M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-08-25
Democratic Meeting.

| DchAOCEhtAC UaecliHs'
The people of the County assembled in
large numbers at this place on Monday last,
to hear Judge Ranney and Hon, C. D. Mar
tin discuss the political questions OF the day
Mr., Martin spoke frst--makng neat and
effective address, and pleasing the audience
by his elegant language and impressive man
ner
He simply. gave hurried glance at the va.
Tious questions, acting as skimisher and
clearing the way for Judge Runney, whose
powerful artillery battered down and annihi-
lated the clumsey fortresses of the enemies
Of democracy.
In the short space that we can devote to
the subject it would be useless 10 attempt
anything like full report Of the speeches.
We can only give the principal points in the
remarks of Judge Ranney. lie began by
stating his position before the people, us the
standard bearer Of the Democracy. He had
come t. express his honestly entertained
views on the question: to be decided in this
campaign. If the people should prefer Mr.,
Dennison'0 views Of public policy and his
ovowed principles, then he should expect
them to vote for Dennson; but, if the peo'
yIe preferred his (Ranney's) principles and
the measures which he advocated, he should
expect them to vote for him. He said he
had been somewhat puzzled since he came
into Southern Ohio. When he left home he
thought he knew what RepubIicanism was
out he found here that Republicanism was dif
lerenty understood. He could get up an issue
with Giddings and Wade and Chase, upon the
kind Of Republicanism which they advocat.
ed, but could not make an issue with those
who called themselves Republicans, IN this
part Of the State, and yet agreed with him.
generally, upon the questions involved. In
order 10 find out Just where each party stood
he would refer to their platforms. Judge
Ranney then began to investigate the ante
cedents ofthe Republican party by referring
10 the platforms of all the parties which had
existed in The country since 1913. He show
ed that in 1850 the Wings and Democrats
together in Congress agreed by the adoption
of Mr.. Clay's report, to let the territories in
all future time decide the question of domes-
tic slavery for themselves, and that the bill or.
gunizing the territory Of New Mexico, adopt
ed at that time, and constituting one of the
compromise measures, left the slavery quts-
tion with tie people of that territory and aOt
with Congress. Two years afterwards, both
the Wing and Democratic parties in their
National Conventions confirmed and endors-
ed this action Of Congress and agreed 10
stand by it. The same year another party
had Convention. 1t nominated Hale for
President, and, referring to its platform,
Judge Ranney read resolution similar in
import to one recently adopted by the Re-
publican party of 0hio--thus proving that
The Hale, or abolition party, in 1852 held to
the same views advocated by the Republican
party of to day. The speaker continued his
argument on this subject to considerable
length, and If his hearers were not convinced
that the Republican party is simply the old
abolition party, partaking of nothing in
common with either the Wing or Demo-
cratic party, they were deaf to reason and
stubborn facts. The speaker also reviewed
the action of the government in regard to
the rendition Of fugitives from service, and
the position Of parties for number of years
on this question--showing again, that the
Republican party is the same as the old abo-
lition party, which was antagOnistic alike to
Whiggery and Democracy.
The principle of popular sovereignity--or
the right Of the people to govern themselves
in the territories, as we'll as in the States,--I
Judge Ranney contended was as old as the
government itself. He referred to the caus-
CO "hlCH pIOuuItu lue heEOIuLlOH' l0e
claim which Great Britain set up to control
the Colonies in their domestic concerns,
without allowing them any voice in Paria-
ment, was the main cause which led to the |
declaration Of Independence. Our fopfatb-
ers believed that they were able to govern
themselves. The Democrats believed that
the people Of the territories were equally able
to regulate their own domestic concerns, and
were opposed 10 Congress exercising the
power of governing a people without repre-.
even concedng that ii had the con-
stiiutional right so 10 to do. The Democra.
cy were not cfraid to trust the people.
During bis speech, Judge Ranney alluded
TO State issues. He had understood that
Bro. Dennison had declared in recent speech
tha: ne was opposed to locking up the State
money in the Treasury until it was needed,
hat Kelley's law was the mos perfect sys-