Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-04-17
Border RufIfapism in Of6o.

Publications have already beeh made Of
the attack Of the Virginiaus On the citizens
of Quaker Bottom, Ohio, for holding meet
ings, discussing the more: character o: ne
gro catching, and kindred subjects. Sever
al persons were knocked down and serious
ly injured. The matter was presented to
the Ohio Legislature, and was referred to
the Committee on Federal Relations, who
submitted the following reports:
FIRST RErokT.
|. That there is probable cause for believing
that the Jaws of this State have been want
only violated in the case referred to, and
that they ought to be vind:cated in their
full severity.
Your committee also report that there is
a large class of cases in which the laws of
this State may be violated with irnpunity by
citizens of other States, and by persons
escaping into other States, from the want
or from the inability of private parties to
defray the expenses of the Executive re-
QUESTION.
they therefore recommend the adoption
of the following resolution:
E. E. Hutchison,
F. L. Flowers,
T.. S. Turpiu,
John Pittman.
Resolved, That the standing committee
ON Finance be instructed to SO enlarge the
appropriation for the Governors contingent
fund, as to enable him to pay therefrom the
expenses of serving his requisitiens for fu-
giiives from justice in all cases wherein no
may think it just or proper for the State to
assume such expenditures.
SECOND REPORT.
That from the eyideace before US we are
constrained to believe that gross outrage
has been perpetrated upon the peaceable,
hw abid ng citizens Of Ohio, by the citizens
Of sister State, and that, too, while our
citizens were engaged in their undoubted
prerosative of free speech on the question
Of negro slavery.
Your committee are of the opinion that
any ordinary disturbance in any neighbor-
hood in our State, would not be sufficient
cause for demanding the attention. Of the
Legislature, bat when as in the case before
US, the citizeas of Ohio are not permitted
Peacesbly to assemble and freely speak up
on the great question of human freedom
without being assailed by citizens of a neigh
boring State, armed with the axe and club,
and cruelty beaten for daring to utter a
word against thess"peculiar institution" we
think it is time the voice of the people be
heard through the Legislature in most en-
phatic condemnation Of such border ''rufian-
ism.
Abhorrent as slavery is to the people of
Ohio, they have nevertheless been content
to regard it as a question belonging to the
S ates in which it exists, leaving them to
shsre its benefits and bear its evils alone,
but If to perpetuate its existence it be ne
cessury to rob our citizens of their dearest
rights, then indeed we should be alarmed.
Your committee would report that laws
are now upon our statute books under which
these offenders can be informed against and
indicted, and by fexecutive aid brought be-
fore our courts for trial, under the ample
provisions of the Federal Constitu ion and
laws, and trust that without delay the ne
cessary legal steps may be taken to vindi-
cate the majesty Of the law, the rights of
our outraged fellow citizens, and the severe
ignty of the State, and for the purpose Of
enabling the Governor to execute the wish
of this body, we recommend the adoption OF
the resolution herewith reported.
| RALPH PLUMB,
GEORGE MYGATT,
ERASTUS GUTHRIE,
]. II. LITTLER.
Resolution, same as above given, adopted
| hv tho Housp