Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-09-30
TO THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS
IN THE CoUN TIES OF
Holmes. Knox, CosllOcton
and TuscaraWas.

GEsrLENES:-I have been dominated blythe
Republicans of the 18th Congressio31n DIS
trict of the State of Ohio, composed Oh the ABOVE
named counties, as their candidate for Represen
tstivsip Congress. My acquaintance in the three
said counties being limited, and the time inter-
yeniIg between my nomination and the day OF
the election being too short TO admit of my ap-
nearing personally before you, In all the coun-
ties Of the District, deem it my duty to lay
before yoa, in this Address, a few of the most
important claims l have upon your suffrages.
Before proceeding to discuss the comparative
merits of my opponent, GES. JOSEPH BURNS, and
myself, as the aominecs in this Congressional.
District Of the txo great political parties of the
country, here disclaim any feeling Of personal
hostility to that gentleman. With his private
character l have nothing to do. ] intend TO
place the issue of this contest on higher
grounds.
In order 20 determine the fitness or unftness
of Gen. Burns for the post in which he asks the
people again to place him, let US compare the
pledges which he made only two years ago
with his acts during the six months he has
been our Representative in Congress.
Upon what pledges, then, was General Burns
elected in 1856? :.
That he was Opposed TO the extension of
slavery into the Territories
That he was sin favor of Kansas coming Into
the Unien as a Free State; -
That he was in favor Of "letting the people of
the Territories cavern themselves, and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way
That he.was "a better Free -Soiler than Major
Sapps sp .-za
That he would "favor retrenchmcnt and re-
form in the National expenditures"
He promised to 'carry out the wishes OF his
constituents"
Prior to the election, he caused an address to
be printed, which he circulated extensively,
with his own signature affixed to 1t, and headed:
LET EVERY VOTER READ THIS p
To the Electors IN the 18th Congressional Dis
trit In Ohio p
From this Address Of Gen. Burns, l take the
liberty of making few extracts, IS follows:
al am every day more and more opposed to
candidates making pledges and promises as to
what they will do in the event Of their election
Gen. Harrison said that those who made tEe
most promises told the most lies. 1t will be
remembered, that the Abolition Republicans
party got into power by that course. The peo-
pie were promised that if they would place them
in power, Retrenchment and Reform would
follow-the Missouri Compromise should be
restored, every man should have a homestead,
DC. The people took them up at their word
and put them in power. Instead of
making a law to place every poor man on a
farm, they voted away nearly all of the public
lands in Iowa and Missouri to Railroad Compa-
Mes" DC. = -
"The promises made and the legislation had
thus clash, and show the people they have been
deluded. As a specimen of RetrenchInent,
Congress, with this large majority in the lower
House, has increased the per diem of members
from eight to eighteen dollars, for which increase
/ see no lust cause. SHOULD BE
HONORED WITH A SEAT IN CONGRESS,
ISHALL VOTE TO REINSTATE THE PAY
OF MEMBERS TO THE OLD STANDARD"
"I have been asked by members, if / am in
favor of the extension of slavery? My answer
is, NOr' "My understanding is,
that the Kansas Nebraska law holds out no in
ducement for Shareholders to take their slaves
there. and if they do so it will be at their own
risk; they Will, in the event of Kansas being a
Free State, be subject to similar laws that a
Kentuekian now would be if he brought his
slaves into Ohio-that is, they should be set
"Should you, fellow-citizens, grant me your
suffrage. srM endcaUor to carry out your uiews to
the best Of my skill AID ability" f
These promises seem fair, and If General
Burns has fulfilled them to the letter and in the
spirit, he is worthy of all confidence and should
be reelected.
What are the facts in regard to General
Burns course during the six months he has been
IN Congress3
His votes while in Congress show that he was
opposed TO submitting the Leeompton Conststu
tion to a direct vote of the people of Kansas, to
ascertain whether it expressed their will.
His votes while in Congress- show that he was
in favor of bringing Kansas into the Union as
aSlave State. with population of only $4,000.
His votes while in Congress show that he is
opposed TO the admission of Kansas into the
Union as FREE State, till she has population
of more than $4,000.
His votes while In Congress show that he was
infavor of bes.owing large quantity of lands
and money on the people of Kansas, if they
would consent TO come into the Union under
The pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution, and
that he was opposed to bestowidg any gratuity
in case they should refuse.
His votes while in Congress show that he was
opposed to letting the people of the Territories
govern themselves and ''reguate their domestic
institutions in their own way" 7.9
The whole record goes to show that, instead
of his being "better Free-Soiler than Major
Sapp," he was no Free-Soiler at all-but an out
and out pro-slayery man, from beginning 10
end.
The record furthersshows that he did not en-
deavor to carry out the views of the people who
gave him their suffrage, but directly the contra
ry.
The record show that he never voted |
TO reinstate the pay of members |
TO the old standard.
The record shows thai he voted while in Con- |
gress for Twenty Million Treasury |
Note Bill, aud the Twenty Million |
Loan Bill; thus plunging our country into |
debt forty millions of dollars i'm |
less than six months!
Now let us to the testimony and the proof:
The pro-slayery Legislature of Kansas, in the |
Spring of 1857, passed law authorizing the |
elections of delegates to convention for the pur-
pose OF framing constitution preparatory to ad-
mission into the Union. None but registered |
voters could vote for delegates. In nineteen |
COUNTIES majority of the whole-there was |
no registry of votes had; in others the registry
was imperfect-the Free State men being omit
ted In many counties there were no preci nts |
for voting established. The Free stat. r,ar
perceiving the frauds which were dcsigno5 ror1,
wisely resolved TO abstain from voting altopetb.
er On the 18th day of November. 1857 Tho |
convention ADOPTED constitution. from which |
lne lo,iowihg extracts relating to slavery, DC,
Art. 5, Sec. 25. at shall be the duty of all |
civil officers OF this State to use due diligence
in the securing and reedition of persons held 70 |
service or labor in this State or either of tl,o
States or Territories of the United States and
the Legislature shall enact such laws as NAV
be necessary for the honest and faithful car
rying out of this provision of the Constitu-
tion.''
Art. Z, Sec. I. "The right of property is be-
fore and higher than any constitutional sanction,
and the right of the owner of slave to such
slave and its increase is the same and as in
yiolable as the right Of The owner.of any proper
ty whatever"
Schedule. Sec. Z. Before this
Constitution shall be sent TO Congress for ad-
mission into the Union as State il shall be
submitted to all the white male inhabitants of
this Territory for approval, as followsl'
sfIhp ballots cast said plecfiou shall ha on