Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-10-13
I,EADi READii

this article. II Is part OF an address 70
the citizens of New York, by the recent
Republican Conyeution of that State, But
it is SO true, 50 calm, so well expressed,
and so well adapted to Ohio, and even
Meigs. county, Thai we adopt it in prefer.
ence to anything we could write to occupy
its space:
1.-TWO dangers threaten our institutions
Slavery and official corruption. The
Democratic Republican party is hostile to
both, and will never cease TO combat both
so long AS they y-exist.
"The influence of Slavery has been in
furious to the county ever since it began.
From the time when it stipulated for the
continuance of the slave trade, twenty
years, down to the time when it offered
wo hupdred millions tor the purchase of
Cuba, it has been the great disturbing ele-
ment in our political system. 1t has ever
been grasping, encroaching. arrogant and
domineering. 1t has spread in extent and
power 1t las appropriated to itself the
greater part of the Offices of the Govern
ment; dictIed- its policy. foreign and do
mestic. and SO debased the public senii-
ment that muliitudes now proclaim Slavery
good, and is extension proper aim of
government. Since the last Convention
of tie Republicans of New York, two ag-
gressions have been made by the slave
holders which are unexampled in our his
tory; the decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States in the case of bred
Scott, and the letter of the President to
the clergymen who addressed him on the
affairs Of Kansas. The decision in bred
SCOTS case followed naturally upon the
Presidential election. Indeed, it is hardly
too much to say, that buG for the untoward
result of the election. that decision which
was withheld until the election was passed,
would never have been given. II we had
elected Fremont and inaugurated new
Administrator devoted to freedom, MS this
and it's immediate predecessor has been
devotedsto Slavery, the impulse in favor Of
free principles would have been so strong
as to deter the expression of judicial
opinion SO abhorrent to all that the free
North holds most sacred, so allen to the
principles we have received from our fore
fathers But id an evil hour Pennsylva-
MIA faliered, and that day was lost. Let
those who contributed TO this result see in
this decision one of the consequences OF
their actsja consequence almost certain
to be followed by Others Of ike character,
if the efforts OF the Democratic Republi-
cans do not avert them. The next step
will probably be decision from the same
Court, in the Lemon slave case, asserting
The right Of a Slave holder to bring his
slaves inso thiS. State, and hold them here
temporarily in bondage. OF course, no
Court Of the State of New York can hold
Sn..h ~ II
Tie United States, as at present constitu-
ted, will hold it; and holding it. precipi-
ae that conflict, which is evidently APP
preaching, between the Free and the
Slave elements in our social and political
system.
"The Presidents letter asserts the most
slayish doctrine which has yet been put
forth by the National Execu i've. II an
nounces the existence of Slavery in every
Territory acquired by the Union, "n tie
ground that 1t Is recognized by the Federal
Constitu ion. Slavery, however, is not
recognized by that instrument to exist any
where, and II It's existence in part of the
Union we've recognized, it would not then
follow that what the Free States helped to
acquire must necessarily receive an insti-
tulun Which they abhor. Tie Consitu-
ton undoubtedly recognizes the possible or
probable existence of laws in some OF the
states, under which there may be ''per-
son held to service or labor but such a
person need not be slave. An appren ice
is person held 10 eervice or labor. If an
apprentice. escape from New Jersey into
New York, he may be reclaimed; but if his
master bring him. he cannot employ him
here, contrary to the laws of our own STATE.
So, if an apprentice escape across the bor-
ders of Missouri into Kansas, he may be
sent back, but il the master take him, he
submits himself 10 the laws of Kansas, or
Of Congress, which govern Kansas. If it,
indeed, be true that apprentices may be
taken by their masters into States unwil-
ling to receive them, and there held TO sell
vice, the time Mays perhaps, come when
free black apprentices may be taken by
New Eng land merchants 10 South Caroll-
ma, the laws oil That STATE against the in
troduction of free negoes to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
Another step in the path of aggression,
is likely to be the re-openng of the slave
trade. We do not see on what principle it
can be refused, if the late doctrines OF the
Presiden and the Supreme Court be true
deductions from the Constitution. We
have warned the country against this aw-
ul and logical consequence. Already we
see indications more and more distinct of
preparations for such an event and we
shall he very fortunate if the four years Of
Mr. Buchanan's Administration expire
without the accomplishment of what ten
years ago would have seemed improbable,
but not more improbable than the repeal Of
the Missouri Compromise. When the
road of Slave extension Is once begun TO be
Travelled, and the slave owners have once
tasted the pleasure of success over the free
abors of other parts of the country. it is
not marvellous that moderation is forgotten.
| In tho clan,or for office and the subseryien-