Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-28
O. o N m IL nieat2
For the Washington S.nMnel

| mESShS. EDITIONS: nave seen hil cuICOfidl
article in your paper of the 18th instant, un.
der the heading Of "The Ohio Democracy
relative to the resolutions adopted by the Dem
ocratic State Convention which assembled at
Columbus Ohio, on the 9Th January instant, in
which, in my opinion, you place an erroneous
construction on one of the resolutions adopted
by that convention, and which, in as much as
these resolutions have been "the subject OF
free and general comment" i feel bound to
correct.
In the article referred to, after having com
mented on various of the resolutions embraced
| in the Platform, and, with but one exception,
endorsed and applauded the sentiments and
principles contained therein, you 60 on to say:
"The declaration contained in these resolu-
tons that they will use sall power clearly given
by the terms Of the national compact to prevent
the increase of slavery and finally to eradicate
the evil, is equivalent to the declaration that
there is in. the national compact clear grant
| OF power for the purpose-and that such grant
y the Democracy of Ohio desire to exercise.
Now, against such an opinion and announce
ment as this, we enter our solemn protest, a
protest founded on the resolutions of the con
vention themselves"
There are two resolutions upon the subject OF
slavery, and so intimately connected with each
other that they should be taken together, in
order to correct understanding Of the senti-
ments contained in them. They are as fol-
lows:
ResolDed, That the people of Ohio, now, as
| they have always done, look upon slavery as
an evil, and unfavorable to the development
of the spirit and practical benefits of free insti
tutions; and that entertaining these sentiments,
they will at all times feel it to be their duty to
use all power clearly given by the terms of the
national compact, to prevent its increase, to
mitigate, and finally to eradicate the evil but
be it further
Resolped, That the Democracy of Ohio do
at the same time fully recognize the doctrine
held by the fathers Of the Republic, and still
maintained by the Democratic party in all the
| States, that to each State belongs the right to
adopt and modify lis own municipal laws, to
regulate its own internal affairs, to hold and
maintain an equal and independent sovereignty
with each and every State, and that upon these
rights the National Legislature can neither
| legislate nor encroach.0
Now, beg leave to say to you, that the in
depreciation you put on the first of the above
resolutions, that t" the declaration contained in
| these resolutions that they will use all power
clearly given by the terms Of the national COM
pact, to prevent the increase of slavery and
| finally to eradicate the evil, is equivalent to a
| declaration that there as in the national com
pact clear grant Of po,rey for the purpose
and that such grant the Democracy of Ohio
design to exercise" is entirely unauthorized by
either the language or spirit Of the resolutions,
and directly contrary to the well settled con-
struction and understanding of the same in
| Ohio
The first resolution contains simply the de-
1 claration of a sentiment entertained by the
People of Ohio" in common with the people
of the Northern States, that they "look upon
slavery as an evil; y and that entertaining
these sentiments, they will, at oil times, feel it
to be their duty TO use all power clearly giren
| by the terms Of the national compact, to pre-
vent its increase, &C." Upon the subject Of
slavery, in the abstract, this is, undoubtedly,
| the sentiment of the "people of Ohio"
| But this language cannot certainly, be "equiv-
| alent to declaration that there is in the ma
| tional compact clear grant of power for the
purpose, and that such grant the Democracy
of Ohio design to exercise" The interpreta-
ton uniformly given TO this resolution has
been that, although the people Of Ohio " look
upon slavery as an evil" yet they will not use,
or seek to use, any doubtful power over the
subject; that they will refrain from any at.
tempt to exercise such power, unless it be
clearly giccn." But, as To whether or not
such power is clearly given" no opinion is
expressed, nor is any such opinion fairly de-
ducibe from the language contained in the
resolution. The resolution next following, and
which, indeed, forms part OF the preceding
one, does 20 to define, distinctly the posi-
ton Of the Democracy OF Ohio" as to the
question OF power; and in it are contained
most emphatic declarations Of exclusive State
authority over the subject Of slavery-the soy.
ereignty Of each and every State, its right to
regulate its own internal affairs, to adopt and
modify its own municipal laws, and that "upon
these rights the National Legislature can neither
| tegisidfe nor encroach."
These resolutions are not, rs you would seem
to suppose, Of recent origin in Ohio. They be-
long to series which were adopted in lS48,
and have been continued, by each successive
convention up till, and including the last one,
without question. At the last convention,
however, several ne,c resolutions we're adopted,
more particularly defining the position Of the
| Democracy OF Ohio with reference 10 the pres
ent exigencies as follows:
"Resolred, That the Democracy Of Ohio are
attached to the Union Of the States, and to the
Constitution, in which are expressed the prin.
ciples and the compromises upon the faith of
and by strict adherence to which alone that
Union can be preserved and they denounce,
as dangerous TO the peace and liberties Of the
country, all attempts to organize political par
ties with reference to geographical or sectional
distinctions.
"Rcsoired, That this convention, in behalf OF
the Democracy of Ohio, hereby affirm the
platform OF resolutions adopted at the National
Democratic Convention which assembled Mt
Baltimore in June, 1852, as clear and dis.
tinet declaration Of our political principles.
"Resotred, That we demand from the Demo
cratic majority in Congress.
"lst. revision Of the tariff of 1876 with
the double purpose OF reducing the amount Of
revenue, and excluding the principle Of boun-
ties to special interests.
"2d. Cooperation, by efficient measures, in
the restoration to the States of the constitu-
tionai currency OF gold and silver.
I'D. Hostility to a general system Of Internal
improvement; in accordance with the principles
expressed in the recent veto message Of the
-