New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-16
OHIO.
GOVERNOR CHASE's INAUGURAL.
After adverting at length to local topics, Gov
amor Chase proceeds az follows:

within the immediate sphere OF your legislative
power; but you cannot forget that you represent
sovereign State OF the American Union, third OF the
thirty-One in wealth aud power, and population and
second to none in patriotic devotion To the welfare of
the whole country The appointment of Senator TO
represent the State in branch Of the American
Congross deyolyes upon you, and in making this ap
pointment you will necessarily be required TO con-
sder the interests Of Ohio a Member OF the Union.
Foremost among these interests ii the preservation
Of tie Union itself. Established by the wisdom of
our fathers for the submes and nohest political ends,
il descends To US sacred trust Under its benign in
huence our country has steadily advanced from
strength TO strength and from greatness to greatness
extending her borders enlarging her resources, and
augmenting her power, until the name of American
citizen has become nobler distinction than was the
name of Roman citizen in the proudest days OF the
mightest republic of antiquity. To maintain the in
egritv Of this Mon; defend the Constitution which
il it's bond and tn guard against all invasion from
whatever quarter those American Institutions which
the Union and the Constitution to have ever
been and trust will ever be, acknowledged as sacred
obligations by the people OF Ohio.
Cherisbing these sentiments and ever prepared 10
give full proof OF unwaverng fidelity To them, 1t not
opv our right but duty to insist that the interests
of Ohio shall b. duly regarded in the administration OF
the General Government. Few States contribute
largely to the national revenues "a our own. The
reople of Ohio have paid to the Federal Government
or to its grantees, for the soil which they occupy and
cultiyate more than $4,000, 900. OF the revenues
derived from duties contribute necessarily in pro-
portion to numbers. As the population OF our
State about tenth of the entire population OF the
Union, we pay about tenth OF that revenue. Its
entire amount for the last year exceeded 500 00O
The proportion of Ohio was of course six millions.
while we have thus paid fors the very soil we live
on, an amount which no other people has ever paid
under like circumstances under any circumstances
and while we still contribute thus amply and freely to
the annual revenue, it il not agreeable reflection
that Of all the States in which the General Govern
ment hes asserted proprietary right TO the soil Ohio
has received the least in grants Of lands for education
improvement, and other like purposes and that while
millions expended for the protection and benefit of
Commerce on The Ocean Coasts OF the Republic, the
property ard lives of our own people are exposed to
continual peril and enormous loss upon our Rivers and
our Lakes for the want of comparatively magnificent
appropriations for the Improvement OF their channels
and harbo. The injustice OF unequal grants OF lands
is perhaps beyond remedy; but it will be our own
fault if our River and Harbors continue to b. thus
neglected.
administration the interests of our State
deeply affected by the action of the National Govern
ment even more vitaly concerned in the great
principle by which that action and the progressive de-
yelopment OF country are regulated and controlled
AZ man is more than his circumstances, Freedom
is better than wealth, as rights are more important
than institutions il becomes W. to look well to the
fundamental ideas which determine the character of
government and the course of it, practical operation
The basis of American institutions is the democratic
principle of equality among They rest upon the
solid foundation o, popular consent. The primary OBJ
ec- OF their establishment are the defense and prOtec
ton of persona, rghts If they fail to secure these
ends, it is the duty of the people who established to
amend or change them. To organize and administer
Government upon these principles il the true work Of
republican people.
While the Demoeranc idea thus constitutes the
basis of American Institutions various exceptions
under the pressure of real supposed exgencies
have been admitted to its universal appicat on.
Among these, Slavery, the creature of Despotsm and
the deadly opposite of Democracy claims baleful pre-
euinence.
When our country asserted her independence SIav-
cry existed in all the States Its evil Influences social
and political, were however well understood and It's
ineconcilable anagonsm to the rights Of human ma
ture aud the principles OF Just government, was uni
versally acknowledged.
The founders Of the Republic in framing our us-
tutions, careful TO give no national sanction to
this port oous anomaly but they attempted no inter-
ference with its existence in the States. Outside of
State limits they allowed 1t no shelter Within State
limits they LETT it 10 the exclusive disposition of States
Immediately concerned. No fact il better established
by the records OF the past than the prevalence during
the earlier period of history Of almost uDiver-
| sal expectation that Slavery, excluded by positive
prohibition from all national territory, would gradually
bu certainly aud at no distant day, under the opera
tiOn of the principles of the Declaration Of ndepend
ence and through the action of the State authorities
disappear wholly from every State OF the Union. The
foremos champions of Freedom citizens OF Slave
States. md occupied the highest stations III the State
| and National Governments
In 1884 Immediately after the partial adjustment Of
the conflict between the claims OF the Union and the
peten-ons of the States in respect to the territory be-
tween the Aegbanies and the Mississippi, through the
cession by Virginia of the territory northwest of the
Ohio, Jefferson proposed TO provide forever against
the extension Of Slavery, by positive prohibition of
its existence after le00 IN any territory ceded or To be
ceded in any State to be created Of such ten
tory. This proposed prohibition received the votes Of
sixteen Of twentythree Delegates and OF six out Of
nine Ststes the Congress OF the Confederation. Ii
failed 10 become law by Of that provision Of
the Articles of Confederation which made the
renee Of at least States Necessary airma
tive decision of any question. The great majority
s favor indicates, however, the prevalent sentiment
of the time.
Three wars laes, the Ordinance OF l7e7 impressed
apon the soil Of the territory northwest of the Ohio
indelible prohibition Of Slavery. That Ordinance
adopted by the unanimous votes OF all the States
in Congress II covered every inch of territory sub
ect the exclusive regulation of the General Govern
mont.
In the same year the National Constitution was
framed. Mr.. Madison declared it wrong to admit in
ths Constitution the idea that there could be prop
ery IL man. No such word Save Slavery
found place in any Of lie provisions. AL Recognition Of
the rghtulness of sayehoding, and all national sanc-
ton VI the practice carefully excluded from the
instrument. In every clause which has been, or can
b. construed referring TO Slavery Il is regarded az
the creature Of State legislation and dependent wholly
upon state eg station for its existence and coEt.nu
snce. There is no trace in the Constitution itself,
in the debates OF s ramer- of any expectation ap
prehtnsiou of the institution Maintenance Of Sla
very by national law, OF in national territory. No
anticipated - eTtensiou beyond the limits o. the
existing States.
But the people requ.red additlona. security. When,
therefore, Virginia -uggested an amelimsn NJ o. tie
Constitution that 10 fireman ought 70 BE- deprived
Of his he liberty or property D., ty ne IGU of IN
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