Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-06-24


[nthe one, is the long wall Of Slavery; in the
other, The hyfhns Of Freedom. And if we glance
1t special achievements, it will be difficult to find
anything in the history OF South Carolina which
presents so much Of heroic spirit in an heroic
cause as appears in that repulse of the Missouri
invaders by the beleaguered town of Lawrence,
where even the women gave their effective efforts
to Freedom. The matrons Of Rome, who pour
ed their jewels into the treasury for the public |
defence--the wives Of Prussia, who, with deli
cate fingers, clothed their defenders against |
French invasion-the mothers of our own Rev
olution, who sent forth their sons, covered ever |
with prayers and blessings, to combat for Human
Rights, did nothing of setf-sacrifce truer than |
did these women on this occasion. Were the |
whole history Of South Carolina blotted out of
existence. from its very beginning down 10 The |
day Of the last election OF the Senator to his |
present seat on this fsor, civilization might lose
~ do not say how little; but surely less than
it has alreaiy gained by the example of Kansas,
in its valiant struggle against oppression, and in
the development Of new science Of emigration.
Already in Lawrence alone there are newspapers
and schools, including High School, and
throughout this infant Territory there is more Of
mature scholarship, in proportion to its inhabit-
ants, than in all South Carolina. An, sir, tell
the Senator that Kansas, welcomed as Free
State, will be "rhinistering angel'' to the Re-
public, when South Carolina, in the cloak of
darkness which she hugs, Giles howlingp
The Senator from Illinois Mr.. Douglas] nat
uraily Joins the Senator ffom South Carolina in
this warfare, and gives to il the superior intensi-
ty Of his nature: He thinks that the National
Government has not completely proved its pow
er, as j! has never hanged traitor; but, II the
occasion requires, he hopes there will be no hes
itation; and this threat is directed at Kansas,
and even at the friends Of Kansas throughout
the country. Again occurs the parallel with the
struggles of our Fathers, and borrow the Ian
guage OF Patrick Henry, when, to the cry nom
the Senator, Of "treason," "treason," reply,
"if this be treason, make the most of it." Sir,
it is easy to call names; but beg to tell the
Senator that if the word "traitor'' is in any way
applicable 10 those who refuse submission to a
tyrannical Usurpation, whether in Kansas or
| elsewhere, then must some new word, Of deeper
color, be invented, to designate those mad spir-
| its who would endaRger and degrade the Repub-
lie, While they betray all the cherished senti.
| ments OF the Fathers and the spirit of the Con.
stitution in order to give new spread to Slavery.
Let the enator proceed. 1t will not be the first
time in history, that scaffold erected for pun
ishment has become pedestal of honor. Out
Of death come, life, and the 'trator'' whom he
blindly executes will live immortal in the cause
For Humanity sweeps onward; where to- day the
| martyr stands,
On the morrow crouches Judas, with the silvei
in bis hands;
While the hooting mob of yesterday in sileui
| awe return,
To CLEAN up the scattered ashes into History
| golden urn.
| Among these hostile Senators there is yet an
other, with all the preiudices of the Senate
from South Carolina; but without his generous
impulses, who, on account of his character be-
fore the country, and the rancor of his opposi
4 ton, deserves to be named. mean the Senate
from Virginia, [Mr. Mason,] who as the autho
Of the Fugitive Slave Bill, has associated himsel
with special act of inhumanity and tyranny
OF him shall say little, for he has said little il
this debate. though within that little was com
, pressed the bitterness Of life absorbed in tn
support of Slavery. He holds the commissio
OF Virginia; but he does not represent that earl
Virginia, so dear to our hearts, which gave
US the pen of Jefferson, by which the equalit
Of men was declared, and the sword OF Wash
,, ington, by which Independence was secured
but he represents that other Virginia from whic
Washington and Jefferson now avert their face;
where human beings are bred as cattle for tn
shambles, and where dungeon rewards th
picus matron who teaches little children 10 re
lieve their bondage BY reading the Book Of Lif'
1t is proper that such a Senator, representa-
such State, should rail against Free Kansas.
: But this is not all. The precedent is sti
y more clinching. Thus far have followed 9,
clusively the public documents laid before Cor
gress, and illustrated by the debates of that bod
but we'll authenticated facts, not of record her
make the case stronger STILL It is sometim
said that the proceedings in Kansas are defectiv
because they originated in party. This is n
I, true; but even if it were true, then would thu
9 still find support in the example of Michiga
! where all the proceedings, stretching throul
:, successive years, began and ended in party
9 The proposed State Government was pressed
y the Democrats as a PARTY TEST; and that all wi
n did not embark in it were denounced: OF Il
y Legislative Council, which called the first Co
stitutional Convention in 1885, all were Dem
J. Gratis; and in the Convention itself, composed
le eighty-seven members, only seven were Wing
% The Convention of 1886, which gave the fin
le assent, originated in Democratic Cenyenti'
+ on the 29th October, ip the county of Wayn
/ composed of one hundred and twentyfodr del
- gates, all Democrats, who proceeded to resolve
"That the delegates of the Democratic pal
ao Of Wayne, solemnly impressed with the sprea
A. ing evils and dangers which refusal to 60 in
the Union has brought upon the people
:. i Michigan, earnestly recommend meetings to
= - Immediately convened by their fellow citizens
!, every county of the State, with view to the
preston Of their sentiments in favor Of the ele
u, ~ ton and call of another Convention in time
w secure our admission into the Union before
q first Of January next"
n. Shortly afterwards, a committee Of FIVE, a
pointed by this Convention, all leading Den
or Gratis, issued a circular, "undeI the authority
Il the delegates of the county Of Wayne reeo
at mending that the voters Throughout Michig
ed should meet and elect delegates to Convent
M to give the necessary assent to the act Of 90
Of gress. In pursuance of this call, the Conve
nd tion met; and, as it originated in an exclusi
= RI party recommendation, so it was an exclusive
"a party character. And it was the action Of Il
~ Convention submitted to Congress, and, af
40 40 discussion in both bodies, on solemn votes, q
i'm proved.
ut But the precedent of Michigan has anotl
lot feature, which is entitled to the gravest atte
le, ton, especially at this moment when citize
Of engaged in the effort to establish State Gt
on eminent in Kansas sse nnenly arrested ON
of sis,ss % treason, and we are startled by tidir
He Of the modest efforts to press this procedure
n preposterous Tyranny. No such madness p
ife vailed under Andrew Jackson; although duri
,e- the long pendency ofthe Michigan proceedin
,ur for more than fourteen months, the Territor
his Government was entirely ousted, and the ST
m Government organised in all its department
ng One hundred and thirty different Legisllt
ie, acts were passed. providing for elections, np
in, ing taxes erecting corporations and est blis
u ing courts OF Justice, including Supreme Co
ed anda Court Of Chaneery. All process was-u!
le. in the name of the people OF the State Of Mic
he igan. And yet no attempt was made to questi