Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-06-09
THE PEOPLE IN COUNCIL!

2
THE PEOPLE IN COUNCIL!
Cleueland Mass Conueatioa 10000 IN
Attendance.
The mass convention of citizens opposed
to the Fugitive slave act, held at Clevs-
land on Tuesday, May 24th, was the larg-
est meeting Of the kind ever convened
The Western Reserve counties poured in at
least 10000 people besides those from
other parts of the State. The most en-
thusiastic feeling prevailed, and the pro-
ceedings were characterized BY the utmost
good order and unanimity.
A declaration was read and adopted, de-
nouncing the fugitive slave law and the
Dred Scott decision-also the Admins
tration, which has for IFS direct object the
Africanization of this continent by the diff
fusion of slavery aud the limitation OF free
dom. Resolutions were also adopted, de-
claring that the States, by the federal
compact, did not yield unlimited subnis-
sion to the general government, and that
when the general government assumes un-
delegated powers, its acts are void-that
the fugitive nc. was uneonstitntional-that
the Supreme Court, as designed, was sub
servient to party politics, and that the ju-
di ial circuits should be remodeled-that
the conviction of the Oberlin men was dis
graceful and unparalled-that the prison
ers were entitled to liberty and freedom
that the hope of the country rests on the
great Republican party, and tc it the peo-
pie look for the restoration of the country
to the purity of Jefersonian Republican
ism 't@t
Speeches were made by Wade, Tilden.
Giddings, Root, Gov. Chase, Judge Hitch
cock, Delano, Carter, Spaulding, President
Mahan, of Michigan University, and 9TH
ers 81 I
REMARKS OF GOVERNOR CHASE.
Gov. Chase came forward and was re-
ceived with tremendous applause. Wait
ing a few moments for the excitement to
subside he commenced as follows:
"Fellow- citizens: A few hours ago /
was sitting in my Office at Columbus, not
expecting to meet you here to-day. But
having received summons to attend this
meeting, felt that it was my duty to be
here, and / have Hereford come. / have
not come to speak to you words of excite
ment, nor to urge, you to anything that
you may hereafter have occasion to regret.
In every juiicture there are two courses
open for adoption - the right and the
wrong.
"The American people have the power
in their own hands through the ballot box,
to proceed in lawful manner to repeal a
bad law, and if necessary to reform law.
breakers. You can do it all, and therefore
it is not necessary to resort to any course
of action that We cannot at all times carry
out in proper manner. What IS the state
of this case! Men whom we all know and
honor, are incarcerated in yonder Jail for
doing what they believed to be right, and
what not one man in ten thousand can
place his and on his heart and say is not
morally right. This is great wrong, but
which is the true method of redress? We
must look at our own government in the
proper light. 1t is a sovereign State, one
of several States forming general confed-
Grafton. II exists under federal govern
ment and under State goyernment.-
Now the federal court may do wrong, as
even State government may do wrong,
but it is a government that we ourselves
have made. If it does wrong, we must
turn out the members of that government
and put in men who will conform to the
wishes of the people who elected them.-
So with our State government. If State
officers fail to do their duty, let them be
dismissed and proper men put in their
places. ,--
'Tbe federal court in prosecuting and
Furnishing our incarcerated friends, IS act
ing under the provisions of the Fugitive
Slave Act. What is our redressl In the
first place, it is to defend them, as they
have been defended, ably and eloquently
before the court where they are indicted
Some persons claim that the law itself is
unconstitutional. If improperly made, as
claimed, it is now no law, and every step ia
ken under it is nullitv. The proper
course under the impression is to apply
to our own tribunals for relief.
/. "I will not argue the constitutionality
of that law. l was present at its passage
and believed then, as l believe now,
that act to be more a symbol Of practical
sovereignty of tile slaye States over the
free States, than means of reclamation
of fugitive slaves.
"The case of our incarcerated friends has
been brought before the courts of the
State; these courts have perfect right to
carry their DEGREES into action.
81 do not wish to say, nor is it proper
for you to say, what the decision of our
court should be in the case. That is left
for the members of the court themselves
to determine. 1t is a patter between
them, the people, and their God. / will
only say what have frequently said before,
that as long as the State of Ohio remains
a sovereignty. and as long as I am her
chief Executive, tie process of her courts
shau6e executed The process of the q.
S. courts must not be sighted or resisted,
but SO long as represent the sovereignty
of our State, I iOaS see that the process Of
cur State courts shall not Be iinterJsred
NTH or resisted, but shall Be fully en-
forced.
"Ifthe process of the United States court
is obnoxious to us, let it be remembered
that hafora lonor wa shall hara a chanca 70