The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-01-14

= nature that nothing short of DO sitive
law can sustain it; that no pow er to
enact such laws has been granted to the
National Government and that Sla-
very, therefore outside of Slave States,
can have no valid legal sanction, seem
to me in~controvertible propositions.
The original policy of the country
was in harmony with these ideas. It
contemplated the exclusion of Slavery
from National Ter r~itorics ; the exer-
tion of the legitimate influence of the
General Government on the side of
Freedom and the amelioration and
final eradication of the great evil by
the action of the State Governments,
without Intervention or. interference BY
National Legislation.
"The abolition of Slavery ,"-said
Mr.. JEFFERSON, at the commencement
of the Revolutionary struggle-"is the
greatest object of desire in these colon
les" at is the pride and boast of
America. said Mr.. MADISON, speak
ing at the close of the war in behalf of
the American Congress-" that the
rights for which she commended were the
rights of human nature" There is
but one proper way,"-said GEORGE
WASHINGTON, speaking at a still later
period of the abolition of Slavery-"by
which it can be accomplished, and that
is by legislative authority, and this, SO
far as my suffrage can go, shall not be
wanting"
We need not hesitate to walk in the
paths marked by the footsteps. of the
Fathers.
Within the last two months I have
received several communications from
emigrants to Kansas from Ohio, earnest
ly appealing for protection and aid. OF
these appeals one was in the form of an
affidavit from eleven citizens imprisoned
under various charges at Lecompton.
Ten of these prisoners, though formerly
citizens of Ohio are now residents in
Kansas. The eleventh, an old MAJ of
seventy years, a soldier neal half a GEN.
fury ago under jackson, was still a citi.
zen of Ohio, on q visit to so ne friends
in the Territory. The real offence of all
was the defence of Free State homes
against Slave State invasion. Their
seizure, their Imprisonment, their indict-
ments, and their cruel treatment. con-
stitute q dark chapter in the "a K nisto-
~ of wrong and outrage in Kansas.
On receiving this appeal I thought it
right to address an earnest letter to
Gov. Geary in behalf of the prisoners:
l also sent for their immediate relief a
sum of money contributed by private
bene6cence, which, however, failed to
reach the destination in consequence of
the necessary return of the gentleman
to whom it was entrusted without hav-
ing entered the Territory. 1t gives me
pleasure to inform you that mot of these
risoners have since escaped or have been
acquitted. l I'M not aware that any of
them yet remain in confinement.
Another of these communications
tiers in Kansas, representing, that the
emigrants from Ohio number several
hundreds: that they emigrated to Kar-
sas in the full faith of peace and pro-
lection that they held no doctrines
other than such as are common in Ohio:
that, coming from a Free State and
holding such sentiments, they are prac-
tically DISTINGUISHED by odious test
oaths: that many of their number have
been killed mauylrobbed !; and all sub
jected to grievous indignities and inju-
ries: that they have appealed in vain
to the Federal Government for protec-
tion and that the strife, which has at
present ceased, may recommence, at any
moment, when a new attempt shall be
made to enforce the spurious code of an
aleu- legislature. In the event of a
new outbreak, these settlers ask the pro-
lection of Ohio.
The other communications detail the
circumstances of art ocular outrages.
These representations cannot be
properly disregarded. AS an equal
member of the confederacy, Ohio is en-
titled to demand for her citizens emigra-
ting to the Territories, fr o ingress and
egres IS by the ordinary routes, and com
plete protection from invasion, from
%usurpation and from lawless violence.
If the General Government refuse this
protection, I cannot doubt the right
or the duty of the State to intervene.
There are good grounds, however, for
the hope that the worst is over in Kansas.
From the Free State press of the Terri
tory, and from other reli able sources,
assurances are received that peace, or
der and security are reestablished, for
the present at least, within its limits.
Many of the most dangerous of the ma
RAIDERS have left the Territory, and a
disposition is manifested By the present
Territorial Governor, to respect the
rights of Free State settlers. There is
reason to expect that the most OBJ
noxious acts of the Pseudo-Legislature
will be abrogated, and that the bad de-
sign of the repeal of the Missouri Pro-
hibition, will be defeated by the virtue
and intelli gence of the Peop pie.
Meanwhile there IS much distress &C.
casioned by the civil disturbances which
requires relief. 1t is gratifying to OBJ
serve that the propriety and duty of af-
fording this relief is recognized by the
humane and liberal of all parties. The
people of Ohio will, I doubt not, ap-
prove whatever you may find it expedi-
ent and necessary to do in order to pro-
tect the emigrants from the suffering,
disease and death to which they are ex-
posed.
Such, gentlemen, are the views which I
have thoughtit my duty to submit to you
1 shall rejoice if they meet your apprval
and the approval of our common c~onstit-
uents. Should it be otherwise, 1 shall
still rejoice if, supplying my defects
and correctingmy errors, your legisla-
ton shall be wiser and better than my
suggestions. Among the States of the
TTnion Ohio holds no ceoondorv pIooa /