Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-08-20
From the Ohio State Journal.

From tho ONO state Journal.
a Demagogue Unmasked-Henry
B. Payne Denouncing the Fugi-
tive Slave Law, and Demanding
its Repeal-The Record
Henry B. Payne, the Douglas Nebras ka
Dred Scott prO-Slavery candidate for Gov
ernor in Ohio, was a member OF the Ohio
Senate from the county of Cuyahoga in the
year 1851. This was after the passage Of
the famous, or rather, infamous Fugitive
Slave Act by Congress. There was a
strong feeling, especially in the Northern
portion of the State, against it, and that
feeling found expression by war of resolu-
lutions in the Legislature.
After the utter prostration of Mr.. Payne
to the behests of the slave power, and the
strong pro-Slasery sentiments he uttered al
the State Convention o. the party which
nominated him on the 9Th inst, it may sur
prise some people who do not know the
character Of the man, to learn that in 1851, I,
Mr.. Payne pretended to sympathize with
his constituents in their disgust and detes-
tation of the domineering and tyrannical
cause of the slave breeders aud slave drivers
of the South. As their Senator he both
acted aud noted against the Fugitive Slave
Law
We have before US the official journal of
the Senate of the State o: Ohio for the
year ls50-'5l and we propose.to lay before
our readers and the people of the State the
votes of this man then, that they may con-
trast them and his course with his present
position. 1t is true that his is no more than
the change which has come over the most
of the leading politicians of that party since
the crack of the Southern whip has been
rung in their ears, demanding of them the
sacrifice Of every sentiment in favor of lib
erty, and an oath Of fealty to the party of
slavery proPagandism. Itis but one OF the
thousand instances within the last six years
of treason to freedom and free labor by the
demagogues who Insult our common sense
by calling themselves Democrats. But it
is worthy careful perusal and is pregnant
with suggestions. Let US. appeal to the
record.
On Thursday, March 18th, 1851, the
House of Representatives sent to the Sen
ate the following Joint resolution:
Resolved, By the General Assembly ol
the State of Ohio, that our Senators in Con-
gress be instructed, and our Representatives
requested, to use all honorable means to
obtain an immediate repeal, modification or
amendment of the act Of Congress, usually
styled the Fugitive Slave Law, approved
Seetember 10, 1850.
Resolved, That tn Governor of the
State of Ohio be requested to forward tc
each of our Senators and Representatives
in Congress copy of the above resolution
(Senate Journal 1901, page 1922
Mr.. Horton moved to lay these resolu.
tions on the table.
Upon which motion the yeas and nays
were taken, and Mr.. Payne voted no. The
motion was lost. (Poge 1889
Mr.. Linton moved to refer them to the
Committee on Federal Relations. Mr.
Payne voted no.
MIR. Geiger moved to strike out the wor,
repeal from the resolution. Mr.. Payn
voted no. page 1881
Mr.. Linton moved to strike out the word
be instructed and insert the word 'be' be
fore the word requested in the resolution
Mr.. Payne voted no. page 764.)
Mr.. Burns moved that the further consit
Grafton of said resolutions and pendin
amendments, be Indefinitely postponed
|
These resolutions were finally laid upo
1 be table, and were not again taken up du
ing the session.
But the Senate took other and further q
tion on this subject. On Saturday, Marc
22d, Mr.. Linton, from the standing commi