
has signalized himself by his vgilant care of
Ohio interests in the Senate, and has uniformly
recorded his vote in that body in support of
Democratic principles.
What did Mr. Weller ever do for Ohio when
Representative in Congress, or for his party
there when recognised as one Of its leaders
What has he done in the present Congress for
his adopted State of California? We are not
aware that his speeches have added anything
to its reputation, or that his acts have Injured
in any way to its benefit. The great measure
of the Pacific Railroad, in which it was most
deeply concerned, would have utterly failed,
but for the sagacity and readiness Of the very
Senator whose position he now 80 rudely assails
We find him, like many other noisy patriots,
crying aloud for retrenchment and reform, but
what has he done to make good his professions
Nothing although associated with the major
ity of the Senate. But the man whom he de-
nounces as no true representative, and who
has been read out of the self-styled healthy or
CARNATIONS, acting alone, and wasting no time
in words, has done something in the way OF re-
formulas succeeded, for example, in abolish
ing the bad practice Of extra compensation Il
the employees of the Senate, in defeating thu
creation of sinecure in that body and in baf
fling a movement designed to minister pecuni
airy aid at the expense of the Government, t.
party press.
We commend the discussion between Mr.
Weller and Mr.. Chase to the attention of tn,
People Of Ohio Let them mark the dgnit,
and independence with which the latter vim
dicates his devotion to Democracy, although
constrained to withstand the Democratic or
ganization when acting inconsistently with it
own principles This year, the People Of tina
State will be called upon to elect the member
of the Legislature on which will devolve tin
duty Of deciding whether Mr.. Chase shall b.
reelected or q successor DO provided Thi
question will enter into the canvass 1t is al
important to the Friends of Freedom. Sine
Hales retirement, the cause of human rights
of real Democracy, has had but two Represent
atiyes in the Senate; should Mr.. Chase fail G
reelection, there will be but one. Can we a
ford to reduce the number Shall the Senat
be suffered to fall absolutely under the despo
ism of slavery! 1t is vain to look to the men
bers Of the old parties, tho "healthful organ
cations for efectual resistance to the usurpa
tons of the Slave Power. Whatever may b
their inclinations party interests silence an
fetter them. They cannot and do not act lik
freemen. They submit tamely to the exaC
tons and insolence of slavery. They AWAY
vote for slaveholding Presidents, and slavehold
ing Chairmen, and slaveholding msjorties O
the principal committees. They give up to slf
very the organization Of the Senate, and tn
initiation of the greater part of its business
and in silence, almost without protest, the
hear tho peculiar opinions OF tho North and il
institutions libelled and assailed by the Slav,
holding Interest
We need men in the Senate who, althoug
they recognise party and party obligations, al
knowledge higher law" and stand read
at any moment to disregard all party consiC
erations in defence of the doctrines of Freedom
consecrated in the heart and living in the il
stitutions of the North.
Mr.. Chase has neglected no local interest
Ohio. He has successfully pressed her clair
TO fair share of Governmental consideration,
lie has been charged with no delinquency
this respect. In relation to an appropriation fc
} custom-house, the cession of unsold 60,
eminent lands to the States River and Hal
! Dor Improvements, and the Homestead BILL h
acts have been such as to secure the approbs
sion Of his constituents. No man could be ser
to the Senate better disposed or more obi
to secure legitimate objects Of special intere
to the State; surely, no man in Ohio ha
clearer and more comprehensive ideas of tn
relations Of the Constitution to slavery and
the rights and duties Of the free States on hi
great subject than Mr. Chase and Of his di
erection, courage, and cons.sncy, in all dissu