Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-11-20
To the Republ;cans Of Ohio.

lsw rppealIng the time-honored Missouri
ProA Ibition, hy winch slavery VAS forever
excluded from all Our Territory North of
80 dog. 30 min. b. the Kansas and Ne
braska Bill. the most obnoxious of the pro-
slavery views OF joan &. Calhoun were viz
tusIly recogr lied and incorporated into a
law OF the land. The oft repeated opinions
Of jefferson, embodied in the Ordinance of
1857, sr6 acted upon BY bin At various pc
ricds of his Administration, on the power OF
Congress over the subject of slavery in the
Territories were ignored, and the doctrine
was boldly announced that the Constitution
denied TO Congress the power to prohibit
this institution in The Territories. The de-
clared opinions OF sl our eminent public.
men; the uniform action of Congress in the
exercise OF this right, aud the repeated de-
cisions of the Supreme Court Of the United
States were repuii1ted, and the entire line
Of policy for slave ry-extension, as advocated
by The Calhoun school was adopted, and
proclaimed as the future pulley OF the coun-
try.
This change, on SO ritally important 4
question, ao;oEishcd and alarmed tn. free
men .: the non slareho!ding States. With
cr, regard To old party asso. istions, the
people as Seubled to conrult upon the Course
Of action TO be pursued 10 check and rebuke
.hie arrogant and siartli IL policy. Hitherto
slavery had-bern regarded as sectional; do
an Institution dependent upon State legis-
ation for existence and continuance within
Stale iuits, and clearly subject to exclusion
BY Congress from National Territories.-
Freedom had heretofore been regarded as
NATIONAL, TO secure and perpetuate which
the Constitution had been furmed and adopt
ed by the American people. Those funds
mental principles, upon which ctr Govern
nent had been formed ind administered,
could not be reiinluish'd without protest
and struggle.
long series Of slaveholding aggFessions
upon The rights and interests OF Freemen
and Free States had ready well-nigh ex-
hausted popular foEtearance, when this
crnwning wr9ng called the Republican
party into existence. Patriotic, liberty
loving men, from all the existing political
organizations, moved by a Common impulse,
united foE the defense Of liberty, and the
over brow Of the Save Power. Their DEL
egates me, in Na'ional Convention at Phil
adelpha, on the I7ta OF June, 1855, and
adopted the following great national prin-
cipics as the platform Of their political si,h =
"ResoIred, That the main; enance of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration
of Independence and emboGied in the Fed
eral Constitution, is essential to the pres
erraien o: our Republican Institutions, and
that the Federal Constitution, the Rights
Of the States, aud the Union of the States,
shall be preserved.
"Rc.olrcd. That with our Republican
fathers We hold it to be q truth that all men
ere endowed with inaiirnahle rights to life,
liberty, aG0 tine pursuit Of happiness, and
that the pr mary object and Interior design
OF Our Fedora. Government were 10 secure
| those rights to all persons within its exclu-
sive jurisdiction; that as our Republican
fathers, when they had abolished Slavery in
all the National Territory, ord lined tina: no
person should De deprived of lite, Liberty, or
property, without due process of law, it be-
comes our duty " maintain this provision o.
The Constitution sgainst all attempts TO
violate it, for the purpose OF establishing
Slavery in any Territory of the United
States, by POSITIVE Legislation prohibiting
its existence or extension therein; and we
deny the authority Of Congress, of Terri.
torial Legislature, OF any individual or asso-
citation of individuals, 10 give legal exist
ence to Slavery in any Territory of the
United States, while the present Constitu.
ton shall be maintained.
"Resoued, That the Constitution confrrs
upon Congress sovereign power over the
Territories of the United States for their
government, and that in the exercise OF
this power it is both the right and d"ty Of
Congress 10 prohibit ir the Territories those
twin relics o. barbarism--Polygamy and
Slavery.
"Resnlrsl, That We invite the afiliation
and Cooperation of men Of all parties, how
ever differing from US in other respects, IN
support OF The principles herein declared,
and believing that the spirit of our inslitu-
tiuDs rs well as the Constitution of our
country, guarantees liberty OF conscience,
and cgGalIly Of rights among citizens, we
oppose al Legislation impiiring their Sc
| curity.'
With the sbove sentiments inscribed upon
our banners, VIC entered upon the Presiden-
,ial campaign in'supFort oi National Can
didatee rledged to maintain them. Discard
ing sli euthngling all'snces, and relying
upon the Justice OF our cause, we have ap-
| pealed 10 Ire people OF Ohio for their sup.
port. We have fought the political battle
OF 1856, and victory has CROW ned uur efforts.
Ohio has again anG Tor the fourth lime pro-
Claimed 10 the people of the Union her stern
devotion TO the gre al principles of freedom
which j. flerson stamped upon the Ordinance
OF 1857, and which has made cur State
wha, it Is today, the pride and boast Of
freemen throughout the world.
While we exult and glory in Ibis verdict
OF the people, it is with profound regret We
announce the defeat Of orr Candidate for
the Presidency. and the election of James
Buchanan. man who has proclaimed him
sell the representative and embodiment Of
the slavery extension policy of the Calhoun
school. We deplore the divisions and dis
sensons among those in other States who
claim to be with us in our opposition to
slavery extension, who reput iaie the polit.
icsl philosophy of South Carolina, and who
sprose, with us, the oulrsges heaped upon
the free settlers in Kansas by the Border
Ruffians II Missouri, sanctioned and sus-
tyincd by the Administration at Washing
ton. Through these divisions have We iaia-