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

The action of the Legislature of this state in
regard to the bred Scott case will attract the at
tention of our readers. The committee speak
brave words and true, and their action in regard to
the recently attempted usurpations of the supreme
COURTS we'll 80 far as it goes. But it falls altogether
short of measures ne, essary to successful resistance.
The Supreme Court of the United States having
declared our State constitution and all our state
laws, prohibiting the bringing and holding of
slaves within our limit, Incompatible with the
Federal Constitution. Of course thi. new "bill to
prevent slavehoiding in Ohio" is equally inefficient
whenever brought, as it inevitably will be, before
a Federal Court. What weneed is not more law,
but a proper respect and a manly defense of what
We now have and of our state constitution which
is now torn and trodden in tho dust. Until there
is a willingness to meet the Usurping Federal Gov
eminent in conflict, and use EXTREMIST means, moth.
ing will he done. We must he willing to aban.
don old compromises whether embraced in laws,
constitutions or whatever else. We must repudi-
ate old concessions and refuse to make new ones.
But such is not the character Of the bill which the
Ohio Legislature proposes in this emergency.
1t proposes lst, fine and Imprisonment as a pun.
ishment for any person attempting to hold auoth.
er as a slave in the state-2nd, 1t Furnishes in like
manner the seizure arrest and detention of any
person on pretense that he is a fugitive slave-3d,
IL provides for punishment by confinement in the
penitentiary for attempt to kidnap with intent to
slave in another state. All this is well it is in
accordance with the provision for freedom in the
constitution of Ohio and the honor of the state
and the security of our citizens require that the
constitution should be maintained.
We should be most happy to conssrue the pass
age Of this law into a determined declaration that
it shall be so maintained. But the final provis-
ion of the bill gives indubitable evidence that
our Legislators after their brave speech and bitter
curses of slavery, have not yet done either with
concessions or compromises. 1t is nothing else
than a clear and full declaration of their intended
continued submission to the nominations of the
of the fugitive slave isw-so cursedand yet obeyed.
Their heroism all has vanished in thin air. They
will meskly submit to the existence of slavery in
the commonwealth under the execution of any lie.
gal process in tie hands Of the United States Mar
shdI. Such a concession is infamous. 1t places
our boosted state sovereignty under the foot of every
legal kidnapper, who chooses to exercise it after
the pattern Of Archibald X. Gaines. II is a con-
sent to the notification of the constitution and
laws of Ohio in favor of the fugitive law of 1850
and a vacating of the executive Offices Of the
state in favor of a kidnapping Commissioner and
his minion, the United States Marshal. By the
passage of this provision of the bill. the Legis-
~lature will give this approval voluntarily. 1t will
volunteer this concession when the slave power is
in the act of striking down all our rights, politi.
cal and personal. Such is the fruit of our union with
slave holders. the result Of our admission of such
monstrous criminalsto On equal participation in the
national government, under the delusion or the
p~retenco of thereby establishing justice and Sc
curing the blessings of liberty. No wonder ''the
Committee of One" in the Ohio Senate lodged
the discussion Of the disunicn question. With
the purpose to continue to glorify and save the un-
ION il could not have been better disposed Of,