Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-09-17
THE QUESTION OF FREEDOM IN
THE OHIO LEGISLATURE
RECORD OF THE PAST

The State of North Carolina in 1905 |
proposed 10 her sister States, an amend. |
Brnt 10 the Constitution of the y. s.,
whesety Congress should be empowered
to pass law 10 prevent the further impor-
tatiOns Ofsayes orpeople ofeolor into tie
United States. 20
The General Assembly Of Ohio, to
whom the proposition was submitted, re-
ported thereon by resolution, aud said,
"conside'ihg the existence Of slavery e
the United States as m evil Of the most
alarming nature. on the gradual abolition
OF which, in a great measure, depends cur
future prosperity aud happiness as a ,na
ton, aud well aware that any additional
importation Of that unhappy race of men
will, independent Of the outrage commit.
ted on them, entail lasting curse upon
the community, therefore we view the
sentiments expressed In the resolution Of
the State Of North Carolina, as rejecting
the higher honor on that State; but as
that period will shortly arrive, when Con
gress viii possess the power to act as they
may think proper on this subject; and
notwithstanding that this inhnman prac.
tce is impohte in the extreme, and alto
gether repuguant to the principles on which
our government is founded, vet, as it was q
mutual agreement between the States form
ing the federal compact, that Congress
should not possess the power Of prevent
ing any of the States, then existing, from
carrying on traffic Of this kind for a civ
en- period; aud whereas, the fifth article of
the Constitution Of the United States ex-
pressly declares, that no alteration of that
Constitution shall take place during that
period, SO as to affect this provisiou;--
Therefore,
Resolved, That the amendment is mex
pedient at this time.
4 tax oil ten dollars on every slave i'm,
ported into the United States was sugges
ted, and the prohibition Of their importa,
ton into any Of the territories.
On the 18th Of February, Is40, the
following resolutions were adopted by the
Senate Of Ohio. Ayes 20, nays o:
Resolved, That our Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress, be requested TO
uso all honorable means to secure the ap.
ipcatiopoftlle ordinance o,l7S7, Ms relates
to slaveryto al territories belonging to
the United Stptes.
Resolved, THAT the proviso OF Jeiilson
Itopr6hbit tho exteusion Of slavery. afler
500, in all the territories Of the United
States, Southern ard Noftberu tho votes
Of six 6tstcs aud sixteen delegates. in the
Congress of 1854, for the provis, to three
States and seven delegates it, the annual
exclusion Of slavery from tie North.we'
tern territory by the ordinance of 1887,
lunnnImously adopted by the States in
Congress, and the entire history of that
period, cIpatIy show that it was tue settled
policy Of the aation, not to eXlend, nation
aiiga, or encourage. but to limit, locallzr
aud discourage slavery; aud to this policy |
which should never have been departed |
trom, the government ought to re;urs.'
Resolved, That the Constitution Of tn
Umled States was ordained tin order to
amend other great national objects, to ss
tabis justice, promote the general welfare
aud securs the blessings of liberty, but ex.
ressly denies any power 10 the Federal
Government to deprive any person of life,
liberty or property, without due legal pro-
cess."
Resolved That in the judgment Of this
General Assembly, Congress has no more
power to make slave than to make
king, no more power to institute or estab,
Iish slavery than TO institute Or establish
mouarchyno such power can DO found
among those specifically conferred by the
Constitution. or derived by justimplication
from them
| Resolved, That it is the duty of the
Federal Government to abolish slavery in
the District of Columbis, aud to relieve
itself from all responsibility for the exis-
Itence or continuance of slavery wherever
the Government possesses constitutional
authority TO lesislate on this subject,
Resolved, That the people of Ohio, feel,
ing that they are Indebted for their unex>'
ampled prosperity to the Ordinance OF
Congress OF 1887, excluding slavery from.
the Northwestern Territory, demand sGree
soii," ''feee Speech" Stree labor" ''free
men," and "lree world" f@sa
j Ayes Backus, Beaver, Bennett Blake.
Blocksom, Chase, Caypool, CooElia, Cor.
win, .Denaiaon, Dabbs,. Emrie, Goddard,
i Graham, Hsines, Hendricks, Hortoa, Judy,
Kendall, Louis Myres Patlersoa, Swih,
Yihal, Worcester. apeeksr--26. es..s
!, Naya--Ankenys Burns, ByetA Dim,
! mock, Evans Eying, Sect, WlsitmaO ard
i Yilseu--ss ig,z "a, - .na
a. Adaplsa ky the noase. ,vilh bae one
! disc aling vote, - - -. g.ss,tss
i Ms. Morris voted for these, and also slos
she lollgyiag H0pss Tesolpion: - ssa
J kes0lysl. h. our Senators be in
|, .structsd aud opr RvPrsssEintiyes request
!. Tel TO use sl couslilq iasisl rpesnA la scr
s.cn e tie rspPlisatipp of ths principles :oI
/ lbhe cniinapee Of i 1s7. 70, all tslritory now
\ helourinp tothe UnitaJ States.