Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-06-26
ITO he thus was nothing
But to he safely tLu:i',

fected even yet. 1t had already cost too
much to be left at any hazard.
-"To he thus was nothing;
| But to be safely thus!''
Such was the object. And tlis could mol
be, except by the en'ire proposition of all
the safeguards Of H Imln Rg ITS. The
liberty OF speech, which is the very breath
of Repubiic; the press, which is the terror
of wrongdoers; the bar, through which the
oppressed boards the arrogance of law; the
jury, BY which rights vindicated; all these
must be struck down, while officers are
provided, in all places, ready to be the tools
of this tyranny; and then, to obtain final as
surance that their crime was secure, the
whole Usurpaton, stretching over the Ter
ritory, must be fas' tened ami rivettad b.
legislative bolts spikes. and screws, so as TO
defy all efforts at change through Tie ordinary
form Of sa,r. To this work, in its various
parts, were bent ,he subtlest energies; and
never from 1ubal Cain to this hour, was
any fabric forged with more desperate skill
and completeness.
Mark, SIR. three different legislative enact
mentS, which constitute part Of this work
First, according to one act, all who deny,
by spoken or written word, "the right Of per-
sons to hold slaves in this Territory" are
denounced as felons. to be punished By i'm
prsonment at hard labor, for term rot ess
than two years; it may be for lie. And to
show The extravaganza of this injustice. it
has been well put by the Senator from Ver-
mont, Mr.. CoLLAMER,l that should the
Senator from Michigan, [Mr. CAss,l Who
believes that Slavery cannot exist in Ter
ritory, unless introduced by express legis-
lative acts, venture there with his moder-
ate opinions, his doom must be that of a
!elon! To tbs extent are the great llber-
ties ot speech and Of the press subverted.
Secondly, by another act, entitled can Act
concerning Attorneys Law" no person
can practice as an attorney unless he shall
obtain a license from the Territorial courts
which, of course, tyrannical discretion
will be free to deny, anS after obtaining
such licence, he IS constrained to take an
oath, not only "to sup Dort' the Constitu
ton OF the United States. bu. also s'to sup
p 'rt and su>tan;-mark here the redupli
cation-the Territorial act, and the Fugi-
tive Slave Bill, thus erecting a test for the
function of the bar, calculated to exclude
citizens who honestly regard that latter le-
gis lative cnormity as unfit to be obeyed.-
And, thirdly, by another act, entitled can
Act concerning Jurors" all persons "con-
scientiously opposed to holding slaves" or
"not admitting the right to hold slaves in
the Territory" are excluded from the jury
on every question civil or criminal, arising
out of asserting slave property; while, in all
cases, the summoning of the jury is left
without one word of restraint to 1.-THE mar
shal, sheriff, or other officer" who are thus
free to pack it according to their tyranical
discretion.
| For the ready enforcement of all statute S
against Human Freedom, the President had
already furnished powerful quota of Off
GERS, in the Governor, Chief Justice, Judges,
Secretary, Attorney and Marshal. The Leg
islature completed this part of the work, by
constituting, in each county, Board o.
Commissioners, composed of two persons
associated with the Probate Judge. whose
duty it is 'to appoint county treasurer.
coroner, justices Of the peace, constables,
and all other officers provided for by law
and then proceeded to the choice of this very
Board; thus delegating and dlfusing their
usurped power, and tyranncaliy imposing
upon the Territory crowd of officers, in
whose appointment the people have had no
voice, directly or indirectly.
And still the final memorable work remain
ed. A Legislature, renovated in both
branches, could not assemble until 1858, so
that, during this long intermediate period
this whole symtem must continue III the
| likeness of law, unless overturned by the
| Federal Government, or, in de fault OF such
interpostlon, by generous uprising of an
oppressed people. But it was necessary tc
guard against the possibility of change, ever
tardily, at future election: and this was
done by two different acts; under the frs
of which. all who will not take the oath tC
support the Fugitive Slave Bill are excluded
from the elective franchise; and under the
second of which, all others are entitled t
vote who shall tender tax of one dollar tC
the Sheriff on the day Of election; thus, by