The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-22
TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.
FELLOW CITIZENS !:

FELLOW CITIZENS:
The contamination of the first great act of the
stupendous scheme for the extension of Slavery,
and the establishment of the Slave Dominion over
the North American continent by the repeal of
the Missouri Prohibition, and other threatened
future acts part and parcel of the same scheme,
such as the proposed expenditure of millions in
the purchase of territory from Mexico, utterly
worthless except as basis for the operations of
the slave interest and the proposed waste of
millions upon millions more.in the re-establish-
ment of Slavery in Cuba, in case of the enfran-
chisement of the bondmen of that island by its
present Government, call loudly upon all true
patriots to forego past political differences. and
unite band of brother-freemen in defence of
our own rights, and the rights Of human nature.
God forbid that our country should alone,
among the nations of the earth, take upon herself
the hateful reproach of Slavery Propagandisml
But if this odium is to be averted, the People
must themselves take the matter in hand Let it
ever be remembered, that while the contest be-
tween Freedom and Slavery-between the adyo-
Gates of great public wrong and the maintain
ers of Public Faith was going on in Washington.
not word OF remonstrance against the meditated
iniguity was uttered by either branch of the Le
gislature recently assembled at Columbus The
partsans of the existing National Administration.
availing themselves of their majority in the Lee
gislaure not only thwarted every effort to express
the honest Indignation of the People of the State
against the wrong but elected to the Senate of
the United States known supporter of the re-
peal of the Missouri Prohibition thus placing the
| moral weight of Ohio in the scale of Slavery Elk
tension.
We, by no means, charge the members of the old
Democratic Party with approval of this conduct /:
but we earnestly invite them to consider whether
there is any mode OF manifesting their just ndg-
| nation, in view of these great wrongs, except by
| regulating the present National Administration,
and the Political Leaders through whose infu-
ence these shameful results have been accom-
plished. At all events, it cannot be doubted that
these things demand the promptest Intervention
of the WHOLE PEOPLE; and not these things only,
but many other matters, both of National and
State concern.
The time has passed for halfway measures in
| respect to Slavery. The repeal of the Missouri
Prohibition has demonstrated the utter futility of
all legislative compromises. 1t is necessary now
to recur to the Constitution. In that instrument
it viii be vain to seek for any recognition of Sla-
very, even as a fact outside of Slave States, or
for any power given to Congress to legslate in its
behalf Outside of Slave States, then, there must
be no Slavery. There must be no save-seling,
slave-catching, or slaye-holding, under National
legislation. The Slave Power must be over
thrown, and the influence of the National Govern
meht must be placed on the side of Freedom.
The patronage of the President-that fatal en-
Elllc vi corruption DeSpOJSm-0uSL DE cur
tailed. The People must demand and obtain
more direct influence upon the practical workings
of the Government. For the Propagandism of
Slavery, in our intercourse with Foreign Nations,
there must be substituted great American In
fluence in favor of Universal Liberty. Freedom,
Reform, and Progress must be the watchwords of
the People.
In our own State, many things require atten-
ton. The disposition and management of the
public works the dstricting of the State the
laws regulating the imposition and collection of
taxes, and other matters, demand the considera-
ton and judgment of the People.
In view Of these things, we invite our fellow
citizens, who, without regard to former party dis
tinctions, are willing TO unite in the organization
of DEMOCRACY OF THE PEOPLE, against the sup
pOrters of Slavery and unjust and unequal laws,
by whatever name they may call themselves, to
assemble in Convention, at Columbus, on the 18th
day of July, 1884 the anniversary of the Ordi-
nance of 1887, for the purpose of consultation
upon the momentous aspects Of public affairs, and
of taking such action as circumstances require
With this view, we recommend that the people of
each County forthwith assemble appoint one
delegate for every five thousand inhabitants, no
county, however appointing less than two, to
represent them at Columbus in Delegate Con-
vention and we recommend, Also that there be
held at the same time and place, Mass Conven-
ton of the People, to sustain the Delegate Con-
ventiOn by their presence, to aid them by their
counsel and to express, in the most emphatic
manner the cherished sentiments and fixed re-
solves of the People of Ohio, in language becom-
ing the demands of the crisis.