Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-09-03
County Ticket.
Hon. B. P. Ranney's Positions Past

Hon. 3. ?. Ranney's Positions Past
AZ, and Present.
1t is well known TO the people of thi;
county, that Judge Ranney has been en-
gagged within the last few weeks in max
ing stump speeches, advocating the elec'
tisn CT James Buchanan to the Presiden.
.cy. and unfolding and endorsing the
Cincinnati Platform, upon which Mr..
Buchanan stands.
Or the outside of this paper we have
published a letter from the Judge bear
ing date of Sept. 5Oth. 1848, written to
BE. Hoffman Egg in answer 10 certain
questions propounded to Judge Ranney
when he was a candidate for Congress,
in this district. mos
ss7 In hat letter, lie says.
1 am in favor of maintaining the free
dom of the Territories of New Mexico
and California; in their whole extent, and
utterly opposed to authorizing slavery or
involuntary servitude OF any kind with
in them, or TO any compromise which
shall doom ANY PART of them TO the curse
of human bondage. " Ishould
be unwilling to omi anything calculated
eto give security to the principle-our flag
should NEVER FLOAT OVER ANOTHER FOOT
OF SLAVE TERRITORY.
The fourth resolution of the Cincin-
natl platform, (the addition made in 1856
toatlle old Baltimore platform of 1857
- Resolved. That we recognize the right OF the people
of al the Territories, including Kansas and Nebraska.
acting through the legally and fairly expressed will
3 Of the majority Of actual residents; and Whenever the
number OF their Inhabitants justifes il, TO form q con-
stitution. with or without domestic slavery, and be ad-
mitted into the Union upon terms 0. perfect equality
Judge Ranney's letter says.
In regard to slavery in the District of
Columbia, l answer that more than ten
years ago l had occasion TO make pub
lie my OPINION of the DUTY OF CONGRESS
TO ABOLISH THE DIsTzIcE or
CoLUMBIA.
The Cincinnati Reso 'Ved,
That the American Democracy recognize aud adopt
z che principles contained in the organic laws establish
ing the territories Of Kansas and Nebrasks, as embo
ldying the only sound and safe solution OF the slavery
question upon which the great national idea Of the PEG
conservatism Of the Union, and non-interference by
Congress With slavery in the Territories or in the Dis
strict Of Columbia
Again, Judge Ranney's letter says
1t is conceded that these Territories are
now free. They must remain SO until
changed by positive law of the sovereign
power. No question is better settled in
this country than that slavery exists in a
State by virtue of the local law. at is
clear that it can No MORE EXIST IN A R
TORI SUCH LAW HAN MAN CAN
BREATHE WITHOUT AIR" NEITHER Con-
eGREss NOR a TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE,
IN MT OPINION POSSESS q POWER TO Es-
TkBLIsH IT. IT CAN oSLY BE DONE By
The PEcPLE WHEN ADMITTED AS A STATE
''under the general principles of the
Constitution" IHAvE NO DOUBT OF THE
POWER OF CONGRESS TO ERECT TERRIFIC
RIAL GOVERNMENTS, TO PROVIDE FOR
THE PROHIBITION OF sLAvERI WITHIN THE
TERRITORIES, AND | AN IN FAVOR OF AND
WOULD SUPPORT sUcH PROHIBITION.
Now Judge Ranney stumps Ohio and
part Of Pennsylvania, advocating the
election of a man standing upon a plat
form which endorses an administration
which has legalized slavery in Kansas,
and DOUBTS whether Congress has the
power 10 prevent slavery there at all.
Again, His letter says:
49, 49, 20
Suffice it TO say the maintaining of
tbrir freedom is, in my judgment, due 10
humanity, to republican principles. to our
character and interests as a people, to
Mexico, and above all TO THE POOR OF
ouR OWN AND OTHER LANDS, who shall
go there to find HOMES o THEMSELVES
AND THEIR FAMILIES, and who would be
degraded and dis9rdced BY the contact
of slGUe labor.
Now. convinced by the new light shed
upon the question by Stephen A. Doug
las and the crack of the party whip. calls
the settlers who would make a free state
of Kansas Territory; who have gone
there to find homes, for themselves and
families, interlopers. violaters of law and
right and charges them with being Grim
nal because they seek to avoid being de-
graded and disgrooed by the contact of
stare labor. "7' q
6Htbe letter of 1646 contains the sen
t;ments which be honestly held at that
time, how can he reconcile his position,
then. with his position now ? Ii is a sad
instance efithe frailty of humanity that
~amsnTgifted with talents and eloquence,
learned. possessing az enviable reputa-
tomas a private citizen, and honored as
q %jufst, can permit the mandates of a
party to outweigh his own published
opinions, override the dictates of his
o&hbetter nature, and compel him to
place such assacriice before the wheels
of the ju~ggernaut Of party.
If here be truth in the report hat
JoLn Van Buren IS 10 wed the another