True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-03

MIR. PRE5IDENT--Bei0re the subject is
finally disposed Of 1 desire, not to make
"a speech, but briefly to give my reasons
for voting against the bill of the gentle
man from Humillop,y now under consid-
era!lon. L -srn ! - .y@lHgDi IA / ylaaJ|
( 1T has been contended by the gentle,
man from, Clermopt. that the Constitution
of Ohio prohibited slavery, and therefore
this law is unnecessary and ought to. be
repealed. 1t is true, the Constitution Of
Ohio does declare there shall be no sla.
very in this Stale "nor involuntary SER
vitude, unless for the punishment Of
crime Now, sir, if the doctrines of this
gentleman were carried out, that because
there is constitutional provision no law
upon the subject is necessary, we might,
upon the same principle, repeal number
Of our laws; for there is scarcely a con-
stilutional provision to be found, but
what there is also a declaratoly act re-
garding it, as with the act now sought to
be repealed. The Legislature which
framed and passed this law, intended and
rightly too, to give force and effect to that
grand provision Of our Constitution which
protects and guarantees to every citizen
ofOhio, free and unrsftNined liberty. of
his person, without rdSsld to the color of
his skin ,Rr the rasB from which he
sprung, Ance the present Legislature
has convened, the bogus Democracy
have indorsed the administration of James
Buchanan, and have resolved that they
] "slilp' adhere 10 the principles of the Gin
cinnati Platform. Jet notwithstanding
their party, drill, they failed to incprpor-
ate into their resolutions the principles of
the bred Scott decision, and they dare
not adoptlthe principles of that decision
in legislating for the people Of Ohio. ...i
! ,ltis true,i sir, that at the last Guber,
material Convention they did resolve in
favor ofthc principles of tha, decision,
and their candidate, for Governor, Mr.
Payne, proclaimed upon the stump that
the triumph Of The Democracy in Ohio,
and The, Salety Of the Union, depended
4, upon sustaining that, decision. ,rIrgi. u
| Sir what was the result of Mr. Payne's
appeal! The people repudiated This new
born Southern principle, and rejectedIthe
candidate WHO embodied it, and hence we
see the Democracy begin to "wilt' begin
to "cave in,,'' apdlwe hear nothing further
about the principles of the Dred Scott de
cison. Sir, we find that the Democracy,
as they are called, in some of the South.
ern States, are advocating the ie-openipg
Of the African slave trade; aud their al
lies here in the Senate of Ohio, by the
repeal Of this and other laws, are open
ing the way, and getting down the bar.
by which their Southern friends may pas,
with their cofiled gangs, their human
cbattels, through this land cfliberty, anc
here iq Ohio We may shortly expect IL
hear the crack of. the slave drivers whip
upon the back Of The slave, as they. arr
driven, through our State to be sold a,
"cbatteis" in a Southern market, .f, q.
The Gentleman from Hamilton VIII,
introduced this repeating measure, ha.
told us that he desires the repeal of thi
law, to enable ladies and gentlemen from
the South to visit, with their colored ser
wants, State fairs, and other places O
public resort without being snnoyed BY
free negroes and Ohio abolitionists. Sir
| have moi the pleasure of personal ac
quaihtance with that honorable Senator
but from recent demonstrations am le,
to believe that he is a "gallant gentle
man." and Judging from the zeal man
ifested by HIM 10 the repeal of this law,
should not be surprised five were to, fin,
the gentleman leaning to the saristocrac,
Of the South; and who, like his friend, III
celebrated Irish patriot, John Mitchell
would have no personal objection to
Southern plantatioh well stocked will
negroes "fat and sleek" But, sir, ther
is another matter 10 be considered. Of ia
more importance to the South than tn
mere privilege Of visiting our State fair
with their servants. q The gentleman from
Hamilton well knows that Southern ar
sIocrats frequently visit the Queen City
and bring with thsm their slaves, for tn
sole and sohly purpose Of Insulting til
freemen Off that Cityywhom they demon
inate abolitionists.GaiAnd, GSir, it veryli Ire
quently happens that while these chiv
iairousa of ibeiiSouth are oenjoyin
AhemselVes upon freeo whisky, inghe fire.
city Cincinnati, the slaves whom the
,brough over sdoi insultithe lfreemeni Q
| Ohio, take advantage of these midnigh
orgies, and when the time'of fureturnin
to bondage arrivesthey, are not forthcom
ing. What then sythe slave driver to do
he;cannot arrastihe slave under the Flu
, gitive Slave Law, for hedis not fugiliV
from service, and while this law remain
upon our statute books, hecannot iseiz
him, BY force.i I. How then, areH thes
Southern gentlemen ntO recover bthei
"stray animals?" Sir, they callmponsth
: Brgallant Senator flom HamlIlon--an
that Senator every ready to actrupoD th
principles Of comfy repairs,ito 1ih
, CAPITAL Of Ohio, and makes ihisappeal
the Ohio Democracy; and the d 'pnteE
! rifed"r ip grand council assembled, deere
that this law ibe only law. upon our sta
ltute books which is decIaraIory Of one {
the fundamental principles Of our Cor
stitutjon, shall be reRealed-and for VII;
f, purpose? Sir, to enable thenegro catch
ers Of Hamilton county TO pounce upo