Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-08-03
MORNING LEADER.
From the Western Reserve Chronicle.


Judge Rnnncy in 1SiS.
It will probably be o Interest 70 the voters
of Ohio, TO know as much as possible Of the
opinions, both past and present, OF the two can
didales for the gubernatorial CHAIR. Judge
Ranney was once citizen OF this place. (and
we will do him the justice to say he was coed
one and was, in ls4s. candidate for Con
qress Hon f Hoffman, directed letters of
inquiry to several candidates--relativet TO their
opinions on certain questions, TO which Judge
Ranney replied. HIS letter was published in
the Chronicle Of October 4th. l8ls, and rcpub-
lsled Sept. 81, 1856. As we think neither our
neighbor Of the Trumbull Democrat, nor any
Of his Democratic contemporaries, will think it
necessary to enliuhten their readers by its re-
publication, and moreover as we think that,
with the exception Of the sixth paragraph, IL is
soundillepubhcan doctrine, we give IL third
insertion. We will offer no comments upon it,
Cat presently hut leave it to the Democracy
TO judge for themselves how nearly the doc
trues boldly, and we have no doubt, honest.
ly ayowed in ls4S, will square wit the posi-
ton occupied by the Buchanan Democracy OF
1859
WARREN, Sept 80 ls4S.
DEAR Sle-Constant engagements in Court
give me but a moments time to answer your
communication of this date l hope, however,
to be as exI licit as i am brief in responding to
the important question propounded to me, !
| fully agree with you as to the Importance Of
understanding the position and principles of all
candidates for public tusts This ls the right
of every elector, indispensibly necessary to be
enforced to enable him to act understandlngly,
and the vital principle of a representative of
Democracy. The corresponding duty OF the
candidate is to take his positions HONESTLY, and
to maintain them openly, Ills errors may 10
safely tolerated while reasonis left free to COM
bat them"
am in favor of maintaining the freedom Of
the Territories of New Mexico and California
in their whole extent, aud utterly opposed to
authorizing slavery or involuntary servitude OF
any kind within them, or to any compromise
which shall doom any part Of them to the curse
of human bondage l do not stop TO stete all
the reasons which bring me to this conclusion
Suffice it to say the maintaining of their free.
dom ~, in my judgement, due 10 humanity tC
CpuJilcdR principles, to our character and inter
ests as a people, to Mexico, aud above all to tn,
poor of our own and other lands, who shall y,
there to find homes for themselves and thei
families, and who would be beggared and dis
grdc6d by the contact OF Stare labor. Enter
tanning these views, If elected SHOULD sup
} port all such measures as were calculated q
maintain them, taking care at all times not e
r overhtep the limits Of the national compact, o
to encroach upon the reserved rights of th
States 1t is conceded that these territoric
are now free They must remain SO unit
changed by positive law OF the sovereign power
No question is better settled in this countr
than that slavery exists in a State by virtue o
local law. at is clear that it can no more exis
[ in a territory without such law than a man cal
f breathe without air" NEITHER CONGRESS
NOR A TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE
IN MY OPINION pOSS ESS THE POWEl
TO ESTABLISH IT. 1t can only be don
by the people when admitted as a State "und,
d the general principles of the Constitution"
n have no doubt Of the power of Congress
erect Territorial Governments, and TO PRO
= VIDE FOR THE PROHIBITION 0
o SLAVERY WITHIN THE TERRIrORIE
IS AND AM IN FAVOR OF AND WOUL
y SUPPORT SUCH PROHIBITION
q DO not think that "the legal principle again
Territorial Slavery would be made stronger |
- u prohibition" bot public and authoritati'
!. declaration by Congress of the facts that the,
It Territories are now free, and of the detcrmn
h ton Of tho American people to keep them 80,
d may bc important at all events it is open M
h fair dealing with all parties, aud should
:, unwilling to omit anything calculated to q,
). security To the principle-On fog should new
u float over another foot of slave Territory. Y,
It ask what measures | am in favor of for mai
Is tanning the freedom of fthose Territores--I ha,
b already stated those which bear directly upt
it-another of great Importance, indirect
would i've TO protect them as well as our publ
lands, from the bhghting curse of land moHOpOi
r. Without such monopoly slavery cannot exi,
- regard the public lands as a trust in d
= hands of the government for the benefit Of I
~ people, and think they should be freely granite
y IN limited quantities, to actual eettlers onI
OF This, in my opinion, would settle them with
e. hardy aud industrious population of frecmC
IL In regard to slavery in tho District of Colul
IN bia, / answer that more than ten years ago,
"a had occasion to make public my opinion of II
- DUTY CONGRESS TO ABOLISH 81
re VERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBI
IT, The lapse of time has only served to strength
T. that opinion The question as to the pow
is of Congress over the interstate slave ira,
A. has, | believe, been settled by the Supro
nd Court.
"a You ask, finally, for which Of the Preside
tial candidates / intend to vote at the conf
Presidential election. had supposed that 1
be position was too well known TO render such
nd question necessary but Os desire no conce
3D. mcnt and would soOrn TO receive Il vote obtain
nm through any misapprehension, | will ansW
4. that intend to vote for Lewis Cass.
reeard the Presidential contest as lying
D. tween him and Gen. Taylor, aud that Democ
tic votes thrown for Mr., Van Buren, can sei
no other purpose than to elect Gen Taylor.
no such an issue, ] cannot hesitate to choose
We old and tried statesman, whose opinions
90 openly avowed, and, believe, entirely sal
, - whose education, habits location, and asses
- tions must all incline him TO dotest slave
nc who is in no way interested in, or cOunoc
he with the institution as against Gen Tayl
no whose opinions are carefully concealed, "
II was born, reared and educated in the midst
ION it, who has now large fortune invested
slaves, and Of whom his friends assert with
.., apparent appreciation, that upon this great =
ea' ol amount question lie sis them and with thel
ed To which may be added, without derogat
es. from his well earned military fame, his wan
Get familiarity with civil affairs, and the thick da
ng ness which rests upon his political prlncp
Ike These arc my views, HONESTLY EN III
'l- TANNED, aud whether they ogree with
.hJ .n, "Buallo platform can be seen by comparis
Very respectfully,
the Your Ob't servant
est r. +. RANNEY
iud To b. +. HoFFMAN, Esq