The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-08
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR CHASE.


SPEECH OF GOVERNOR CHASE.
On the 10th inst, Governor Chase addressed
a meeting of the citizens of Union county,
Ohio. We copy the following from his speech
relating to the Slavery and Homestead ques
tons:
"He did not believe in the theory that ma
jority and the right to make of any man or
woman slave forever. States had the right to
legislate on their own affairs, and this was the
sovereignty which our fathers, dying, bequeath-
ed to us. The people also had the right to
elect their own officers, but, to show the insin-
cerity of the professions of the so-called Demo
cratic Legislature of last winter that, body ap-
pointed board with power to appoint police
commissioners for the city of Cincinnati That
was Popular Sovereignty
"Forcible allusion was made to the canal
legislation of last winter, and that precious
body placed before the people in no enviahle
light No honest Democrat could look into
these various transactions and defend them.
The peoples money should be protected, but
the present sub-treasury was a fraud and a
failure. If the Republican legislation upon
this subject had been adopted by the Demo
Gratis when they came into power, every single
dollar of the defalcation would have been safe
This subtreasury required no security for
money deposited with county treasurers-not a
single bond for security. The law taxed peo-
pie to pay premiums on bank notes. They
had in the vaults of the Treasury-bank notes !;
for their taxes the law required them to pay
specie. They had promised to pay; and the
bankers were the sub-treasury.
"The Democrats had searched the Repub-
ican record, but found no evidence of reckless
ness. But what did they find? Why, that the
Republican Legislature had passed laws to pro-
tect the liberties of the people of Ohio. If
you want negroes caught you must catch them
YOURSELF said the Republican enactment. We
did not build jails and keep them open for you
to put your slaves in, with our criminals. And
what did the Democratic Legislature do They
made haste to repeal these laws, which exempt
ed our people from the miserable business of
negro catching.
The Governor would not have the Slavery
question shut out every other interest of the
country, yet he knew perfectly well that it had
assumed great and important proportions. He
would say here, to-day, that nothing would
satisfy the slave power short of the spread of
Slavery throughout all free States. The right
of transit was claimed by slave-owners with
perfect confidence, though there was no reason
why they might not prolong their stay indef-
nitely within the borders of the State.
"The Supreme Court has already decided
that in all our broad domain there was not out
side of the free States single foot of free soil
what might we not look for next? During the
last Presidential campaign, no single Democrat
was found in Ohio who believed that Slavery
existed in any of the Territories-now, how
was it? Judge Ranney's letter of '4s received
complimentary airing, as being a very excel
lent Republican document, though long since
repudiated byits author. The unsettled Lemon
case was referred to, as being certain to result
In decision establishing Slavery in every free
State. 1t was for the men of Ohio to saw
whether they wanted coffled slaves to be driven
through their State, insulting their free labor.
A little said the Legislature of last winter.
They said as much as they could say, by re-
pealing the law
There were many noble Southerners who
looked with loathing and seorn upon this mis-
cradle, cringing set. The question has always
been forced upon us by the slave oligarchy, and
they had dug the political graves Of some ofthe
first men of the country. Mr.. Pugh had said
that all they wanted was non-intervention, sub
ject to the Constitution Mr.. Douglas said he
was going to insist that there should be no more
protection for slaves in the Territories than for
other property! The slaves were there but it
was by non-intervention.' The man who fell
among thieves was left to perish by those who
passed by On the other side, on this same prin-
ciple Of non-intervention. The priest and the
Levite were Democratic Observation-Disclosures
according to the Cincinnati platform Non
intervention-it was a sham. am said the
Governor, for Intervention with wrong wher-
ever the Constitution of my country permits it.
win maintain free labor, and l will never,
never seek to shield myself by any party dodge.
W. loo va tho gorfhor1 Cfafoz A. -
will with their institutions at home, and we pro-
pose to do the same. We dislike their Slavery,
though we do not propose to interfere with
them; but in all our broad Territories, over
which the Western sun is now shining so be-
nignantly, in the name of our country and our
God, let us see to it that there Liberty be main
tanned 1inh Gzl :.
"There is one other matter to which / wish
to call your attention. / refer to the Home
stead question. The Republican party stand
upon the principle of the Homestead bill. We
believe it is to the interest of the country to
have free homes. We believe that settlers
should have an opportunity to take up the pub
lie lands, with or without price. The country
should look to the wealth produced by the par.
ty taking up the land, and not to the original
purchase money he might be able to paw
What did the Democratic party do at Washing
TONI In solid phalanx, they voted against the
bill. OF what benefit is it that the Democratic
party have spoken in favor of it? The people
want votes and acts, not words.
II have laid before you what believe to be
facts, and | submit them to your Judgment
and in asking your honest decision upon what
l have said, believe / pay you a higher com
pliment than could otherwise possibly do.
Take these facts into serious consideration. and
vote as your consciences and judgments dictate
The battle will not be to the careless and un-
watchfu1it viii be to the vigilant and active
lou nave something to do besides electing
your own local ticket. You will have to assist
IN hghtIng the battle throughout the Union.
Then take these things TO heart, and not merely