True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-06-03
From the Portage County Democrat
ADDRESS OF 0. P. BROWN,
10 the Republicans of Portage ano
Summit Counties.

Honored by your suffrages with seat
in the Senate Of Ohio during the two
last sessions Of the Legislature, upon my
return home desire an opportunity Of
communicating with you as to those pub
lie affairs which have demanded my ac.
lion and fallen under my observation.
Our opponents have created an impress
sion, at least in their own ranks, that the
two last sessions of the Ohio Legislature
were barren Of results. Some few OF
our friends have apparently fallen into
the same way of thinking. In this brief
article cannot more than glance at the
measures perfected and adopted. The
mere title Of the acts, measures and res
olutions which have received the sanction
Of the Legislature would fill FIVE or six
common newspaper columns.
Over seven hundred of these acts &c
were introduced, and over one half of the
came passed. BY the Constitution every
bill must be read in each branch Of the
General Assembly. on three different
days. HeIe is six readings Of each bill
requiied before it can ordinarily be dis
posed oil. These bills are as usual
thing again read in Committee Of the
Whole. Il win be seen that seven read
ings Of seven hundred measures must
necessarily consume great deal Of time.
II is not my purpose to explain the length
Of the sessions, because every candid
man acquainted with the facts, will admit
that the members as whole accomplish.
ed more labor than has been done in the
same time by any preceding Legislature.
The Republican party came into power
mainly in consequence Of the wrhngs Of
the Slave Democracy upon the interests
Of free soil free speech and freemen. 1t
however very distinctly proposed to re.
form the abuses prac,iced for years by
The Locofocos, and retrench the exorbi
ant and incseasing expenditures Of the
same party. With these pledges warm
upon their lips, tie frs, Republican
Legislature assembled at Columbus. They
came together with but few views If
common, save upon the question Of tht
non-extenIion Of slavery. Many wcrt
from the old Wing party, deeply Undue,
with prejudices against any one who hat
ever acted with the SO called Democracy
Many were fresh from the ranks Of tn
Democracy, loving liberty more than be
FORE, but rot Wings and Whiggery. Ma
ny were from the Free Soil party, an
willing upon the great question Of hu
man liberty to trust men only as the
proved themselves worthy Of confidence
TO do anything. all these elements mu;
be combined. and 10 combine them, gres
forbealapce, mutual concessions, and con
fidehce were necessary. These qualitie
among men thus situated, are ef slo,
growth. mention the matters to remin
y0u, that although strong and vicioriou
party, we were. BY no means without sc
rious embarrassmenls in attempts 10 bal
monise upon matters upon which we h4
before entertained antagonistic views.-
These circumstances were unfavorabl
to rapid dispatch Of BUSINESS Ha,
ing made these preliminary remarks.
now wish 70 call your attention 10 fe,
Of ilie reforms effected, the abuses col
Tected. the measures Instituted, and III
results 70 which the Legislature arrived
On The subject Of Slarery, It's aciio
was such ss should cheer the heart, ii
spire the confidence and strengthen III
purpose Of alltrue anti slavery men. ls
Three seperate times did the democrac
attempt to strike down The sacred rigl
IL petition. and three times did the RI
pnbIiraps with emphasis Indica,e TIL
right
"a The Legislature could not rspe
Do Kahsas aci, bu. il did instruct o.
t,enators and request our Representative
II Congress so IN do. n
8d. |. could not repeal the odiOns n
galise Slave law. but it unitedly ask
Ihose who hsd the power, 10 do il.
lih. Il cDuld mol extend the ordinant
~ 1881 oser our territories, but II d
Hiandrd IN no Inincing words that Coz
GFess should. IN Il. 4 sii,5
erA n ..t1 80 .,.o,o.t tha Ll,ls,;s