Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-04-11
THE DRED SCOTT CASE IN THE OHIO
LEGISLATURE.

Report of the Standing Committees on Federal Re
laiions. to lohom pds referred the resolution Of
Mr.. Kelley, Of Fanki,m, and rarious petitions
relative to the recent decision Of the Supreme
Court of the United States, in the Dyed Scott
case:
Your committee submit that so far as they are
able to comprehend tine force and effect of said
decision, it, among other things, nationalizes Sla-
very, annihilates the heretofore conceded right OF
the free States to inhibit that institution; asserts
that there is no power in Congress or the people
of the United States, or of the Territories, to ex.
clude slavery; sanctions the monstrous popositiOn
that man can hold property IL man; shuts the
courts of justice to huudre1s of thousands of ma
tive born citizens, assumes that the black man has
no civil rights; and dooms every foot Of soil to the
curse of Slavery, and that irrevocably.
Your committee assert that this case has no par
allel in wickedness in the history of the world.
Verres was content to lay waste Il few insignificant
provinces; this decision deals with a nation, yea,
an entire race.
1t imbrutes and inhumanizes the race, and
with a sublime touch Of Vandalism, it ruthlessly
strips human being of rights God. given. and hands
them over to be devoured by human beasts of
prey.
Such is now declared by the highest judicial
tribunal in the land, to lie the mission of the Con-
~stitution of the United States.
If so, better far that it had never been written.
This decision, however is contrary to all pTec0n-
ceived notions of that instrument.
The union of States under the federal compact,
has heretofore been regarded as a combination of
so manv independent sovereignties for fixed pur-
poses and definite objects. States, upon entering
the confederation, were not supposed to have sur
rendered any Of their local rights as independent
governments.
These they cautiously reserved. They delega-
ted to the General Government certain powers be-
lieved to be in harmony with their reservations.
The object to be attained was not l strong, over
shadowing central government, which should
O fac State lines and obliterate State institutions
but one which should efectually secure to all
these states security from foreign aggressions,
immunity from domestic divisions, and protect,
foster cherish and perpetuate civil and religious
liberty. and the rights of all mankind. These. as
old as the Constitution. are all in detail, dissipated
by sad decision.
1t becomes us then, as citizens of Ohio, calmly
yet firmly to take our position and abide the con.
sequences.
If we ride out the storm, we'll; if we 20 down,
better thus than tame submission to such con.
summate wickedness. Three times-once by the
ordinance of 'S7, once by the Constitution of A. ID
1902, and once by our present Constitution-ha
tho territory of our State been forever consecratec
to freedom. Now, however, we learn that those
instruments we're a cheat, q delusion. and q mere
rope OF sand.
We learn that our own Ohio, instead of being
in fact a free, is in effect a Slave State. The mighty
Elm against God, and the giant wrong against mar
contemplated by that decision, must not and Shal
not be c~onSummdted in Ohio.
1t attempts to force upon us an institution, hated
loathed, and execrated by the whole civilized worlc
and no portion of the earth with a deeper anC
more abiding detestaiion and adherence than by
the people of our State.
The men and women of Ohio regard Slavery
with a loathing which no words yet coined will
express. This accursed institution may be planted
upon soil, and interviewer with our institutions
bat not until every valley, every plain and every
hillside is REDEEMED with the blood and whiteneC
with the bones of our sons, brothers, husbands anC
fathers.
Sternly to the South and their Northern abet
tore. we say ia all kindness, that il will take NOR,
shan one decision illuminated by a Jesuitical Cath
ellie Judge, to conquer a free Protestant people
We may be deprived of the ability and power Il
prevent the clanking of the bondsmen's chain
around our affairs, our homes and our fires. bu
thank God. no human power can prevent our dy
ing in the attempt. We may be unable to protec
thousands Of our own citizens in the enjoyment O
their civil rights, but long, fierce, and desperate
viii be the struggle before we yield the point w