The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-08-11
CHRONICLE 4 ADVOCATE.
d. n. COwEN, Editor.
THE PEOPLE, AND THEIR RIGHTS.
Friday Morniuo Auu. 4.
REPUBLICAN NOMINATIONS.
CON-
VENTION.

'1lS lOIN.
There will be a Convention of the
Anti-Nebraskans of this Congrcssion-
al district at
GAINESVILLE, August 10Th,
for the purpose of putting in nomina-
ton candidate for Congress for said
District.
1t is hoped there will be a large
attendance from all the counties on
that occasion, and that Anti-Nebras-
kans without respect to party will be
there.
The most revolving Of all the many revolt
ing dissecting-room anecdotes we ever heard
was one of man who was, by invitation of
n set Of heartless students present at the dis
section of his own SON. We shall not emu
late that soulless example by inviting Demo-
crat to be present just now, because we in.
tend dissecting his offspring, even hsyoung-
est born, according to the most approved
mode. This we are led to do because the
Gazette refers to his article editorially, and
requests everybody to read it, which is
in manner endorsing it.
Democrat says it sis matter OF history
that he proved the ultimatum of the fusion
movement to be dissolution of the Union.
What history does it form part Of!
We refer Mr.. Democrat to an article in the
Chronicle of July 28th, entitled" Who are
The Factionisis and Disunionists? Before
charging Disunion on US let him answer
that article. We dare him to reply to IT,
As far as the Belmont platform is concern
ed, we are sorry it cannot contain Mr.. Dem
ocrat II its love for the Declaration of In
pendence, the Ordinance of 'S7, and the Con-
stitution is too warm we are only sorry for
him, but shall nevertheless stick to the plat
form.
Speaking of the Nebraska Bill he says it
leaves "the citizens thereof to regulate their
domestic concerns to suit their circum stances
and convenience, untrammeed by any Con-
gressional prohibitions or reservations" If
they are so perfectly untrammcled by Con-
gressional enactment why is the President
appointing their Governor Judges, Marshal
and Attorney! Answer that, will you!
OF the Ordinance of 1887 (Which of course
was passed by the "Continenta Congress-"
and by which the Northwestern Territory was
made free) he speaks as lollows:-
In 1877 Congress passed the Ordinance prohibiting
SaUcry in the territory northwest OF the Ohio River.
This was before the Constitution was frnmcd--tho'
in the same year; and was tho first instance that
Congress assumed powers not expressly delegated
by the States The Constitution, however, remOv ed
all doubt on the subject, by expressly declaring
fhut all powers not delegated TO the United States
by the Cons tuition, and not prohibited by it TO the
States, reserved Ia the States respectively, TO
the people" Now there Is not the semblance OF
power given by the Constitution TO Co Igress, in
torlcre with Slavery in tho States or Territories. or
to legSlate on ii a all, except to proh bit tho "Slave
trade in 1903" and provide for tho return of iugi-
| tivea.
The founders of our Republic settled this matter
! then. They framed tho Constitution and interpre.
te IT'S provisi ions, with consumnlato wisdom, and n
Ia u
conicderacy Nodiversity of opinion seems to have
been entertained with regard to the entire want OF
jurisdiction by Cong r1ss, over Slavery, with the ex-
cepons above.
1t is true, as he says, that the Ordinance
of 'S7 was passed before the Constitution was
framed, but there is another slight incident
which he may hayo overlooked, and which is
pntirnlu a. N in, fhi,
The celebrated Ordinance of 's7 was ratified
by the lst Congress under the Constitution.
1t was the 7th act of that Congress, and tho
it was slightly modified to agree with the
Constitution, yet the interference by Con-
gress in her domestic arrangements, including
Slavery, is the. same exactly. lie: us see now,
who composed that memorable Congress.
Trainers OF the Constitution were, according
to Democrat, the best expounders OF that doc
umcnt, Well, l6 members of that lst Con-
gress had been members of the Constitution
al Convention. Nearly half of all the men,
bers of the Convention were in the lat Con-
b'NSS' hS iu'lubutlpil uCl DtuTS tue blHnu-
ture of GEo, WASHINGTON, President of the
U. S., Vou have probably heard of hm,) Of
JOHN ADAMS, Vice.President of the U. s.
and President of the Senate, and FREpERIcK
AUGUSTUS MuHLENBERG, of Pa, Speaker of
the House of Representatives. 1t is true, as
you say, tho "founders of the Republic set
tied this matter then; they framed the Con-
stitution and interpreted its provisions with
consummate wisdom" &C.; all of which we
grant. They also passed The Ordinance of 's-
or rathsr ratified il.
He says, "no diversity of opinion seems to
"hsve been entertained with regard to the
"entirc want of jurisdiction by Congress over
Slavery, with the exceptions above !"
Strange that he should commit SO grievous
u bunder as that when the very first Con.
gress held no such idea. The trainers of the
Constitution--of whom, as we said before
there ware l6 in the Congress pavar nj