Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-02-16

in a large portion Of our country, leaving their en-.
Joyment of life, liberty and property to 10 sccur-
ed II at all, by other means than the laws Of the
General Government.
". Because Wy the provisions Of the Constitution
OF the United States, the physical and pccuniary
power and moral Influence of every citizen Of
Ohio who exercises the elective franchise, is pleIg.
ed and used for the purpose Of holding near four
millions Of human being, in tho condition Of
chattcl slaves.
70. Because by the Constitution we are forbid
den to provide Tor the protection aul defense Of
fugitive saves who seek Nh ASYLUM within our
BORDERS.
IL Because eur present connection with the
General Government involves us in the degrade.
ton and crime Of sending our Representatives to
meet, as fit legislators for free people, men whose
daily lives give the most unqucstionablc assurance
that they have no true perception OF tho rights
Of man or regard for the principles Of human lib
crty.
IS. Because from the nature Of the case, and of
'he proofs constantly accommodating. and made con-
spicuonaly manifest by the political events Of the
last few years, 1t is evident that no real Union Of
slave and free States does or can exist.
&c. Because tho principles of sound morality
and the requirements ofjusticc impcratively forbid
tho individual to be loyal to a government thus
constituted.
II. Because Ohio possesses within herself Gle.
mcnts of political power already organized into
Institutions and operating tremendously. which
are sufficient to command the respect Of the sur.
rounding community and extend their protection
over her citizens against internal di6cOrd and ex.
ternal dangers; and because by position, wealth,
influence, and power she is most favorably circum-
stanccd to take the lead in a movement which must
necessarily c%ycntuato in the speedy emancipation
Of the slaves Of the country and open the way for
the construction of q corfederacy founded upon
justice ana devoted to the maintainance of equal
rights.
I'VE, therefore, most respectfully solicit you to
refer this memorial to u committee, with instruc-
tions to appoint a day upon which your memorial.
lists may be heard by counsel upon the subioet-mat.
ter herein contained.
Signed, on behalf and by direction Of the Ex.
ccutiye Committee of the Western Anti. Slavery
Society.
'lSAAC lKLcCOIl, Chau pro TEN.
Benz. S, JONES, Secretary"
Tho Cleveland Leader has the following notice
of the action of the House On the memorial:
AN INTERESTING DEBATE.
Last Friday forenoon an interesting debate &C
Cured IN the llou}o OF Representatives. Mr.. jew
ct presented a memorial from the Western Anti
Slavery Association of Salem, Columtiana county,
praying toe House to decline entering into the
election Of United States Senator; to rescind the
laws which regulate the election of members of
the House of Representatives of the United States
and electors for President; to provide for an amend
mcnt to the Constitution of Ohio, which shall re
repeal the 9TH Sec, of the 10th Article, and forbid
all State officers to take an oath to suppoitt the Con.
%stituticn of the United States; with such other
as may appear expedieut to OBJECT the
peaceful withdrawal of Ohio from the Federal
Union"
This, of course, brought out the Democracy, who
refused to allow the memorial to take the usual
course. They tried bard to make political capita
out Of it; forgetting that to receive a petition is
one thing, and TO grant it another. Tho stability
of the Union will not be affected by the presenting
such petitions; but it may BE- by refusing to receive
them. In France, no man is permitted TO speak
against the governments; in America, every man
freely expresses his opinion. Which government
is the strongest? When men are forced to Weld
t. any doctrine, they involuntarily feels
like resisting II; but when they are l,i to their
own Tree choice, they usually concur in the same
genera! opinion.
This Union cannot be strengthened by rejecting
petitions Of any chHra:tcr. provided they are
coucLed in decent and respectful language. \
very large majority of the people of Ohio believe
that any citizen has a peIlcc right to petition the
Legislature for Il dissolution of the Union: AMI
they will feel that their representatives have acted
unwiscly When they shall refuse to receive such
petitions. To reject them would not prevent the