Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-26
TO THE PEOPLE OF The GOTH CONGREssI0N-
AL DISTRICT OF OHIO.


TO THE PEOPLE OF The 10Th cONGREssIoN
/. AL DISTRICT OF OHIO.
FELLOW CITIZENS am led to address you
at this time, in consequence Of inquiries made
by many sincere friends of freedom, as to our
duty in view of the position assumed by the
late Convention held at Columbus Although
my opinions can be Of little Importance, yet
have long been in the habit Of expressing
them frankly.
In considering this subject, we should bear
in mind that all national issues between the
old political parties have disappeared; that
there is not now, nor has there been for the
past five years, any question of Congressional
legislation on which the Wing and Democratic
parties could be arrayed against each other
that, since the year A. D. 1848, the question
Of Matchmaking or matchmaking Slavery,
and questions connected Herewith, have con-
stituted The only subjects of deep or general
interest on which Congress has legslated.
The present Executive, in his inaugural nd
dress went far beyond his predecessors on this
subject, declaring his opinion that Slavery in
the Southern States Of this Union is based upon
the same principle as other recognised rights
and entitled to protection from the Federal
power.
For the frankness with which he avowed his
opinion and policy he is entitled to our respect.
He has left US in no doubt on that point. Nor
has he left his followers any chance to deceive
the people. If they sustain him, they cannot
deny his policy They cannot uphold the enc
and discard the other. To let the country I'M
derssand thai bis practice would conform to
his theory, he recommended in his annual
message an appropriation from our National
Treasury to indemnify the Cuban slaye-dealers
who lost their cargo Of human beings on board
the Amistad in 1899 In pursuance of the
same policy, in his message upon the "Black
Warrior" he suggested to Congress the pro-
priety of clothing him with authority to COM
mence war with Spain, to prevent the eman-
cipation Of Slavery in Cuba, and lent his utmost
influence in favor Of the repeal of the prohi-
bition Of 1920, excluding Slavery from Kansas
and Nebraska. We believe the same objects
to have produced the Gadsden treaty; Of which,
however, as yet we have not sufficient informa-
tion to speak with certainty Ii is also appar-
emit that the restoration of the African slave
trade, the annexation Of Cuba and Hayti, the
alliance with slaveholding Brazil, and the re-
fusal to annex Canada to the United States,
are all Of them connected with, and constitute
a part Of, this policy Of making Slavery SUBJ
ject of National protection.
1t is therefore most obviouely the duty of
every man who would oppose this nationalza-
ton of Slavery, to unite in one grand phalanx
for the support Of Freedom, for its restoration
to Kansas and Nebraska, and in oil places
under Federal jurisdiction, thereby rendering
Freedom national, and driving back the in
stitution Of Slavery to the States in which it
can alone have constitutional existence.
The President and his supporters would per-
vert the powers of this Government to the pro-
lection of Slavery: we would exert them in
the support of Liberty He would make Sla-
very national: we would restrict it to the
States where the trainers of the Constitution
left it, He would confne Freedom to our
Northern States: we would spread it wher-
ever the Federal power has exclusive jurisdic-
ton.
We arc all conscious that the avowal of the
Presidents policy, followed BY bis annual mes
sage, his message upon the "Black Warrior
the repeal Of the Missouri Prohibition, and the
attempts now making to restore the African
slave trade, have awakened feeling in the
free States more deep and strong than has ex-
listed on any sut jcct since the close Of the late
war with England.
Eleven Of the free States by legislative action
or by State Conventions have taken issue with
the Executive supon his avowed policy. All
these States, except Ohio and Indiana, may be
said to have repudiated, in detail, the measures
proposed by the President; while Ohio ard In
diana have conteated themselves by taking
issue upon the extension Of Slavery over Kansas
and Nebraska, and against the a mission of any
more slave States Had have penned the reso-
lutions of our Convention, | would have used
other language. | would simply have pledged
ourselves to the plain and obvious purpose Of
separating the people OF our free States and the
Federal Government from all support OF Sla-
very, and the employment of our energies to
the protection of liberty; yet others may well
doubt whether my language would bare been
more acceptable to the people. The policy
adopted by the Convention strikes at the very
existence of that avowed by the President, and
supported by his followers. lie the policy
ayowed at Columbus be sustained the Presi-
dent and bis party must be overthrown, and
tho doctrine OF supporting oppression by Fed
eral power viii be discarded by tho nation.
| am therefore prepared to unto my efforts
With those Of ell honest men, TO achieve the
objects ses forth by our Convention. care not
what have heretofore been the political ascot
atoms CT those who unite with us; | will only
inquire what their views no,o are. If they will
honestly act, and labor, and vote, to restore
freedom in Kansas and Nebraska, and to ex-
cludc all slave States that may hereafter apply
for admission, | shall not ask whether they will
vote for fire. trode or protective tariff, for or
against all banks when such questions come
up. % those subjects feel but little interest,
when man, In the essential elements of his moral
and political being, is under consideration.
The restoration Of liberty TO those Territories
will be regarded as the stroDges. possible dec-
laration that "our Federal Government was
constituted 10 support Freedom, and not Slave
ryo By uniting with those Whigs and Demo
Gratis who are wiling TO form party for that
purpose, we shall surrender no principle. On
the contrary, we shall unite for the support Of
one Of our most vital Doctrines doctrine that
constitutes an essential element in every Demo
cratic Govenment--one that can only be car
ried into practice by q Democracy of the
PeopIe ~ for it in plain that the came principe