The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-01
BLACK REpuBLIcANIsM SHOWING IT'S HAND


At the State convention in Ohio which nominated
Governor Chase for reelection, the following res
olutions passed
81 That Congress ought to abolish slavery in all new
territory, and in the District of Columbia.
So That the clause in the constitution allowing the
hree representation of negroes in Congress anti
republican, extremely dangerous to the liberties of the
people and ought to be abrogaed by express amendment
of the constitution,
''3. That the Offices of the federal government ought
to be filled by non-savehoders.
"a That the coastwise interstate slave trade should
be prohibited by Congress- which should also recommend
to the Legislature of the original States the abolition Of
slavery within their respective limits.
IS. That slavery is unconstitutional in all States
created out Of Territories which includes all but the orig
ina thirteen"
Their object cannot be mistaken. They look to
continued agitation and ultimate dissolution of the
Union. Their authors ask Congress to reverse the
principle of nonnerference and to control legislation
in the Territories and District whatever may be the
interest wishes the people in them. Though John
Quincy Adams expressly declared that Congress
ought not to interfere with slavery in the District of
Columbia while twas authorzedin Virginia and Mary
land. These new lights go beyond him. and seek to
interfere with those rights of property which are
clearly recognised by the deeds of cession under
which the United States have exclusive jurisdiction
within the District.
The agtators even demand an alteration of the
constitution on point upon which they know ff-
teen States against them, when the dissent of
mand that Congress should mpertnenty interfere and
advise sovereign States to their duties under the
constitution, which they well know would arouse a
strong feeling against the national government
These Ohio Solons have ventured upon new and ex-
traordinary ground. They assume that the eighteen
States admitted since the Union of the original
thirteen do not enjoy the constitutional rights
as the latter while the constitution declares that
new States may be admitted without an allusion to
admitted they are equal. But the great point upon
which these resolutions depend is found in the
third which declares hat all offices of the federal
government ought to be filed by observation-disclosures
If black republicans can hold all the national offices
everything will be satisfactory, but otherwise agita-
ton must follow, and in a manner and upon ques-
tons that point to dissolution of the confederacy.
They, in substance and effect, declare that they
must rule or they will ruin If the people will con-
but if not, they propose to take steps which will
shake the conederacy to its foundation and proba-
bly, destroy its existence, at least defeat all its in
tended benefits. The resolutions above show that
black republicans look to Office the antidote for all
evils, real or imaginary, and that democratic prn-
cpe, however salutary, if adopted and carried out
in the utmost good faith, will be satisfactory. They
readily adopt abolition in its worst FORM nuli6cation
disunion any other fatal heresy rather than quietly
perform the duties of good citizens without official
station Office or disunon is their principle of ac-
tion and this is the practical question before the
American people With them the decision rests
Their patriotism disclosed in the past history Of the
republic, is ample evidence that they will be in flu
ture heart and soul for the Union, and the whole
Union and every part thereof