The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-01-18
= LYMAN w. HALL, Editor.
! A v as n N a
To the People Of Portage Comfy

" edneSday, January 10. 1891
9 To the People Of Portage County.
4 We wish to address few words 10 earnestness
to the People Of Portags County not as a parti- |
san, but as citizen. We want to make an ap- |
peal, not to Free Democrats alone, but to liberal
Old Line Democrats and liberal Wings also, SO
far as we can gain access to them. Some eight |
months since we took The responsibility of inviting
united co-operation Of lberdl, progressive men.
without regard to former party distinctions, for the
accomplishment Of phanthropie, humane and pat |
ri,tic purposes We foresaw, that in such union,
and in that alone. could we hope successfully to
resist that spirit of despotism and corruption
which was controlling the Government. and bear
ing sway in the land. Such cooperative union
was partially, but not effectively secured in
tain localities. but did not obtain generally. I'm
fortunately, auimosities and soreness, engendered
in former, overheated party conflicts, were too
little oYercoQne and healed to produce that general
co-operation and confidence 30 indispensable to
successful effort. Time and events. we trust,
have now greatly modified all former party asperi
ties, and the way is now better prepared for har-
monious, united confidhg action. Indeed, cam
mon periIs, and the threatened dangers TO our
common heritage of freedom. must inevitably drive
liberal patriotic mon together. The voice of
Patriotism is now sounding throughout the land
bidding the friends of mans nalienable rights, the
friends of freedom and free territory, to unite and
present a serried front 10 the steady encroach-
ments and increasing power of despoiism in our
land. >is.at sS +4
) We aek the People of Portage, to read atten-
lively the Report of Senator Douglass of Illinois,
in to days paper, the formation of Territorial
Government in Nebraska. Can they read with
out anaazement and alurm! They see how bold
and fearless has become the tyranny of the South,
that despotic spirit which controls our Govern
menf and corrupts our legislators. Senator
Douglass, representing free State, boldly takes
the lead in bresking down all barriers to the ad-
vancement of Slavery, and basely and corrupily
proposes to surrender all free territory to its in
saiiate demands. To do this, iusuingly, inthe
abuaed name of democracy, he lays profane hands
upon the Missouri Compromise of 1920, which
has been held sacred by STAKEHOLDER and non
STAKEHOLDER for over quarter Of century, and
breaking down that barrier wouil throw open the
whole Territory of the United States to Slavery !!
a called Democratic Administration, belieing
every principle of democracy, lending all its vast
power and influepce to " crush cut - the spirit of
| liberty from the hearts of the American people,
and to surrender all Of their free territory TO the
blighting curse Of the foultst despotsm. that now
lbrutaIizes and oppresses humanity on any part of
our globe.
The Free Democracy of Portage County need
not be urged to do all that may, to resist this
wicked, this nefarious scheme. They are ready
to act, in any practicable direction. s..s
If the Vines of Portage County in times past
have planted themselves more firmly upon one
position than another, it has been upon that of
opposition to siarery ertfnsioa. Will they fhlter
now, in. this crises of our country's fate! We
hope not. Weirnst, with magnauinous LIBERAL
ity, equal to The demands of patriotism, they will
unie with US, and 18th all who will unite, to pre-
serve our territories free, and open to the oi
4 freemen. ;z 5. 81, .s l.t tssatE 1a.-a ri
t.. How many liberal Old Lime, Democrats is
Portage County are willing to unite with the
friends of freedom, in arresting the advances o
slaveholding sdespoism How many patriotic
men there in the ranks of the Old Line De
mocracy tnmong us. who will q1it themselves like
mon in this crisis. Let all such now distinctly
understand, that if they Stand up nanfulIy 10 de
fend the sacred rights of freedom and free terri
tory, if they attempt to interpose shield anc
barrier to the inmoluton Of the cid Missouri Com
promise line, they must sever their connsctio,
with their party, for their party, backed by til,
power and patronage Of the Administration, il
pledged to surrender all free territory to the sluve
Ohio o Line Democratic Convention, one YEA
ago refused to adopt the Infamous Baltimore PIa,
, form. Now the State Convention of that party