Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-23

Happily, subsequent to the election Of the con.
stituti0nul convention, the period for the second
election Of u territorial legislature arrived, and at
the election then held, the actual residents Of the
Territory succeeded in elccting a majority Of its
members in both branches. The people, mock.
ed aud insulted by the proceedings just narrated,
cow invoked from the secretary oi the Territory,
acting us governor, the convocntiOn OF this BODY.
For compliance with this just demand, the secre-
tary was removed from office. For expressing
himself in opposition to the admission OF the State
into the Union, under the constitution Of the CON
vention, and without previous Submission to the
people, the Governor Of the Territory fell under
such displeaSure Of the administration, that he
was constrained to resign his position. 1t tue
power and patronage of the federal government
can secure the admission OF Kansas into the Union
under this slave state cons tuition, that power and
patronage will, without doubt be actively employ
cd to that end.
In all this, the people of Ohio have n deep and
vital interest. 1t is beyond question that Il vast
majority OF her electors a:e oppUsed to this inter
position of the federal government in behalf oil
slavery. | trust that the General Assembly will
give expression to the sentiments of the people.
1t caurot fail to arrest attention that all these
entertainments of the Federal Government upon
the freedom Of the territories, must arise !rom n
determined purpose on the part OF those who con
troll its action to extend the domain ard enlarge
the power Of slavery. Under this influence the
ancient and original policy OF slavery prohibition
was oyerthrown and reversed by the kansas.Ne-
braska act. Under this influence, the whole pow
err of the National Government has been exerted
to force slavery upon the reluctant people OF Kan
sas. Under this influence, also, persistent at.
tempts are made to subjugate the people of the
free States to federal domination, through the
administration Of the fugitive slave act, Under
this influences; finally the federal judiciary has pro.
~mulgated the revolving doctrine lhattho constitution
Of the Union establishes and guarantees slavery in
] n so A,.-ul ~ pnl tIurn - -,
foot of our widely extended domain, outside Of
States whose constitutions prohibit slavery, where
the free laborer can find q home exempt from the
intrusion of that very peculiar institution.
The rapid progress of despotIsm cannot fail to
arouse and fix the attention OF a rejecting people.
1t forces upon the country momentOus issues be-
tween two opposite systems Of goyernment-two
opposite theories of the constitution. These issues
are radical and vital. Shall the government OF
of this country be administered by the people fCi
the people, or by a privileged class? Is the
constitution, in fact, what it is now claimed to be,
the bond AID guaranty of slavery or what the
fathers of the republic believe it to be, the shield
and safeguard of liberty? Does it establish slave
ry everywhere, outside Of free states, or liberty
everywhere, outside of slave states? Shall the
power whieh it couiers be used for the extension
and perpctuation, every where, Of human bondage
or Of human freedom
1t is not doubtful where, upon these issues, thu
majority of the people of Ohio will be found
Their traditions identify them with freedom an,
free institutions. The handspring of their pros
porous progress is in the prohibition of slavery b.
| the ordinance Of 1877. It's this prohibition trans
ferred into her constitution, which has attIacte,
within her borders the free laborers of so man.
lands, who have so largely contributed to tina
wonderful developement Of energies and resource
which inspires at once fervent gratitude and homes
exuitation. The people Of Ohio will never, b
their action, charge the founders of their institu
5 tions with ignorance Of the true principles Of poT
i ular government, nor contribute by their suffrage
!, to the extension or continuance Of an evil an
d wrong from which they have been so happily de
d delivered by the wise forecast o! the fathers of tn
c republic.
COLUMBUS, January 4th, 1858.