Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-08-19
From the Ohio State journal.
The Slave Trade In the Enrly Days Of the
T1euubI1e.

The Slave Trade In the Enrly Days Of tIze
Republic.
From every quarter Of the Saveholdiug
States the demand for ro-opening Of the
African slave trade ccmes up 10 tho North.
That domaud, at first family whispered, is
uttered with increasing boldness, and with
growing insolenco Of tone. In fact, il is
fast vergiug towards the imperative, and
when tho Southern dictators Of democratic
doctrines assume that form Of address to-
wards their Northern vassals, the latter
will always yield, rs they always baye Weld
ed. They will give way as they did when
the Missouri compromise was violated they
will submit as they did TO the Lecompton
iniquity. Northern democracy being only
tho tail Of the pro-savery kite, must Of ne
cessity be carried without the power Of rc-
sistance, whithersoever fyeth tho controll-
ing body of which il is the appendage.-
The re-opening Of the African slave trade
has already become, practically, an issue
forced upon the free States by the slavery
interest; and however the democracy of the
North may seek TO evade it at the outset,
they will in the end be found taking the
same side Of the issue with their Southern
allies and masters.
Meantime the Republican party firmly
stands where il has always stood, in a po-
sition of determined hostility to all such
schemes which it regards rs subversive Of
the principles and policy established by the
founders and early administrators of the
Republic. The Republican doctrine in re-
lation to this and all kindred questions, is
as old as the government itself. In illus
tration of the views Of the earlier statesmen
in reference 10 tho infamous foreign slave
traffic, correspondent has furnished us
with the following historical reminiseencc,
which will be read with peculiar interest at
this time:
EDIroR ONO STATE JoURSAL-While
much IS being said and written, in these
our days, upon the subject of slavery, and
particularly upon the renewing Of the slave
trade and carrying slavery into the Terri
tories, It is well to take glance back, oc-
casionally to SEQ what were the sentiments
of our fathers in the early days Of tho Un-
ion, and for that purpose have copied tho
accompanying sentry" and resolutions"
from certain old records in the Secretary
ofState's Office, to wit:
"MARcH 9th, lso5The Governor Of this State forward.
the Governor o the State OF North Carolina GER
tilted copy Of resolution passed by the Legislature see
below Of Ohio Feb 22d 1905 to certain reso-
lutons of the State OF North Carolina pronosino an
amendment to the Constitution Of the United States
whereby Congress will be empowered to pass law to pre-
vent the further Introduction Of slaves people Of color
into the United States"
"ResOrtioR Ae subject Of the Resostion sent from.
1 the STATE Of IforfA Carolina
State of ohio-in General Assembly.
"wHEREAs. his EKcellency. the the State.
ons ofthe StAe Of North Carolina proposing amend
ment to the Consultation United States whereby
Congress will be empowered to pass law to prevent the
importation Of slaves persons OF color into the
United States.
'The general assembly aforesaid considering the exis
tenoe Of drery in the United States evil
alarming nature, the gradual aboshnR Of which In
great measure depends future prosperity and hAppi
ness nation and we'll that any additional i'm
portsou OF that UNHAPPY Of men WILL independent Of
on the community, therefore view the sentiments
pressed the resolution of the State Of North Carolina
as rehecting the highest honor that sate but that
period will shortly arrive, when Congress will possess the
power to act AS they think proper this subject
and notwithstanding that this inhuman practice is i'm.
polite IN the extreme, andattogether repugnant to the
principles which il founded yet
mutual agreement between the States forming the
federal compact that Congress- should not the
power opreventng any Of the States then existing from
carrying trRhe Of This kind for given period and
Whereas h article Of the Constitution OF the United
States expressly declares that alteration that
stnton shall take place during that period to Affect
| this provision. therefore,
esOlpsd BY the general assembly Of the State Of Ohio
That the amendment proposed by the State North
ona TO the Consultation OF the United States is inexpe
"ssoived Tha. the Senators from this State In Con-
United States be and they hereby instruct
also requested to their best endeavoTs
passed laying tax often dollars every slave imported
tatiOn into any Of the Territories thereof
ResolDsd ALSO That the Governor this State be and
aud Representatives Congress- and TO the Governor
ofthe State 81 North Carolina Of the fore
going resolutions.
/ 'nIcHAEL BALDWIN,
i Speaker Of the House Of Representatives.
"22d February, 1905. Speaker oftSe Senate"
The reader will bear in mind that It is
tho sldUe State of North Carolina, that
is requesting the free state of Ohio, to join
her in urging upon Congress Of the United
States, to take steps for the amendment Of
the Constitution Of tho United States, TO
prohibit the further introduction Of slaves;
and that too, when there were but three
years TO elapse before the slave trade would
be prohibited by the Constitution, viz, 1908.
Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tonnes
see sent similar resolutions, showing that
they were unwilling that the "inhuman
practice" should be allowed to continue for
the three remaining years fixed by the Con-
stitution. 1t will be perceived further
that il was then good Democratic doctrine
to instruct our Senators and request our
Representatives in Congress, to pass law
"to prohibit their (slaves) importation into
any Of the territories thereof" l will leave
il to your readsrs to draw the comparisu be-
tween the Democracy of Ohio in its early
days, and the so called Democracy Of tho