Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-08-20
| WHOLE NO 99l.


does not concern the doctrine of Popula
Sovereignty in Territories 1t must be tn
doctrine have cited from the bred Scot
case (which the Democratic Party,fnds wit
''deep qualification" to concur with its owl
real opinions, formally avowed by it (tht
Democratic Party in three Nationa. Con
ventions"
cannot believe, that the body of tn,
Democratic voters. can come to know ant
appreciate these things without alarm OF
the subject of the relations they sustain t
the party known as Democratic. For m,
own part, have been strongly attached t.
the Democratic par:y-too strongly to wit
ness Its gradual change from the defense O
State Rights to centralism, without vigor.
Gus efforts to revive its ancient faith, an,
restore its ancient practice. For years
have seen the party tendency to SeutherL
ism and Centralism-and within the part,
organizations,I i have faithfully assisted Other
Democrats in the endeaYor TO restrain that
tendency. / now give up the task as hope
less am no abolitIonist. | am no fanat.
ic. For quite seventeen years have been
in the active service of the Democratic, and
in constant association with its worthiest
members. The whole number of influences
TO which have been subject has been un--
favorable to the formation of extreme opin-
ions, intolerant Of slavery. But will not
allow my devotion to any party or interest
in politics to make me silent, when all the
wholesome rules Of law, when all its con-
structions in favor of liberty are set aside,
to make room for a perversion of the con-
stitutiOn in the interest of the property in
men, and when this perversion, instead of
moving the Indignation of the whole coun-
try, becomes ma tier of addition to the creed
of that party, which have labored to rem.
per prosperous land which had once hoped
10 find always worthy of my devotion and
regard. | will not worship the new idol of
the Democratic party. dare not allow my
respect for the good and true men, who re-
main with the party, to smother the senti-
ment of adherence with which regard the
last addition to the creed of that party. No
more Objectionable, no more vitality danger
Gus, no mare entirely detestable thing than
this, was ever approved by party. | speak
freely, alter the manner in which was
taught to speak, by the Democratic party;
truly, as | have ever chosen to speak of
matters relating to the common veal.
The Endorsement BY great party of the
dictunl in the Dred >Scott case, declaring
the want of power in the Congress and in
the Territorial Legislature alike, to prevent
the introduction of slavery, gives that die
tum the only great Importance, which can
be attributed 10 it. That Endorsement cuts
the throat OF popular sovereignty in the ter
and stabs to the heart every COM
promise made on The subject Of slavery, not
actually carried into the Constitution of the
United States. In vain shall the intending
Governor, Mr.. Payne, affect, as he did in the
Convention when nominated, to rerard as
immateral'' the reasoning of Judge fancy
leading him to declare the unconstitutional
ity of the Missouri Compromise act. That
particular act is pronounced invalid only
because all acts Of Congress and all acts OF
legislation in the territorial form, are reces-
sariiy, according to the decision, invalid, so
far as they attempt to prevent the introduc-
ton OF slave property into any territory not
covered by State government. ] repeat,
he Democratic party and the Souih, in !
giving force and Importance to this dictum
have put an end to all extra-constitulionall
We are free to return to our
simple sovereign rights. as reserved when
he Union was formed. We are free to
educe the fugitive slave law to its proper
We are free to yindica.e the
lignity of our Courts, by compelling obe-
Hence to their process, even by SO mighty a |
,ersonage as Deputy Marshal of the Unit
ID States. We are free to substitute for the
lnwise and dangerous Habeas Corpus att
by Rev. Mr.. Monroe, such laws,
like vigorous and free from doubtful con-
as shall make it sorry busi-
Tess 20 despise, here in Ohio, the writ of
liberty, even in the hands of the humblest.
itizen, ordered to serve it, We are free,
moreover, to insist that no foot of territory
INVADED oy slavery, under the detestabIe
Doctrines Of the Dred Scott decision ,,shail
Ver be added to the Union, by the votes of
nen fairly representing the State of Ohio.
What we are thus free to do, every prin-
i2le held sacred by States like our own,
equires US to begin, and shall embolden US
o consummate, although the heavens fall"
The sense 10 which the North made all the
xtra-constitutional compromises, has beeuI
udely stripped of all practical recognition
nd vitality. Dear as the Unionsmust be to
very true American heart, it ought not to
e dearer than public faith, ;hsa The rights
f States, than the conservation of the con-
epted, when ratified by the States. There
ill be no lasting peace, till there come an
nd of wrong, dece 2tiOn and encroachment.
We are not in debt TO the South. The
outh should have better remembered its
bligations to US, than to have forced upon
5 the odious pretended judgment in the
ase of Dred Scot. We deserve to bel
ayes, meaner than the slaves of the South
we submit to the imposition.
What infatuation possessed the organized
'rce of the Democratic party, when it de- ,
ded to adopt the decision referred. TO, il
ould be difficult to divine. Does ihat par
: give up all respect for popular opinion in ,
Ihio. !
Ii is the fixed, true, unalterable faith of
lie great body of our people. that the ex-
,nsiOn OF slavery into territories now free,
ould be great and irreparable evil. Il is
le like fixed, true, unalterable faith OF the I
reat body OF our people, that there is "
,medy, entirely constitutional, against that
xtension, in the actiph of Congress or in
lat of the Territorial Legislature, when
othed with such powers as Congress may
elcgate, and such as belong to the very es- c
,nce of popular government. In this re.
,ect, the body OF all parties, the Democratic
well as the other parties, is in harmony
ith the body of the peope, so far as real =
,ntimeut is concerned. But the seeming
ecessity OF keeping the politicians of the
orth and the South together on tue sub
ct of slavery, has induced the leaders and |
-pans Of the Democratic artr MS now con. I