Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-11-29
letter from MIR Gidt,ings.
CANEsToTA, N. Y, Nov. IA, 1859

CANEsToTA, N. Y, Nov. Ia, 1859.
EDS. GAZETTE A friend has sent me
the Cincinnati Enquirer, of the 9Th inst,
containing an extract from a speech /
made in 1854, upon the Annexation OF
Cuba.
have only to say that President
Pierce sent to The House of Representa-
lives Message upon the Black Warrior,
intended to arouse that body to declare
war upon Spain, in order TO obtain Cuba.
That it was done at the instance of Southern
Shareholders, fully appears from speech
of Jefferson Davis made subsequently in
Mississippi. That the object was to in
crease the slave power in Congress, and
TO MAINTAIN the Democratic party by ad-
ding to their numbers the slave-dealing pi-
rates of Cuba, who would be entitled to
the same Influence in elections. and in the
Federal Government, that the citizens of
Ohio possess; superadded to which would
be that Of three such men as the editor of
the Enquirer" forevery five slaves which
the Cuban may hold in bondage, 1 ielt
indignant that the freeman OF Ohio we're
to be thus degraded to the level of Cuban
slaves, in order to keep the Democratic
party In power. And | intended to alarm
Southern men, by presenting to their view
scenes which every man knows must oc-
cur, if they continue to enslave their fel-
low men, and subject our rights and inter
es IS and honor to the disposal of Cuban
shareholders.
Wine was the only speech made against
the message, which fell soil born. and WAS
never heard Of afterward, except when
DAVIS referred to it, saying if Congress
had responded to the sentiments of the
President, we should have had Cuba -
Aud if the enquirer" had stated these
circumstances, would have thanked il
for the extract. have nothing to recall
in lelat on to that speech.
In the memorable contest of 948, Gov
eruor Letcher, OF Virginia, said that his
slaves were protected by the same law
that protected himself. knew that such
was not the fact, and TO show him and the
country, it was not, said as the "Enqui-
rer" quoted, "Then | say to the slaves Of
Virginia defend yourselves. would tc
God [ could proclaim TO every slave III
Virginia, to-day, you houe tile right Of
self defense, and when the master attempts
10 exercise dominion owe; you, stay dan'
az lie wouid s oy yourselves"
would like to hear from the editor,
whether he denies that slaves have this
right to defend themselves? This has
long been said TO be "naturat right
conferred by the Creator, as the manlies,
taIion of His will. 1t has been the doc
trine of the Christian woilu for at least two
centuries.
do not believe the Legislature of Vir
glnia authorized to repeal or change the
mmuiable will of God. If The editor
thinks Omnipotence subject to the slave
power, 10, hlm say SO in plain language.
This same principle is involved in thu
right of a fugitive of our soil to deienc
himself. The editor seems to think tha
fugitive slaves have no right to defen(
t..eir lives and libe ties. think they
have. so stated TO slave holders IN Con
gress. | told them, it slave catcher al
tempt to enter my dwelling, to hire hi
| fellow man, | will strike him down upol
my threshold.
By the laws OF the United States, if {
slave catcher hire and enslave man o,
the African coast, we hang him. Is Ii les
criminal for man, to hire and enslave
man on the soil of Ohio? Such men arr
pirates, and because the Democratic partI
do join in such piracy and say it is right
the mmulable principle is not changed
The parties may make themselves acces
sories to the crime, many render them
selves pirates, but they cannot change tn,
Eternal Mind" nor the law which LII
has ordained.
| have no time to notice the dialogue
between John Brown and a certain smell
ing doughface, who appears to think h
can make the people believe, that sait
something priuatety that I dare MT So.
publicty, not because he proved it, but be
cause he failed to prove it, No slave hol
der CT man of honorable pretensions eve
charged me with suppressing my owl
opinions. That work has been reserved
solely to dough- faces, the merest minion'
of the slave power. Yours,
'a ]. R G1DD1NGs