Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-01-14

granted by the House of Representatives
rejecting the will of the people, was deni-
ed by the Senate rejecting, in this, the will
of the Slave Interest.
Every federal officer in the territory
who manifested any sympathy with the
people, was, from time to time, removed,
and bodies Of troops were sent to compel
submission to usurping power.
A few months since, under an act which
practically disfranchised vast majority of
the citizens, pretended election was held
for members of a convention to frame an.
other constitution. This convention was
constituted, as was intended, exclusively
of the partizans of slavery. 1t framed, of
course, a slaye-state constitution and pro-
vided for its transmission to Congress with
out previous submission to the people for
ratification. 1t proposed indeed to submit
to popular judgment the question of sla-
very or no slavery, but so framed the terms
of submission that no matter how the peo-
pie might vote, slavery would in any event
exist IN the new state, if admitted into the
Union nnder that Constitution.
Happily, subsequent to the election of
the Constitutional Convention, the period
for the second election of q Territorial Leg
islature arrived, and at the election then
held, the actual residents of the Territory
succeeded in electing majority of its MEM
hers in both branches. The people, mock
ed and insulted by the proceedings just
narrated, now invoked from the Secretary
of the Territory, acting. as Governor, the
convocation of this body. For compliance
with this just demand, the Secretary was
removed from Office. For expressing him
self in opposition to the admission of the
State into the Union, under the Constitu-
ton of the Convention, and without pre-
vions submission to the people, the Gov
ernor of the Territory fell under such dis
pleasure of the Administration, that he
was constrained to resign his position. If
the power and patronage of the Federal
Government can secure the admission of
Kansas into the Union under this slave
state EConstitution, that power and patro-
mage will without doubt, be actively em-
ployed to that end.
In all this the people of Ohio have a
deep and vital interest. 1t is beyond 9ues-
tion that vast majority of her electors are
opposed to this interposition of the FEEDER
al Government in behalf of Slavery. I
trust that the General Assembly will give
emphatic expression to the sentiments of
the people.
1t cannot fail to arrest attention that all
these encroachments of the Federal Gov
eminent upon State Sovereignty and upon
the freedom of the Territories, arise from
determined purpose on the part Of those
who cuntrol its action to extend the do
main, and enlarge the power of slavery
Under this influence, the ancient and ori
ginal policy of slavery prohibition was over
thrown and reversed by the Kansas-Nebras-
ka act. Under this influence, the whole
power of the National Government has
been exerted to force slavery upon the re-
luctant people of Kansas. Under this in
fuence, also, persistent attempts are made
to subjugate the people of the Free States
to federal domination, throng gh the ad
ministration of the Fugitive Slave act.-
Under this influence, finally, the Federal
Judiciary has promulgated the revolving
doctrine that the Constitution of the Union
establishes and guarantees slavery in all
national territory, and consequently that
there is no foot of our widely-extended do
main, outside of States whose constitu-
tions prohibit slavery, where the free la
borer can fiud home exempt from the
intrusion of that very peculiar institution.
This rapid progress of despotism cannot
fail to arouse and fix the attention of re-
flecting people. 1t forces upon the count
ry momentous issues between two opposite
systems of government = two opposite
theories of the constitution. The issues are
radical and vital. Shall the government
of this country be administered by the
people, for the people, or by privileged
class, for priviledged class! Is the con-
stitution, in fact, what it is now claimed
to be, the bond and guaranty of slavery;
or what the fathers Of the Republic believ-
ed it to be, the shild and safeguard of Lib
erty? Does it establish Slavery evere-
where, outside of Free States, or Liberty
everywhere, outside Of Slave States? Shall
the power which it confers be used for the
extension and perpetuation, everywhere,
of human bondage, or of human freedom?
1t is not doubtful where, upon these is
sues, the majority Of the people of Ohio
vii be found. Their traditions identify
them with Freedom and free institutions.
The handspring of their prosperous pro-
gress is in the prohibition Of slavery by the
Ordinance or 1887. 1t is this prohibition,
transferred into her Constitution, which
has attracted within her borders the free
aborers of so many lands, who have so
largely contributed to that wonderful de-
velopment of energies and resources which
inspires, at once, fervent gratitude and
honest exultation. The people of Ohio
will never, by their action, charge the foun-
lers of their institutions with ignorance of
The true principles of popular Government,
nor contribute by their sufrages to the ex-
tension or continuance of an evil and wrong
rom which they have been so happily de-
ivered by the wise forecast of the Fathers
Of the Republic.
S. P. CHASE.
Columbus, January 4, 1858.
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