The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-31
18th OF JULY PEOPLES STATE CONVENTION.
To the Friends of Freedom in Ohio:

Commfee, appointed by the Antrim ebraska
Convention which assembled in Columbus on
the 18th of July, 1854, it was resolved, in COM
pliance with the public voice, that Republican
State Convention, to be composed of Delegates
chosen by the Independent and Anti ebraska
voters of Ohio, who participated in the glorious
triumph of last year, and such others as may
sympathize with them, be called to meet in the
city of Columbus on Friday, the 18th of July,
1856, for the purpose of nominating candidates
for the following Offices, to wit: Governor, Lieu
tenant Governor, Auditor of State, Treasurer of
State, Secretary of State, Attorney General
Member of the Board of Public Works, and two
Judges of the Supreme Court
In compliance with the usual rule of repre-
sentation adopted in State Conventions it was
resolved that the ratio of representation in the
Convention to assemble on the 18th of July
next should be one delegate for every FIVE hun
dred votes cast in each county at the last cleo
ton for Judge of the Supreme Court, and also
one additional Delegate for every fractional vote
so cast exceeding two hundred and fifty.
It's recommended by the Committee, that the
Republican friends of Freedom in each county
meet at the usual place of holding County Con-
ventions, on Saturday, the 7th of july for the
purpose of choosing delegates, according to the
above apportionment, to represent them in the
State Convention to be held on the 18th.
When it is considered that, in addition to the
officers for the Executive Departments of the
State Government, there is to be chosen Gen.
eral Assembly, upon which will devolve the du-
ty of selecting q. s. Senator, to fill the place
of Hon. B. F. Wade whose term expires in 1857,
and before which will come many measures of
importance of the approaching election will be
comprehended by our rejecting fellow-citizens.
If the outrage upon the rights of the Free
States, by the repeal of the Missouri restriction,
made it duty last year to bury all minor differ
ences in a united effort to arrest the progress
of the Slave Power, how much stronger has that
duty become by the more recent exhibition of
fraud and violence at the Kansas elections, and
the denial of the rights of citizenship and the
possession of property to free citizens of Mis-
souri, and Kansas? The day of (" compromises"
has gone by. We therefore appeal to our fellow
citizens to be active and vigilant Send up a
delegation to the 18th of July Convention like
that which assembled last year, impressed with
the magnitude of their mission, representing the
dignity of the State and the will of their con-
stituents, and assuredly success will again crown
our united efforts.
A. p. STONE, Chairman.
l.. G. VAN SLYKE, Secretary
We publish, in full, the call for State Con-
vention in Ohio. The Committee, appointed
by the Anti-Nebraska State Convention held
last year, assumes the name, Republican,"
and calls g Republican State Convention.
The delegates are to be, the Anti-Nebraska
voters who aided in revolutionizing the State
last year, and ".such others as may sympathize
with Them"
Political affairs in Ohio are in confused
condition. The Democratic party, notwith-
standing the defeat it sustained last year, re-
tanned its machinery, and is now in the field,
prepared for action. The Wing and Demo-
cratic parties, without formally disbanding, sur.
rendered their organization, and united with
such Democrats as would act with them, in a
common movement against the Administra-
ton, on the single issue raised by the passage
of the Nebraska bill. The State Convention
that was held on the 18th of last July, simply
gave expression to this issue, selected candi-
dates to represent that movement, and appoint
ed a Central Committee to call a similar Con-
vention this year. This was the initiation, but
not organization, of a new party. Since then,
there has been no temperance, in distinct
form, of either Wings or Independent Demo-
Gratis. AS matter of fact, their respective
have ceased to exist, without
being substituted byone clearly representing the
common movement in which they engaged.
In this interregnum, as we may call it, the
Know Nothing Order, reputed to be favorable
to the Anti-Nebraska sentiment, availed itself
of the absence of any competitor, and by its
skilful machinery, obtained to a great extent
the control of the opposition forces in the
State. The majority of the Wings united
with it, and, at first, large portion of the
Independent Democrats, their press, either de-
ceived or intimidated, maintaining studied
silence on the subject. At last, they discover.
ed their error, and at present the great body
Of those who were Independent Democrats,
together with their journals, with two or three
stand aloof from the Order. and
opposed to it.
But the Wings, to great extent, we appre.
mend, adhere; and the Wing papers, all of whom,
We believe, sympathze with it, claim that
t is thoroughly Anti-Nebraska, and affords the
most effective agency for carrying out the
purposes of the Peoples movement, begun
asst year.
Now, as there is no such thing as a Repub-
lean, Wing, or an Independent Democratic
,arty, and as but two well. organized parties
Exist in the State, the Pro-Nebraska Adminis
ration Democracy, and the Know Nothinqs.
Anti-Nebraska sentiments, it is easy
o see what advantages the latter must have
n the election of delegates to the Convention
o be held ON the 18th of July, the call being
to the Anti Nebraska voters of last
rear, and such as may sympathize with them.
We suppose that they will elect majority
If the delegates, and the danger is that the
Convention may be used chiefly to subserve
he peculiar designs of the Secret Order. If to
make sure of the adhesion of the real indie.
pendent Anti-Nebraska voters outside, thew
.gree to nominate Mr.. Chase for the Governor.
hip, we may expect that they will take good
ARE to place him on such ticket, that, should
uccess follow, it may be claimed and used as
. Know Nothing triumph
We know not what the People, who. in break
ng loose from Whigery in an open form, did
lot dream OF being bound again by Whigery
Ind Nativism in secret form, intend to do
n the premises; but we do hope that there
will be enough delegates in the Convention
o relieve the Anti-Nebraska movement in
Ohio of all responsibility for Know Nothing.
SIN, of any kind of subservience to its plans
II purposes. Can they do this, but by intro
lucing test, which shall reveal the real pur-
noses of the rnaiorifu of tha Ca.>..a-.. /