Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-08-20
tee on Federal Relatiops, reported the fol.

tee on Federal Relstiops, reported the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolved, by the General Assembly of
fhe State o. Ohio, That while the General
Assembly would urge the faithful observ-
ance of law upon all tie people of this
State, and Of her sister States of the Unien,
as the most efectual mode of promoting
their best interests, as well ss high duty
they owe alike to themselves and their com
mon country,it would most earnestly recon-
mend to Congress the, necessity OF SO amend
ing and modifying the provisions of the
fugitive slave law that while it accures
faithful compliance with all the obligations
imposed by the Constitution of the United
States, it will, as becomes free govern
ment, guard, with jealous e,the rights OF
eemen. page 9O9.)
= After various attempts at amendments.
the above reso luton was passed BY vote
of l9 to l0-snd among the list of names in
the affirmative is that of Mr.. Payne. (Page
9l5.)
During the tendency Of the resolution,
Mr. Walker moved an amendment, as fol-
lows:
sAnd if the said law, in the opinion of
Congress, cannot be so amended as to give
it to persons claimed as fugitives from labor
the benefit of every legal defence of their
liberty, we then recommend the repeal Of
said law
Mr.. Geiger moved to amend said amend
men as follows:
Provided that Congress shall believe that
such repeal ,ciH not tend TO the dissoluflo
of the Union "
Three Sesators. Messrs. Geiger, Hatch
and Howard, voted for this Union-saving
clause but, al the rest including Mr.. Payne,
roted against it. page 9ll.) He would
not dare to run such tremendous risk at
this time.
Mr.. Psrdee moved to add another resolu-
ton, as follows:
Resolved. That the law commonly called
the fugitive law being a law that makes ex-
parte evidence conclusive of the masters
right to re-capture and return his slave;
that denies jury trial. here or elsewhere;
that provides for the appointment Of swarms
of petty officers to execute il, that gives a
double compensation to find every claim set
up in favor OF the master, und pays the ex-
pense in any case, from the public treasury,
can never receive the voluntary co-opera-
ton of our people, and ought therefore to
be repeled1 page Sl2)
Here is a most infmmatory, incendiary,
reasonable, disunion, abolition, black re-
publican affair! Letsus, for moment, i'm
agine such document introduced into the
Democratic State Convention on the 9th
inst, for adoption. What would have been
the response! And yet, on the passage of
this resolution tie vote stood, yeas %, nays
8, and among the names recorded for its pas
sage stands that of Mr.. Payne. page 9l6.)
Such is the record of demagogus! Such
were his sentiments and his votes in 1851.
Was he honest then! Is he honest now!
What has wrought this wondrous change in
him! Why does he now indorse, embrace
and glorify this very self same Fugitive
Slave Act which in 1851 be denounced and
repudiited.
1t is sickening and disgusting to witness
the degradation and disgrace ofeur promi-
nent public men as we see il exhibited in
this instance. Do they for moment imag-
inc that they are not understood by the in
telligent people of Ohio! DO they suppose
The base party appliances which have been
brought to bear upon them by Douglass and
he pro-slavery South, are SO concealed un.
Ter the pretence of Democracy, that their
reason to Freedom and free labor is not ap-
parent to the worldl