Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-09-25
Mr. Albright's Vote upon the Dunn

The great question at issue, ard the only
one, between the two prominent parties, is,
shall the institution of slavery be extended
over our free terrtories-and every vote
cast at our coming elections, will be either
for or against the spread OF this accursed
crime. 1t is as clear to our mind, "a noon
day, that very. large majority OF the voters
OF the Northern States, are really opposed
to its extension. This fact is understood
and fully appreciated by the leaders of the
Buchanan movement, and hence their untir-
ing zeal to evade and conceal. by every CON-
ceva5le means, the real issue. Instead of
fighting for principles. or against them; they
have adopted personal warfare, and use for
their weapons, low. unmanly, and unprin-
cpled attacks upon the private character Of
ndivi iua!s. So far as Mr.. Albright is con-
cerned, his private character has already
been Dutrageously assailed. Charge upon
charge has been heaped upon him, every
one Of which is utterly groundless. This
course of procedure is only done,. to throw
the friends of the Republican cause upon
the defensive, and cause them 10 loose snht
of the real issue.
50 far as these personal attacks upon Mr..
Albright are concerned, we do not believe
that they will have the slightest tendency
10 injure him in the coming election, so far
from it, we are rather of the opinion that
such lying charges will gain him friends
His Whole political action during the past
session of Congress, is open 10 the closest
scrutiny Of all his constituents, and we on.y
ask them to exam;n and judge for them.
selves, whether or not, he has been true to
Republican principles, ana true to the best
interests of those who elected him. A fair
AMI impartial exam nation into bis vote,
while IN Congress, will be regarded by the
people as Of more importance to them, and
gre s's<-weight, thanaai the charges that
can possibly be brought against him, by low
demagogues, hired slanderers, and unprinci-
Piled political Eucksters.
A charge has been manufactured by hi
opponents in this District, that he in con-
nection with every Republican in Congress;
in voting for Mr.. Dumas bill, voted for
establishing slavery in Kansas. In order
to reiute this silly charge, it is only neces-
sary to give bref statement oI the pro-
visions of that bill, when it will be seen by
every one, that the charge is utterly false.
The bill repeats the Kansas Nebraska
Act, restores the Missouri Compromise, and
provides carefully for thorough reorganiza.
ton OF the Territory, and the Executive
power and authority in and over it to be
vested in Governor, who shall hold his Of
flee four years; the appointment of Sec
retary and the election Of Council and
House OF Representatives-.he first cleo
tion to be on the Tuesday after the first
Monday of November next; that all the
laws passed by the Legislative Assembly
and Governor sha II be submitted to the Con-
gress G! the United States, and if disapprov-
ed shall be void and Of no effect; and that
all laws or pretended laws, whether now
existing or hereafter enacted in said Ter
ritory, in contraven.ion of the prov isions of
this Act, shall be void
Attached to the bill was the following
proyso:-
Provided hopsrer, That any person LAW
Fully held to service in either OF said
territories shall not be discharged from such
service by reason Of such repeal and revival
of said eighth section, if such persons sha II
be permanently removed from such territory
or territories prior to the first day OF jan
u,ry, 1858; and any child or children born
in either .! said territories before the expira.
ton of that day, shall mot be. by reason of
anything in this act, emancipaled from any
service it might have owed had this act new.
er passed. And provided further, tha: any
persun LAWFULLY held to service in any
other state or territory Of the United States,
and escaping into either the Territory of
Kansas or Nebraska, may be reclaimed and
removed to the person or place where
such service is due. under any law of the
United States which shall be in force upon
the subject.
From the reading of this proviso, it is
claimed by the Doughface press, that eur
Representative voted 10 establish Slavery in
the territories of Kansas and Nebraska.
Now such is clearly not he fact. Upon
the Introduction of the bill the Republican
party was shrewt enough TO see at glance
that in voting for it, they gained everything,
and lost nothing. And i: was this, which
caused Joshua r. Giddings, that noble
champion of freedom ana the rights Of man.
to exelaim, "I am prouder Of the vote which
cas-, in favor of Dunn's bill, than of any
one ever cast in my Ii le."
The proviso only relates TO such persons
as are LAWFULLY held to service in said
territories. Now is it not we'll known to
every one, that not single human being
can be LAWFULLY held in bondage, upon any
Of ,he Territories belonging TO this Govern
ment! In the South they have peculiar or
local State laws, which createaa slavery, and
upon this system Of loca! legislation, they
base their right to enslave the souls and
bodies OF men. But wherever these local
laws do not extend, property in human be-
ings does not exist. They do not extend
over the free territories belonging to the
General Government. and consequently no
one can there be lawfully held TO service
Now as no one aOas lap(aHy held in slavery
in The territories referred to, as matter of
course the proviso, about which the opposi-
tim party are setting up such howl, just
simply amounts to nothing. Relative to