American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-08-18
Letter from r. p. RanneY, Defining his
Position on the Free Soil Question.
[From the Ohio RopOsi.Ory.l AIt
W.ARREN Sent. 30. i848,

sa - 4 a 3 = a 81
Court give me but moments time TO an.
swery your Communication OF this date: /
hope however to be as explicit as ] am
brief, in responding to the important ques.
tiOns propounded to me. 1 fully agree
with you as to the importance OF under
standing the principles and position Of all
candidates for public trusts. This is the
righ. Of every eleotor. indispeusably nee
essary to be enforced to enable him to act
undsrstandingly, and the vital principle Of
q representative Democracy. The cores
ponding duty ofthe candidate is 10 take
bis position honestly, and tc maintain them
opsaly. His .''errors may be safely toler-
ated while reason is left free to combat
them" v, .,.:
am in favor ofmaintaining the free
dom of the Territories of New Mexico and
California in their whole extent. and utter
/ y opposed to authorizing slavery or in
voluntary sefsitddel Of any kind within
them. OF to any comptomiss which shall
doom any part ofthem to the curse of hu-
man bondage; do not stop to state. all
the reasons which bring me to this conclu
sion. Suffice it to say the maintaining Of
their freedom, is, in my Judgment, due to
humanity, to republican principles. to our
character, and interests as people, to
the poorsof our own and other lands, who
shall 60 there to find homes for themselves
and their families, and who would bs'de-
| graded and disgraced by the contact Of
slave labor. Entertaining these views, il
elected, l should supporta all such meas
ures as were calculated to maintain them,
taking care at all times not to oVerstep the
limits Of the National Compact, or to en-
croach upon the reserved rights of the
States. 1t is conceded that these Terrific
ries are now free. They must remain so
until changed by positive law of the SOW.
ereign power. "No question is better
settled in this country, than that slavery
exists in State hy virtue Of the local
law" 1t is clear that it can no moro ex-
ist in Territory without such law, than a
man can breathe without air." ro5r
Neither Congress nor Territorial Leg
islature, in my opinion possesses the pow
er to establish it. 1t can only be done by
the people when admitted as State ..un-
, der the general principles OF the Constitu-
J tion." 1 have no doubt of the power oI
Congress to erect a Territorial Govern.
nient, and to provide for the prohibition o.
, slavery within the Territories, and am il
, favor Of and would support such prohibit
, tIon. a
lido no. think that the illegal principle
against Territorial slavery would be made
. stronger by a prohibition but as pub
: lie and authoritative declaration by Con,
! grsss Of the fact that these Territories srt
now FREE and Of the determination of tn
r American peopleto keep them SO. il ma,
lbe important; at all events lis open, lon,
? fair dealings with all parties: and shoul,
be unwilling to omit auything calculates
= to give security to the principle-our fla
\ should never float over another foot 9
: slave territory: You ask what measure
: I am in favor Of. for maintaining the free
q dom OF those territories--fa have alread
). stated those which bear directly upon it
e another of great Importance. Indirectly
IS would be to protect them, as wellas a
'r our public lands from the blighting oirs
y oftAND MoNoPoLf. Without such mt
10 nopoly slavery cannot exist. | regar
d the public lands as trust in the hands
is the government for the benefit Of the pee
o. pie, and think they should, be FaEEl
granted, in limited quantities to actu
ID settlers only. This in my opinion. wod
lie secure them against monopolsts and spe
= ulators ofall kinds, and would settle the
SIS with hardy and Industrious populate
~ -. Of FREEMEN. In regard to slavery in Il
IN District Of Columbia, j answer tina. mo
ut than ted years ago I had occasion to MAJ
ra public my opinion Of the duty Of congre
~ ~ to abolish slavery in the District OF Q
ss lumbia. The lapse Of time has only ser
p. ed to strengthen that opinion. The que
at ton as to the power Of Congress- over :
II ,uko nj L. Ill ,xya ha