Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-04-10


is sign of "better times a-coming." Read
it, cringing doughfaccs and despotic slaveo-
Gratis and remember that where Ohio leads,
the banners of the Free States are bound to
follow. Read it, rufian propagandists! as
ye prosecute your nefarious designs in Kan
sas, and recognize the spirit which shall
thwart all your deep-laid schemes:
The Dred Scott Case I'm the Ohio LegIs-
1aturc.
Report of the Standing Committee on Fed
cral Relations, to whom was referred the
resolution of Mr.. Kelley, of Franklin,
and various petitions relative to the re-
cent decision of the Supreme Court Of
the United States in the Dred Scott case
Your committee submit that so far as they
are able to comprehend the force and effect
of said decision, it, among other things,
naturalizes Slavery, annihilatcs the hereto
fore conceded right of the free State to in
hibit that institution; asserts that there is
no power in Congress or the people Of the
United States, or of the Territories, to ex-
osition that man can hold property in man
shuts the courts of justice to hundreds Of
thousands of native born citizens assumes
that the black man has no civil rights; and
dooms every foot of soil to the curse of Sla-
very, and that irrevocable.
Your committee asserts that this case
has no parallel in wickedness in the history
of the world. Verres was content TO lay
waste few insignificant provinces; this de-
cision deals with nation, yea, an entire
race.
1t imbrutes and inhumanizes the race,
and with sublime touch of Vandalism, it
ruthlessly strips human beings ofrights God
given, and hands them over to be devoured
by human beasts of prey.
Such now is declared by the highest iu-
dicial tribunal in the land, to be the mis-
sion of the Constitution of the United
States.
If so, better far that il had never been
written. This decision, however, is contra
ry to all preconceived notions of that in
strument.
The Union of States under the federal
compact, has heretofore been regarded as a
combination of SO many Independent SOW
ereignties for fixed purposes and definite
objects. States, upon entering the confede-
ration, were not supposed to have surren-
dered any of their local rights as indepen-
dent governments.
These they cautiously reserved. They
delegated to the General Government Ger.
tain powers believed to r. in harmony with
their reservations. Tie object to be attain.
ed was not strong, ovcrshadowing centra
government, which should efface State line:
and obiterate State institutions, but one
which should effectually secure to all these
States security from foreign aqgressions
immunity from domestic divisions, and pro
tect, foster, cherish and perpetuate civil anC
religious liberties, and the rights of al
mankind. These, as old as the Const:tu
ton, are all in detail, dissipated by said de
cision.
1t becomes us then, as citizens of Ohio
calmly yet firmly to take our position and
abide the consequences.
If we ride out the storm, we'll; if we 90
down, better thus than tame submission t.
such consnmate wickedness. Three time.
once by the ordinance of 's7, once by the
Constitution Of A. D. 1902, and once b,
our present CONSTITUTIONAL the TERRITORY
of our State been forever consecrated tC
freedom. Now; however, we learn thai
those instruments were cheat, aud mere
rope of sand. @
We learn that our own Ohio, instead oi
being in fact a free, is in effect Slave State
The mighty sin against God, and the gian
wrong against man contemplated by thai
decision, must not and shall not be consu
mated IL, Ohio. .i|'
1t attempts to force upon us an nstitu
ton, hated, loathed, and execratcd by thu
whole civilized world, and by no portion o
the earth with deeper and more abiding
destitution and adherence than by the peo
pie of our State.
The men and women of Ohio regard sla
very with a loathing which no words yet
coined will express. This accursed institu
ton may be planted upon soil, and inter
woven with our institutions, but not until
every valley, every plain and every hill-sid,
is Redeemed with blood and whitened with
the bones of our sons, brothers, husbands
and fathers.
SternIy to the South and their Northern
abettors, we say in all kindness, that it vii
take moro than one decision Illuminated BY
JesuiticaI Catholic Judge TO conquer
free Protestant people We may be depriv-
ed Of the ability and power to prevent the
clanking of the bondmen's chains arounC
our altars, our homes and our fires, but
thank God, no human power can prevent
our dying in the attempt. We may be un
able to protect thousands of our own citizen,
in the enjoyments of their civil rights, but
long, fierce, aud desperate will be the strug
gle before we yield the point. We have
now seen every department of the General
Government subsidized to the support
spread, maintenance, and GENERALIZATION Of
slavery, In this mad crusade against ouI
dearest, most sacred, and most cherished
rights, We have interposed our most earnest
remonstrance, and uttered our most solemn
warning. All unheeded and uncared for