The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-08-26
Judge Ranney and the Fugitive

Judge Ranncy nnd the Fugitive
Iaw---'The Canfield Meeting.
Tho Ohio Democratic papers admit that
Judge Ranney attended the meeting in
Garfield in 1850 to denounce the fugitive
slave law, but have invented a theory to
show that he could not have made the vi
olent speech reported because the law had
then but just been passed and was not
yet published. And they have made up
speech based on this theory, COUNSEL
ing moderation. The Garfield Sentinel
sOys'
"The full substance Of Judge Ranney's
remarks, as can be testified TO by those
who were present, was, that he had not
seen a copy Of the law, and was ignorant
as 20 its provisions; consequently he was
not prepared 10 express his views fully in
regard 10 Il, but that he did not believe
the law to be as bad as represented, and
if Il was, we had a proper constitutional
remedy, and so long as this right existed,
the full power 10 correct evils Of this kind
rested with the people, and hewould coun-
sci no other measure"
This theory is expected to set aside the
positive evidence that Judge Ranney made
the remarks reported in the papers at that
timei a speech which we have not the
least idea that he will deny, any moro than
he will deny his Wilmot proviso letters in
ls4s, and which he will have an opportu-
nifty either to admit or deny, when he up.
pears on the stump. Let the democratic
papers wait that event We will abide
il.
But this theory based on Judge Ran
noy's Ignorance of the nature Of the fugi
tive slave law at that time is essentially
disposed of by the facts stated by the Ma
honing Register, as follows:
The truth is, the law was published il
the TrumbuH County VVhig, newspa
per printed by the editor Of this paper in
tne itn day OF October, ls6O-twonty-sis
days before the Garfield meeting. Ithad
also been published in the Ohio RePubli.
can, Democratic newspaper Of Mahon
ing County, on the 18th day Of October
lS5O-ninoteen days before the meeting
at Garfield. IL had been published RlsC
in other papers circulating in this part o
the State; so that Judge Ranney coul'
not have been guilty of the udeness o
advising the people TO wait until they ha,
examined the law, nor would It have beer
TO his own credit TO have confessed ignor
Onoe Of It's provisions under the circum
stances.
Besides, meetings had been held in va
rious parts Of the two counties prior 20 tn,
30th Of October, One was held at War
ren, Sept. S0th, just one month before th
Garfield meeting. At the Warren meet
ing the act was publicly read. Judg
Ranney knew, and the people knew, wha
the law was, and Il would not have bee
consistent with hio character TO have mad
such confession Of Ignorance as thes
Democratic papers now make for him.
We were then residing in Trumbul
county, and were not at the Garfield meet
ing, but learn from persons who wer
there, that the representations of th
Statesman and Sentinel, as TO the pal
taken, and opinions expressed, by JUG
, Ranney, are altogether incorrect. II
, did denounce the Fugitive Act as UneON
siifWtfoaaf, not only In the details Of Il
provisions, but for he cant Of poiper 1
Congress 10 legisldte on he subject II
= spoke from twenty to thirty minutes, carr
estly and strongly, against the law, an
, with full a. much force and en- fgy as an
other person who addressed the meeting
This speech made no discord In the NEE
ing, but gave entire satisfaction TO thJ
p crowded auditory-to the same peoplewh
. adopted the resolutions heretofore pull
5 lished, No one Of the speakers oounse
Z ed resistance TO the execution of the Law
: but each one for himself, distinctly an
Q earnestly, declared that he would not al
? In its execution. In this Judge Ranne
was no exception.
We fnd no fault with the sentiment
, Judge Ranney entertained then. We OF
ly want to know how he can denounC
: the same sentiments now, Does the laps
= OF eight years remove the unoonsttutiol
!. ality of a law, aud abolish its iniamol
A features; or is the change in Judge RAJ
ney, brought about by the necessity
the party 10 suceumb 70 the ever inerea
ing arrogance Of the slave power. II
' will have a chance TO explain when l
Q takes the stump.