Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-10-07
THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN IN
OHIO.

afford to loose one of its last years vo-
ters. Let no self indulgent Republican
imagine that, after all, his vote will not
be needed. In ordinary elections, the
Party in power at the seat of General
Government aways holds the vantage
ground. To it belong the Postmasters,
the Collectors, the Marshals, the Deputy
Marshals, all the Office holders or Office
seekers. an army of organized file lead
ers; to say nothing of the Federal patron
age, always potential. Republicanism
must know, that whoever may be halt
ing among them, there will be no lag
CARDS among their opponents.
Then as to the issue-after all, it is a
National one. This fact invests the
struggle with real importance. What
is this issue? The President himself
shall define it. In his letter 10 Prof
Silliman, referring to the passa ge of the
Kansas Nebraska act he says:
"Slavery existed at that period; and
still exists, in Kansas, under The Consti-
tuition of the United States. This point
has been at last finally settled by the
highest tribunal known to our laws
How it could ever have been seriously
doubted, is a mystery. If a confedera
tion of sovereign States acquire a new
Territory, at the expense of their COM
mon blood and treasure, surely one set
OF the partners can have no right to ex
c'ude the other from its enjoyment, by
prohibiting them from taking into it
whatever is recognized to be property by
the common Constitution. But when
the people-the bona tide residents of
sach Territory-proceed TO frame a
State Constitution, then it is their right
10 decide the important question for
themselves. whether they will continue,
modify, or abolish Slavery. To them,
and to them alone, does this question be-
long, free from all foreign interference"
Such sentiments were not broached by
James Buchanan during the Presidential
canvass. Opinions precisely the reverse
were maintained By his Northern and
Western supporters. 1t was held by
them generally that Slavery did not ex-
ist in Kansas. and could not exist there,
or in any Territory of the United States.
except by positive law. They insisted
that the People of Territory, through
their Territorial Legislature, could PRO-
hibit Slavery, and that This doctrine was
the true foundation of Freedom in the
Territories. And not line could be
drawn from Mr.. Buchanan, Indicating n
contrary opinion. Now, he tells us that
ii is mystery to him how the contrary
opinion could ever have been doubted.
Now, we learn from his letter, that he |
always believed that Slavery existed in
all Territory of the United States by
force ofthe Consultation, which recogni-
zes slaves as property, Just as it recogni-
zes any other property dogma orig |
mating in the extreme Southern School.
Now, we learn that Mr.. Buchanan holds
that the only Power able TO prohibit
Slavery in Territory, is the People, at
the time hey come 10 form State Con-
stitution, and not before!
We ask any candid Democrat in Ohio,
had Mr.. Buchanan proclaimed these
views before the election, could he have
been elected9 Nay--had he been known
to entertain such doctrines would he
have received the nomination at Cincin-
natl? You supposed you were securing
a Popular Sovereignty candidate, and
10! you helped to elect a CALHOUN
Propagandist. To day, if Mr.. Buchan-
ans dogmas be true, Slavery exists in
every Territory of the Union, in virtue
of the Constitution, under its guarantees
in Oregon, in Washington, in Nebras-
ka, in Kansas, in New Mexico, in Utah
aye, and exists in all beyond the pow.
er of Court, Congress. or Territorial
Legislature. To the avowal of this abom-
inable doctrine, he is emboldened by the
decision of the Supreme Court He tells
US it "has been finally settled by the
highest tribunal known to our laws
and this in view ofthe solemnly-recorded
declarations Of Justice Mclean and
Curtis, that all that the Supreme Court
said upon that subject was dietum and
nothing else. For, how could they de-
cice what was not legitimately before
them? {
People of Ohio, you are then called t
upon to decide upon great National l
issue. If ycu vote for Mr.. Chase, you
say that Slavery can exist only by pos C
tive law--that the Constitution of the i
United States does not recognize slaves G
as property. and carry Slavery into all G
Territory of the Union-and that the t
Legislature Of Territory, may positive r
y interdict its existence therein. If il
you vote for his opponent, you vote for a
he doctrines and policy of the Calhoun e
Slavery Propagandists, and do what you &
;an to ally Ohio to the cause of Negro "
Slavery.
This is not all. Tue Kansas Question d
5 still undecided: to a great extent, i, Il