Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-01-24

nesola. where slavery is prohibited, except BY
1pOsure 10 its evils. The sole special effect
ofthe Nebraska.Ka KanEas act upon the territories
,rganized urder It is to open them 10 the intro
uetiun Of slaves. In one Of them i has led 70
desperate attempts 10 effect that oblees-to 10
vasion. uspr2aiion. violence. bloOdshed-al-
most 10 civil war. Crimes like thess are not
lbe legitimate fruits Of that doctrine Of popular
elf Government, TO the maintsinenee Of which
our fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes
and their honor.
In sll these things our own State hiss deep
and peeuliar interest Our own history fur
nishes the most complete yindieat:On Of the pei
icy Of slavery prohibition. We occupy in part,
the soil protected from the blight Of slavery by
,hs Ordinance Of 1897. For more than half
century the people of Ohio have been aceus
toned to regard the Ordinance with mingled
emotions Of gratitude and pride. Conspicuous
among its provisions aud ht cOmpanionship
with its sacred guarantees Of religious freedom,
Of liberality towards emmigrants, Of inviolabil-
ity of private contracts, Of the security Of pri
vate property, and universal education, sa1ds
the great interdict against slavery, acknOWl
.dging and impartial prot, cling the ii hts of
man as man. The words to which we always
reeur when seeking 10 the Ordinances the pecu
liar springs Of our wonderful prosperity and
progress are those which embOdy this prohi-
bition. Never did the noble pioneers wholaid
the foundations, in which we now loyfully
build, complain OF that interdict as an abridg'
ment Of any rights, personal or political. On
he contrary they have ever spoken Of it as the
pillar of FIRE by night aud Of cloud BY day
which guided and protected them in the will
deness. More than any other State, Ohio. al
The Grst burn of the Ordinance, and indebted
to the Ordinance for her proud position as th,
Third State of the COnfederacy, and first amonJ
tie new States, is bound to cherish and deien
It's great and bene6cent principles. In so doiu
we shall be fellow workers withAits illustrl
( lous trainers in their own declared policy 40
D purpose Of extending the fundamental princi
4 Piles ofcivi and religious liberty whereon lhei
! republics, their laws and constitutions are
5 rected and fixing and establishing those phi
ciples as the basis Of all laWp, constitutions Al
= governments which forever hereafter snail
= formed 10" American Territory.
D No political duty appears to be more uIgel
0 than this.
] The question of Slavery, il is almost un
versally conceded .transcends in present impor
tance all other political questions of a nations
character. The repeal Of the Missouri Prob
btion, abrogating The Missouri compromise. c
pens anew the whole subject of the relations {
slavery. to the Union, to the States, and 10 th
Territories. In determining the true line {
duty, under these circumstances. il seems to
ltk ~ 10 - . nf
Founders Of the Republic, and to the prime
pies of the Constitution. 70 me these guide
seem to indicate plain path. 1t leads baC
to the original national policy. That policy
, have already remarked, while il sanctioned I
! outside interference with slavery within sla,
| States, contemplated no extension Of it beyon
State limits. 1t regarded slavery in all its r
lations as subject, exclusively. to State legisl
( tion, and absolVed the General Governme
q from all responsibility for its extension or CO
!. tinuance. Our return to that policy should
# sigualized by the restoration Of the guaran
n Of freedom to the Territories which have be,
:. deprived oft by the retrogrsde legislation
Congress. Had the policy originally adopt
I been rersistently pursued, the question Of 81
= very would have ceased long since to vex o
a repose and disturb our councils. Should th
n policy be restored, may We not confidently e
pect the restoration, also, Of those relations
!. Harmony and good vill which characterized Il
!, era Of its adoption, and that, through repeal
!. all national Legislation in support cf slavery al
the constitutional action of State Government
= he ardent desire OF our Fathers for the deve
ance Of the whole country from the great ey
may at length be fulfilled! No worthier oh
ject than these, in my judgement, can engag
the united efforts of freedom. Frank and col
q dial cooperation for these noble ends exclud
all inVidous and unjust discrimination on
A count Of birth or creed, endangers no right G
!. any individual or any State, but promises Il
4 happy result Of a more perfect Union. establis
# ed upon the solid foundations Of Exact JUST
and Eqnal Rights.
"a l have thus subm tied TO you, gentlemen, N
:. general view upon several topics Of public i
terest. Other important matters will dout
a Jess engage your attention You need no flu
!. ther assurance of my disposition to cooperGt
faithfully with you in whatever may promo
the common welfare. Let US proceed then
he discharge of our respective duties. VIII
hearts full of gratitude to God for the liber,
which we enjoy, and the prosperity which ha
attended us hitherto let il be our constant en-
deavor, looking reverend to him for gu
dance and dhec'ion, to ensure the transmissio
to those who are to come after us, of the nobl
heritage OF free institutions which we have re
celved from our fathers, not only unimpaired
but augmented and improved.
SALMON P. CHASE.