Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-08-21

have been in the active service Of the Dem
ocracy, and in constant association with its
worthiest members. The whole number of
influences to which have been suiect has
been untavorable to the formation of ex-
treme opinions, intolerant of slavery. But
Will not allow my devotion TO any party or
interest in politics to make me silent, when
all the wholesome rules of law, when
all its constructions in favor of liberty arc
set aside, to make room for pcrvorsion of
the constitution in the interest of the prop
erty in men, and when this pcrversion, in
stead of moving tho indignation of the
whole country, becomes matter of addition
to the creed Of that party, which / have
labored to render prosperous, and which
had once hoped to find worthy of my devo-
ton and regard. will not worship the
new idol of the Democratic party. l dare
not allow my respects for the good and true
mon, who remain with the party, to smoth-
er the sensation of adherence with which
1 regard tho last addition to the creed of
that party. No more Objectionable, no
moro vitality dangerous, no moro entirely
detestable thing than this, was ever approx
ed by party. Ispeak freely, after the man
ner in which l was taught to speak by the
Democratic party; truly, as l have ever
chosen to speak of matters relating to the
common veal.
The Endorsement by great party of the
dSctum in the Dred Scott case, declaring
the want of power in the Congress and in
the Territorial Legislature alike to prevent
tho introduction Of slavery, gives that dc
TIN, the only great Importance, which can
be attributed to it. That Endorsement cuts
the throat of popular sovereignty in the
territories and stabs to the heart every
compromise made on the subject of slave
ry, not actually carried into tho Constitution
of the United States. In vain shall the in
tending Governor, Mr.. Payne, affect, as he
did in the Convention when nominated, to
regard as "immaterial' the reasoning of
Judge fancy, leading him to declare the
unconstitutionality of the Missouri Compro-
mise act. That particular act is pronounc-
ed invalid only because all acts of Con
gress and all acts of legislation in the terri
torial form, are necessarily, according to
the decision, invalid so far as they attempt
to prevent the introduction of slave property
into any territory not covered by a State
government Irepeat, the Democratic par
ty and the South, in giving force and impor-
tancc to this dict,on, have put an end to all
extra-constitutiona compromises. We are
free to return to our simple sovereign rights
as reserved when the Union was formed
: We are free to reduce the fugitive slav,
law to its proper dimensions. We arc fre'
to substitute for the unwise and dangerous
Habeas Corpus act introduced by Rev. Mr.
: Monroe, such laws alike vigorous and frc'
from doubtful constitutionality, as 'shal
make it a sorry business to despise, here il
Ohio the writ of liberty, even in the hand
of the humblest citizen, ordered to serve it
We are free, moreover to insist that no foo
of territory invaded by slavery, under thu
detestable doctrines of the Dred Scott de
: cision, shall ever bo added to the Union b,
the votes of men fairly representing tn
!, State of Ohio.
What we are thus free to do, every prin
ciple held sacred by States like our own
requires us to begin, and shall embolden u
;. to consummate ''though the heavens fall
i The sense in which the North made all th
a extra constitutional compromises, had bee
rudely stripped of all practical recognition
+ and vitality. Dear as tho Union must b,
q q to every American heart, it ought not to b.
n dearer than public faith, than the rights @
|. States, than the constitution in the sense il
ir which it was accepted, when ratified by tn
States. There will be no lasting peace, ii
o there comes an end of wrong, dcceptio
on1 oh NJ IL
Of the South. The South should have bette
,s remembered its obligations to us, than I
ID have forced upon us the odious pretende
Judgment in the case of Dred Scott. W
es deserve to be slaves, meaner than the slave
= :. of the South, if We submit to tho impt
q sition.
" What infatuation possessed the organ
ne lied force of the Democratic party, when
" decided to adopt the decision referred t.
fo ss it would be difficult to divine. Does tn,
!. party give up all respect for popular opi
u ion in Ohio!
i, 1t is the fixed, true, unalterable faith
u, u the great body of our people, that the @
y tension of slavery into territories now fr,
would be a great and irreparable evil.
tt is the like fixed, true, unalterabIe faith
p the great body of our people, that there
: a remedy, entirely constitutional, again
d that extension, in the action of Congre
le or in that of the Territorial Legislator
l. when clothed with such powers as Congre
ot may delegate, and such as belong to IL
n very escence of popular government.
of this respect the body Of all parties, Il
70 Democratic as we'll as the Republican, Il
10 American as we'll as tho other parties, is
IN harmony with the body of tho people,
ee far as real sentiment is concerned. b
~ the seeming necessity of keeping the POI
tn ticians of the North and the South toget
es er on the subject of slavery, has induce
G. the leaders and organs Of the Democrat
&C. party, as now constituted, to indorse pr
70, tended decision, that no action of Congret
sp no action of tho Territorial Legislature CT
al prevent the introduction of slavery into Il
n ritories now free, since, as now pretended
n tho mere dictum of a divided Court, Il
u stakeholder has guaranteed property in /
he slave, above the reach of territorial and co
nd gressional legislation alike. This indors
on ment will be construed by the South, wi
he severe and literal strictness, just as ha
vn stated its terms and its effect Has not d
he organized force of the Democratic ps
on ty of Ohio then, trampled on tho true fai
.ly Of our people9 Will the body of the Del
le- ocratic party countenance such an outrao