Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-08-21
Letter from Hon. James. Myers:

| Letter from Hon. James Myers:
To some of cur readers out of Ohio, it
may be necessary to say that james Myers.
last year Lieur. Governor Of on. State, has
ever been one of the very pillars of Ohio
Democracy. A few days since the Demo.
cratic party of his district offered him the
Congressinal nomination. which he declined
in a handsome let,eron the ground that he
could not longer act with party that sup
ports the Cincinnati platform. He was in
siicd by the COMMITTEES Of Arrangements to
address the Convention at Fremont, Wednes-
day. Below we give his answer to this in
yi,ation:
t TotEDo, July 80, 1856.
| GESTLEMEN:--Iour invitation to attend
and address the great Fremont and Dayton
Mass Meeting, to be held at your place on
the 9Th of August, has been received.
regret that a former engagement, which
compels me 10 leave for the East tomorrow
morning. will prevent me from being present
up1n that occasion.
1t would be a source Of great pleasure to
me 10 be presen, at your meeting, and con-
tribute any influence thai | might have to
the cause Of Freedom. the great battle ,for
which is nov being fought in this country.
The result of the present political contest.
believe, is fraushtwiih the most important
consequence to the dearest interests of our
common country, and must fix its lutura
destiny, for all time, as to slavery extensions.
The people are now called upon to decide
whether Slavery shall spread over the fairest
portion of our country, and whether the
Slave power shall eonToi the action of this
government for its particular benefit, or
whether free men and free labor shall occupy
and cultivate our new territories, and wheth-
er this government shall be controlled on.y
tor the best interests of the whole country.
consider the crisis has arrived when we
can not escape responsibility for our action
upon this question; We must choose between
Slavery and Freedom in our Territories
For one, have no second ch9ice in such
contest. shall be found on the side OF
Freedom. Make Kansas Slave State AMI
ali is lost to Freedom; mike Kansas Free
State, and it will secure Freedom for all of
our present Territories. Kansas is the kew
20 all the wide extended Territories beyo1d
her-open it to Slavery, and you will curse
posterity and the country with an evil for
which there will beno remedy; and will de-
prive free laborers of an inheritance which
Justly belongs to them. What a contrast
would such a course be to that pursued by
Jefferson and his patriotic cotemporaries,
who coDseerated all of the territory belong
ing to this country, in their day: to freedoml
Let the free people of Ohio Indiana, Illinois,
contest their. gratitude to those disinteres-
ted patriots who beqaeathed them freedom
for an inheritance instead Of slavery, bv ex-
tending to the people who may inhabit Kan
sas and other territories, like privileges
which We enjoy. How can man, who has
particle of patriotism burning in his bo-
som. reflect upon the consequences that
must inevitably result from the decision OF
the great issue now before the people. and
vet suffer partisan leaders, who expect to
have the aid Of the united slave power to
give them place and emoIuments as the re-
ward for their apjstacy to the rights and in
terests of the North, be Influenced to cast
their votes 10 blight the best interests Of
his country.
would appeal to my Demo cratic friends
to cast aside all prejudice, aid weigh well
the great question now pending in this cam
paign, before casting their votes for men
rrhe.=a alnatinn will Givn furce and effact tn
the slave interests, merely because they
claim tI be the nominees OF the Democratic
orIanization-an organiznatioa which has.
at the bidding of the slave power, repudiat-
ed. on the subject of slavery every principle
of Thos. Jefferson, the great apostle Of De-
mocrlcy and founder OF the Democratic par
ty.
hope there is suhsien. intelligence ami
independence of party discipline, to decide
this question in favor of freedom.
am, with great respect, your obd't scr't,
JAMES MYERS.
TOR. P. Buck,and, s. Birchard, o. L. NIms,
Committee.