Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-01-27
PoMERoY, TUESDAY. JNUARY 81, 1857.

y .NOOg'
ie omy, and encourage combinations for tn
5; pillage Of the Treasury under delusve pre-
e texts of public good
y Ohio, paying one-tenth of these contri
i buttons, has substantial interest in thest
S matters, which should not be overlooked
e and it cannot be deemed unfit that hel
!, General Assembly should give expression
= to her demand for retrenchment and re.
f form, and for reduction of revenue, thu
Y only sufficient security for both.
Immediately after the close of your late
session, in conformity with your instruc
1 tions, transmitted to the Governor ofeach
! State, copy of Joint Resolutions of the
General Assembly relative to Kansas af-
''fhirs. The Governor Of Mississippi has
returned the copy transmitted to him, ii
pursuance, as he states, of the require
| ments of Joint Resolution of the Legis-
lature of that State, of which he transmits
!, a copy. ! submit his communication to
your consideration without comment.
The relations of the National Govern
ment to Slavery, still engross large share
of the public attention; but have little to
add to the considered views which l have
already expressed.
That Slavery is contrary to reason and
natural justice; that it is Of such a nature
that nothing short Of positive law can sus-
tain it; that no power to enact such laws
has been granted to the National Govern
ment; and that Slavery, therefore, outside
of the Slave States, can have no valid legal
sanction, seem to me iucontroyertible prop
osilioas.
The original policy of the country was
in harmony with these ideas. 1t contem-
plated the exclusion of Slavery from the
National Territories; tie excrtion of the
legitimate influence of the General Gov
ernment on the side of Freedom; and the
amelioration and final eradication of the
great evil by the action of the State Gov
ernments, without intervention or inter
ference by National Legislation.
"The abolition of Slavery" said Mr..
Jefferson, at the commencement Of the
Revolutionary struggle-"is the greatest
object of desire III these colonies" 1t is
the pride and boast Of America, said
Mr. Madison, speaking at the close of the
war in behalf of the American Congress
-"that the rights for which she contended
were the rights of human nature.
"There is but one proper way, said
George Washington, speaking at still la
ter period, Of the abolition Of Slavery-"by
which it can be accomplished, and that is
by Legislative authority; and this, so far
as my suffrage can so, shall not be want
ing"
We need not hesitate to walk in the
paths marked by the footsteps Of the
Fathers.
Within the last two months l have re-
ceived several communications from emf
grants to Kansas from Ohio, earnestly ap-
pealing for protection and aid. Of these
appeals one was in the form of an affidavit
from eleven citizens imprisoned under va
rous charges at Lecompton. Ten of these
prisoners, though formerly citizens of Ohio,
are now residents in Kansas. The elev-
enth, an old man of seventy years, a SOL
der near half a century ago under Jack
son, was still u resident of Ohio, on visit
to some friends in the Territory. The re-
al offence Of all was the defence of Free
State homes against Slave State INVASION.
Their seizure, their Imprisonment, their
indictments, and their cruel treatment,
constitute dark chapter in the dark histo-
ry of wrong and outrage in Kansas.
On receiving this appeal, l thought it
right to address an earnest letter to Gov.
Geary in behalf of the prisoners. | also
sent for their immediate relief sum of
money contributed by private bene6cenee,
which, however, failed to reach its destina-
ton in consequence of Inc necessary re-
turn of the gentleman 10 whom it was en-
trusted without having entered the Terri
tory. 1t gives me pleasure to inform you
that most of these prisoners have since eS-
capped or have been acquitted. | am not
aware that any of them yet remain in con-
tnement.
Another of these communications comes
from committee of Ohio settlers in Kan
sas, representing that the emigrants from
Ohio number several hundred: that they
emigrated to Kansas in the full faith Of
peace and protection; that they held no
doctrines other than such as are common
in Ohio; that, coming from free State and
holding such sentiments, they are practi-
cally disfranchised by odious test oaths;
that many of their number have been
killed; many robbed; and all subjected to
grievous indignitios and injuries; that they
have appealed in vain to the Federal Gov
ernmenJ for protection; and that the strife,
which has at present ceased, may recon
mence, at any moment, when new at
tempt shall be made to enforce the spurious
code of an alien Legislature, In the event
of new outbreak, these settlers ask the
protection of Ohio.
The other communications detail the
circumstances of particular outrages.
These representations cannot be proper
ly disregarded. AS an equal member Of
: the conlederacy, Ohio is entitled to demand
for her citizens emigrating to the Terrific
ries, free ingress and egrcss by the ordlna-
ry routes, and complete the protection from
invasion, from usurpation, and from law
less violence. If the General Government
refuse this protection, | cannot doubt the
right or the duty of the State to intervene
There are good grounds, however, for
tha Lo,,o tL,t IL ,,,nret so own IN KonsnS