Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-04-09
The Dred Scott Case in the Ohio
Legislature.

varions petitions relative to the recent
decision Of the Supreme Cosrt Of the
United States, in the Dred Scott case.
Your committee submit that 30 fer a. :hey
are able to comprehend the force and effect
of said decision, it, among other things, ma
fionalizes Slavery; annihilates the hereto
fore conceded right of the free States to in
hibi, 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 pro-
position that man can hold property IN man;
| shuts he courts Of Justice to hundreds Of
thaus. nas OF native horn citizens; assumes
that the black man has no civil rights; end
doom> ever foot af soil to the curse VI Sla-
verr. and that irrevocably.
Yuur committee ssser: that this case has
no parable in wickedness in the history of
the wmH Vpres was conteuf TO Icy waste
a few insignificant provinces: this decision
deals vi a nation, yea, an entire race
II iu,bru'es and inhumanizes the race. and
wirh sublime touch Of vandalism. il ruth
iessly strips human beings OF rights God
given, and hands them over to be desoured
br human beasts OF prey.
Such now * declared by the highest judi
cal tribunal in the land, 10 be the mission
of n. Constitution of the United States.
lfsn. better that II had never been writ
ten. This decision, however. is contrary to
sli preconceiYed notions of that Instrument.
Tire union of States under the federal
compact, has heretofore been regarded as
combination oi 50 many independent s1ver-
eigrhi-s for fixed purposes nnd definite ob.
jects. Staies upon entering the confedcrs-
tion were not supposed TO have surrendered
.ny OF their local rights IS Independent gov.
.rnmrnta.
These they cautiously reserved. They
tciera, ed 10 the General Government GER
tain powers believed 20 be in harmony with
their reservations. The object to be at
tained was not q strong, overshsdowine
central government, which. should efiace
Stste iines and obli,eraie State institutions,
bat one which should effectually secure to
all these States, security from foreign ag-
gressiors, immunity from domestic divisions,
and protect, foster, cherish and perpetuate
civil and religious liberty, ard the rights of
ali mankind. These, as old as the Consti-
tuition, are all in detail, dssipated by said
decision.
Il becomes US then as citizens OF Ohio,
calmly yet firmly to take our position and
abide the consequences.
If we ride out the storm, we'll; if We go
down, better thus than tame submission TO
such coneummat wickedness. Three times
once by the Ordinance Of '67, once BY the
Constitution Of A. u. 1902, and once by
our present Constitution, has the territory
Of our State been forever consecrated TO
freedom Now, however, We learn that
those instruments were a cheat, delusion,
and a mere rope of sand.
We learn that our own Ohio, instead o!
being liz fact free. is in effect Slave State.
The mighty Sin against God and the giant
wrUng against man contemplated by that
decision, must not and shall not be censum-
mated in Ohio.
II attempts to force upon us a, institu.
iion hated, loaihed, and exeera'ed BY the
whole civilized world, and by 10 portion Of
the earth with deeper aud more abiding
detestation and sthorrence than by the
peop OF our State.
The men and women Of Ohio regard
Slavery with loathing which no words yet
coined will express This accursed institu-
iion may be planted upon our soil, and in
ter~uve with our institutions, but not until
IN. Il h do -
redeemed with the blood and whitened with
the bones Of our sons, brothers, husbands
and fathers.
Slern!y to the South and the Northern
sbetrors we say in all kindness that it will
take more than one decision Illuminated by
Jesui,icsl Catholic Judge to conquer a
rec Protestant people. We may be de
Priscd of the ability and power to prevent
tae clanking of the bondmen's chains around
our altars, our homes and cur fires, but,
thank God, 10 human power can prevent
uur dying in the attempt. We may be un-
able to protect thousands of our own citi-
gems in the enjc yment of their civil rights,
but long, fierce and desperate will be the
struggle before We. yield the point. We
have now seen every department Of the
General Government subsidized II The sup
port, spread, maintenace, and eternallzaiion
o: slavery. In this mad crusade against our
dearest, most sacred, and most cherished
rights. we have interposed our most earnest
remonstfsnce, and uttered our most solemn
warning. All unheeded and uncared Tor
has been that remonstrance and that warn
ing.
Tins decision, if undertaken 10 be enfor-
ced. places us immeasurably beyond that
point where for6earsDce is longer a virtue
Yea, il is questionable whether it is not
even now a crime against both man and
God Endesvor to enforce that decision in
our State, and from the blue waters of Lake
Erie on the North. to the beautiful Ohio on
the South; from the hills of Pennsvlvanis
on The East, TO the plains Of Indiana on
the West. but one voice will be heard eche.
ing and re echoing the war cry of the Rev
oution-"Give us Liberty, or give US
DEATH
As an indication of the purpose of the
General Assembly and the People of OHIO,
your committee recommend the adoption of
the following resolutions, and the passage
of the accompanying act:
RESOLUTIONS
Res7lved. by The General Assembly Of TIE
Stofs Of Ohio. i. That this General Assem-
bly, has observed with regret that in the
opinion lately pronounced by Chief Justice
Taney. in behalf Of a majority of the Su-
prene Court of the United states, in the
case of Dred Scott against J. +. II. Sanford,
occasun has been taken to promulgate, ex-
ira juoicially, certain doctrines concerning
Slavery, not less contradictory TO well
known facts Of history, than repugnant to
the plain provisions of the Constitution and
subvrrsive OF the rights of Freemen and
Free States.
2. That in the judgment of this General
A-ua,,kf.- l.