True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-03
Letter from Hon. James Myers

|eSodlJ ~ soy "he'0 '"i'NS A N'
wear Lieut.. Governor of our State, has
ever been one of the very pillars OF Ohio
Democracy. A few days since the De-
mocralic party Of his district offered him
the Congressional nomination, which he
declined in a handsome letter on the
ground that he could not longer act with
party that supported the Cincinnati
platform. He was invited by the Com
mttee of Arrangements to address the
Couventin at Fremont, Below we give
his answer to this invitation:
TOLEDO, July 80, 1856.
Gentlemen Your invitation 10 attend
and address the great Fremont and Day
ton Mass Meeting, to be held at your place
on the 9th of August, has been received.
| regret that former engagement which
compels ME to leave for the East tO.Inor-
row morning, will prevent me from being
present OH that occasion.
1t would be source Of great pleasure
to me to be present at your meeting, and
contribute any influence that | might have
to the cause Of Freedom, the great battle
for which is now being fought in this
country. The result of the present polit-
ical contest. | believe, is fraught with the
most important consequences 10 the dear
est interests Of our common country, and
must fix its future destiny, for all time,
as 10 slavery extension.
The people are now called upon to de-
eide whether Slavery shall spread over
the fairest portion of our country, and
whether the Slave power shall control the
action of this government for its particular
benefit, or whether free men and free
labor shall occupy and cultivate our new
territories, and whether this government
shall be controlled only for the best in
teresis of the whole country. | consider
the crisis has arrived when we cannot
escape responsibility for our action upon
this question we must choose between
Slavery and Freedom il, our Territories.
For one, | have no second choice in such
contest. snail be found on the side
of freedom. Make Kansas Slave State
and all is lost 10 Freedom make Kansas
Free State and it will secure Freedom
for all our present Territories. Kansas is
the key 10 all the wide extended terrltor-
les beyond her-open it to Slavery, and
you will curse posterty and the country
with an evil for which there will be no
remedy; and will deprive free Iaborers
of an inheritance which justly belongs to
them. What a contrast would suck a
course be to that pursued by Jefferson
and his patriotic contemporaries, who con.
secrated all of the territory belonging 10
this country, in their day, to Freedom !
Let the free people of Ohio, Indiana,
| linois, Wisconsin and Michigan evince
in this contest their gratitude to those
dsinterested patriots who bcqueathed
them freedom for an inheritance instead of
slavery, by extending to the people who
may inhabit Kansas and other territories,
like privileges which we enjoy. How
can man, who has particle of patriot
ism burning in his bosom, reflect upon
the consequences that must inevitably
result from the decision of the great issue
now before the people, and yet suffer
partisan leaders. who expect TO have the
aid of the United slave power to give
them place and emoluments at the reward
of their apos,acy to the rights and inter
ests of the North, be influenced to cas-
their votes to blight the best interests o
his country.
would appeal 10 my Democratic
friends to cast aside all prejudice, ant
weigh well the great question now pend
ing in this campaign, before casting thei
votes for men whose election will Civ,
force and effect TO the slave interests
: merely because they claim to be the nom
inees of the Democratic organization-a
I organization which has, at the bidding q
the slave power, repudiated, on the sub
l ect ofslavery, every single principle Q
Thomas Jefferson, the great apostle {
3 Democracy and founder Of the Democrat
party.
j | hope there is sufficient mtelligenC
: and independence of party discipline,
S decide this question in favor Of freedom
d am, with great respect,
r Your obd't serv't
n @ JAMES MYERS.
Y To r p. Ruckland. S. Birchard. o,