M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-01-24


8 universal educs lion stands the great 10
tefdiet sgainst- slavery, acknowledge
and impalIiaIly protecting the righ:
OF msa AZ man The words TO whic
We always recur when seeking 10 III
ordinancs the pee liar springs OF .
wonderful prosperity and progress, az
these which rmbody this prohibition. :
Never did the noble pioneers who lai,
the foundations, on which we now Joy
iutiy build, complain OF that interdiC
as all sbhdgmenI Of any tights, pefsonaI
lor political. On the CONTRARY they hav,
ever spoken Of IT as the pillar OF fir,
b. night and Of cloud by day whicl
guided and protected them in the wild
erness. More THAI any other State
Ohio, ab the FIRST born Of the Ordinance
aud indebted to the Q rdinance for beI
proud position first amo ng The new
States, 10 bound to cherish and defend
its great aud bene Scent pr inciPles. In
50 doing we shall be fellow workers
with its iiluslrious iermerS in their own
declared policy aud purpose OF 'eIt en.
ding the fundamental principles OF civi'
and religious libesty whenon these re
republics. their laws and constitutions
are erected. and fixing and establish
Jag those principtes as the basis Of all
laws. constitutions and governme nts
which forever hereafter shall be formed
IN AmeficaA territory
No political duty Oppesrslo be more
urgent than this.
The question OF slavery, il is almost
universally conceded ,transcendS in pre-
sent Importance all other political
questions off national character. The
repeal of the Missouri Prohibition,
abrogating the Missouri Compromise,
opens new the whole subject Of the
relations of Slavery TO the Union, to
the States, and to the Terriiorep In
delerminin & the true lihe Of duty, un
der these circumstances, it seems TO be
the part Of wisdom to recur TO the act
of the Founders Of the Republic, and to
the principles Of the Constitution. To
me these guides seem to indicate a
plain path. !; leads back to the orig
institutional policy, That policy,l have
already remarked, while it sanctio ned
no outside interference with slavery IN
slave States. con iemPlated no extension
of it beyond State limits, 1t regarded
slavery i'll all its relations as subject,eI'
Iclusively, to State legislation, and sb.
solved the General Government IRON
all responsibility, for lis eXteGce or
continuunce. Our return to that poll
cy should be signalizad by the restor4
tion of the guaranty OF freedom 10 the
Territories which have been dSpriyed
of it by the retrograde legislation OF
Congress. Had the policy originally
adopted been persistently pursued, he
question slavery would huve ceased
long since TO vex our CO uncils. Should
that policy be restored, may we not
confidently expect the restoration, also.
Of those relations Of harm ony and good
will which characterized the era for its
adoption, and that, thorough repeal of all
na ional legislation in tuppor; Of slave
ry and the constitutional action Of SIate
Govern men is, the ardent desire OF our
fathers for the drliverance Of the whole
country from the great evil, may at
length be- fulfilled? No worthier objects
than these, in my judgement, can en'
gage the united efforts Of lreemen
Frank aud cordial cooperation for these
noble ends excludes all lnyidioul and
unjust discrimination on account ei
birth or creed, eudungers no right ol
any individual or any State. but prom
ises the happy result Of a more lperiect
Union established upon the solid foHn'
dations Exact Justice and:,EquaL RighS
have thus submitted TO you. gentle
men. my general views uron several
topics OF public interests. Other i'm
portant matters will doubtless engage
your attention. You need no further
ass urunce Of my disposition 10 cooper
ate faithfully with you in whatever
may promote the common welfare -
Let US US proceed than to The d!schnrge
OF our respective dutios. With hearts
tuLl OF gratitude TO God for The liberty
which we enjoy, aud the prosperity
which has attended US hitherto, let ii
be our constant ehdeuvor, loking revef'
entity to him for guidance and direction
10 ensure the transmission to those who
are TO come after US, OF the noble hs'it'
age Of free institutions which we have
received from our fathers, not only un-
impaired, but augmented aud improved.