Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-05-28
BRI GEPoRT, MAY 18th, 1857,

To the Editor of the Belmont Chronicle:
| did not expect to trouble you SO soon,
but my last article has aroused your friend
of the Ga.ette and Citizen. did not ex-
pect TO be noticed by an experienced knight
of the quill like him. He has a peculiar
way of msconstrueing, decerving, and in
this way throwing dust into the eyes of his
readers. / will notice little of his slang,
though is is hardly worthy that respect. He
says, u Wilson, who heads his column OF
miserable twsddle,' then finishes by saying,
We hope to hear from him again. He
wishes to hear more miserable twaddle.'--
The most Of the people when they hear
anything miserable, (Ieave alone the twadle,)
want no more Of it, but this gentleman is
an exception. Again he says, my text was,
the right OF property in slaves was guqran-
teed to every state that, 4 reasoned be-
cause Ohio had the power to become slave
state, therefore she is slave state.' No,
sir. my reasoning was founded on Judge
Tsney's words, in the decision of The Su-
preme Court. meet this question, The
Constitution makes no distinction between
slaves and other property, no tribunal act
ing under the authority of the United States
can draw such a distinction These are
the words Of Judge Taney. According to
this decision the Constitution and laws in
OHIO, are null and void in that respect, as
tar a. slavery is concerned. Therefore |
asked The question which has aroused our
friend. Is Ohio Free State! Sir they
tell US in Virginia that, the Black Repub-
iicans are ali dead; it is treason to oppose
the extension OF slavery I'VE can take
our sleses where we please, and stay as long
as We please with ihem.' The Supreme
Court will protect Us, and our property, be
it IN slaves Ut IN horses The Consli,u-
ton makes no distinction in property But
our friend saws their is no power in the Con-
sliiution TO prevent it. Brigham Young
says there is no power in the Constitution
to prevent him having seventy wives. Then
this accounts for the seeming changes of
locoioco principles. The Missouri Com
promise was Constitutional because it was
n It prob .bi,ed by the Constitution, & it was
unconstitutional because the repeal of it
was not prohibited by the Constitution. Aye,
sir, that explains Inconsistencies. He was
mistaken in my readidg the n. Y. Tribune,
had been reading the decision of the Su-
preme Court read such papers as his
'Zetu,is,' and the Plain Dealer, friend
Greay he suys has 'cut his aquantance,' his
stripes don't isuit Democracy up in friend
Greay's region. Again he says 1T is not
necessary to comment upon the above ques-
,ion To enlighIen any demscrat. II seems
not, but his construction and deception were
necessary not to enl'eh:en. but for every
other purposes. No true Democrat needs
his comments to enlighten him. He effects
sympathy .'for fear my neighoors will set me
DOWN as knave or a iuol.' | will leave it
t5 the readers of my article, and his COM
ments thereon, If his remarks are not
knavsh, hypocritical and ungentIe manly. ]
give ulterance 10 my own mature sentim, nt-,
never more sincere, think every one should
read, think, and act for himself, without tux
ing our friend or his paper for particular
guide. He draws my attention to the fact
that twelve out of the thirteen original States
were slave States He might have saved
himself ths, trouble. The word Slave was
not in The Constitution Of any OF the thirteen
original States. at the lime of the adoption
Of the Constitution Of United States. except
Suuth Carolina, and only in that, members
Of the Legislature must own slaves. Slaves
were thea held by local law. Slavery was
not national They did not then claim that
there was mo distinction between slaves
anG other property The members OF the
Convention that framed the Constitution
dc not consider slavery national. They
had no idea that slavery would be extended
into our new states or Territories; they
w would not suffer the word slave 10 be in the
Great Charter of our Liberty.' Not one
hundred years ago nearly every country in
Christendom had then slaves. But where
has slavery been extended during the past
century, except in Our Land of the Free
our Southern States! Where does slavery
now exist except in Brazi., Spanish West
India Islands, and in onr Southern States!
The true principles oil Democracy and Free.
dom are spreading and becoming better un-