The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-08

During the late canvass in Ohio, Mr.. Chase
was a.sailed with peculiar ferocity, all sorts of
lying accusations being brought against him.
Some of his remarks, reported briefly by tele-
graph, gave a very imperfect idea of his true
position. From a pamphlet copy of his speech,
Cincinnati, Aug. Dist, we make certain extracts,
so that his own position and the general char
acter of the contest which has Just terminated,
may be clearly understood.
ABOLITIoNIsM
And now let me say few words about Abo-
litionism-that word of terror, by repeating
which, in every variety of intonation, our oppo.
nents hope to scare ful-grown men.
shall not undertake to define Abolitionsm.
or to describe an Abolitionist. But l will tell
You frankly what my position is now, and ever
has been, in relation to Slavery.
1t is that of Washington, Jefferson, and
Franklin; it is that of the founders of the Re-
public.
The great men who framed our Constitution
conferred on Congress no power to institute or
maintain Slavery by national legislation; nor
did they confer on Congress any power to in
terfere by national legislation with Slavery in
the States.
At the time of the promulgation of the Con-
stitution, Slavery was allowed in most of the
States by State Constitutions, and regulated by
State lawsuit there was not foot of nation
al territory in which slave could be held, un-
less in violation Of positive law. At that time,
there was no national territory, except that
northwest of the Ohio, and in that Territory,
by the Jefferson Proviso, incorporated into the
Ordinance of 1887, and by the unanimous con-
sent of all the States in the Congress of the
Confederation, Slavery had been forever pro-
hibited. Our National Government, therefore,
went into operation upon the principle of NO
SLAVERY OUTSIDE OF SLAVE STATEs-upon the
principle that SLAVERY IS LOCAL, NOT MA
TIoSAL.
At that time, also, there were seven free
States in the Union-not, it is true, of States
in which Slavery had been absolutely abolish
ed, but of States in which the ultimate extinct
ton of Slavery was certain, and the State poll
cy was on the side Of Freedom. The number
Of slave States was only six, and in some OF
them it was confidently expected that provis-
ion would soon be made by law for the eradi-
cation Of Slavery.
Then, there was a majority of free States in
the Union at the outset of the national career,
and the Ordinance of 1887 made provision for
that not less than three nor more than five
States should be created out of the Territory in
which, by its own action, Slavery was forever
prohibited.
Thus, fellow-citizens our National Govern
ment may be fairly said to be based on three
great principles in respect to Slavery: nom
interference by the National Government with
Slavery within slave INSTRUMENTATION of
Slavery beyond the limits of the slave States
perpetual majority of free States in the Union.
Our actual history demonstrates the fact,
that only one of these three principles has been
practically applied. The National Government.
has never interfered with Slavery in the slave
States, but Slavery has been extended far be.
yond State limits and the shareholders have
insisted, and during much the greater part of
our historical period have actually been allow
ed to have as many slave States as there have
been free States in the Union.
The original policy of the fathers of the Re-
public has been subverted. We simply de-
mand its restoration. We want indemnity for
the past, and security for the future" Cheers.
Neither nor any other Republican, 80 far as /
know, proposes any interference with Slavery
in any State. What we demand is, that Slave.