Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-04-09
CARROLLTON CARROLL COUNTY, OHIO THURSDAY APRIL g. 1851

people to believe that you are in earnest opposed
to the extentiOn Of slavery, as the Senator from
Auglase Mr.. Phelps says lie is, although be
says he would assist the master to recapture his
slave, if be resisted the Oiicer-and another Sena-
tor Mr.. HOLMES has said that be is in favor of the
right oftranst through Ohio; while another & Mr.
Mathews) has said that he would vote for law
to give efficacy to hefugitve slave act, all Of
which look to the ultimate result. the establish
ment Of slavery, net only in the free territories, but
in. the free States, Under these circumstances,
we believe It our right as well as our imperative
duty, 10 relieve ourselves even from the appearance
Of evil, and refuse the STAKEHOLDER the power OF
coBfniug bis fugitive slave in our prisons and
jaiIs or penitentary and so believing we shall act
and yet hope that our Democratic brethren will
see the errors. of their wavs and come back to
the knowledge Of the truth, aud again pay their
deyotions at the alter Of freedom, reading anew
mat solemn act Of out fathers, to wit: @That all
men are born free ahd equal, possessed of certain,
in alienabls rights, among which ore life, LID erty
and the pursuit Of happiness" which declara-
lation acknowledged by the civilized world, inspi-
red the patriots of rs, teough few in numbers to
repeal, yictoriously, the mys! powerful nation in
the world.
You may talk as you please, Senators, Of our
duty to obey the decision Of the Supreme Court.
We know that the simple question before that
Court was of jurisdiction, and all the rest of the
decision is no more binding than the ispe diri of
any other men, still it is intended as a binding de-
cison to put at rest the slavery agitation, and if it
should be so binding, it would tolerate slavery in
Ohio, and every other free State! You may talk
of the comfy and equality of States in justifica
ton of that decision, and your platform; that the
SIaveko lder should have the same right to take
his slaves as property into the Territories or free
States, that you or have to take out horses or
any other property into slave State, still the un
deniable truth remains that slavery can only exist
by virtue Of positive law, and cannot exist beyond
the limits ofthe local sovereignty in which it exists
That has been decided by the courts of the slave
States-and was ever understood as a settled ques-
tion, SO that it was everywhere conceded that the
moment the master took his slave into free terrific.
tory he scaS free, and being free, be could never
again, even on slave soil, be ensaved-unti you
have found it necessary for political success, to
worship in another church of which John G. Cal
houn was the great'fonnder, church without the
sympathieS or approval of any portion of the
civilized world, condemned by all, save one, who
like the incendiary thisting Cor Immortality, fired
thr Ephesan Dome.
Our position is defined, from which thsre is no
retreat, "Non extension of slavery, and non inter
vention with slavery in the slave States" and in
this we mean rot in any manner to interfere with
slavery in the slave States, but we are firmly and
forever resolved that this Bohan Upas shall not
poison our soil, and infect the free, pure air of our
State; that we will not suffer our people to pay
taxes to build jails and prison houses and peniten
aries in which to incarcerate the slave, who de-
MED the right of trial, that is sotherwise conceded
to the most degraded culprit, who may be charged
with the most atrocious felony, even treason; IN
short, that while We will not violate any law of a
sister State by encing away "A slave, We will not
violate every law Of right, humanity and justice,
by locking in our prisons mon, who is charged
with no crime, either against the laws of God or
man, save an effort to be free. And bere we
again repeat, that fhe Union must and shall be
preserved" and this aggressive spirit of slavery,
with the sanctian of the Dred Scott decision, al
though pretending to decide questions not legally
at ISSUE in tae case must and will be arrested in
its deahlke career, by the solemn and irresistible
fiat of the millions of freemen, who will hurl from
power and place, the men who have thus sought
to destroy the very life blood of the Republic
Butter, my Democratic brethren, leave the boat,
with its black piratica flag at its masthead, before
ii is swamped and wrecked-come back to the
household Of your first love, and all will be safe,
In conclusion, will say that feel constrained
my State, to vote for lhe resolution of my friend
from Franklin, Mr.. Kelley instucting the stand
ing committee on Federal Relations TO inquire
"whether any, and if so, what legislation is requi-
red to prevent the introduction of slavery into this
State, and that said committee report by bill or
otherwise;" as l did the other day vote for bill
prohibiting the use of our jais &c, to fugitive
slaves. And permit me here to say to my friend
from Hamilton, Mr.. Matthews as ne has so frank
ly, in answer to my question to-day responded
first, that he does "not concur in the decision ol
Judge Taney in the bred Scott case (as it is by
telegraph reported) in any particular" secondly
tnat ne "Delleves that congress mas the power lo
prohibit slavery in the Territories" and thirdly
shat if Congress does not see fit to exercise the
power the people of the Territory have the power
to regulate their own domestic institetions, and
among these slavery" that congratulate the Sen
ator on bis rapid return to first principles. 1t viii
be recolIected that some weeks ago | observed tc
the Hon. Senator that least of all would it sur.
prise me to see him "like prodgal son returning to
the household of his first love-" He s now at the
halfway house, and will doubtless soon rid him.
self of squatter sovereignty and Other kindred fal
lacies, for which he yet seems to have lingering
attachment-and be ready to enter, after proper
penance and probation, into full communion with
his former brethren in the Republican church.
And to all | would say, escape while there is even
wey prepared for YOU" for if you fer a moment
suppose that the Dred Scott decision will quiet the
public mind, or that the people of Ohio will tact
lp permit the stakeholder the right Of transit with