The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-03


That yoa had heeD in favor of the Fugitive
Slave Law of 1850 was known to the public
You bad been taught by others TO believe he
Federal Government possessed power to pass
such an $50 bad |.
In one respect was more fortunate than
yourself. had been taught from stern ne
cessity to examine the constitutional powers
of Congress. l was constrained 10 scruiiniza
the course of public men You cannot have
forgotten the conversation between US when
you were about to enter the Cabinet nf Mr.
Fillmore. then gave il as my opinion that
Mr.. Webster would be the ruling spirit of that
administration, and stated to yon in emphnt,
T ic language that his subserviency 10 the siaue
Po,oer t0ould ruin any administration. 1
told you what kne,o Wien | stated that yon
we're selected expressly for the purpose of Civ
ing popularity to Mr.. Webster's subserviency,
| spoke of these things in sorrow. and not in
anger You we're favorite son of my own
State. We had stood together in many a
hard fought battle. This fugitive law how
ever, under threats and intimidation passed
Congress-. by aid of the previous question,
which cut off debate and prevented exposure
] opposed it to the extent of my powers, md
denounced it as unc0nstitufion1L, despotic,
barbarous and disgrdcefut: You as a mem
Der OF. the Cabinet officially approved and sus
tanned it, and used the army and navy of the
United States 10 enforce it. .4t that time zoe
separated. Ten years have passed away Mr.
Webster has departed; the stigma of approv.
ing that law rests upon his memory. From
Russia you hear the voice of her imperalists
Boosting that no act go barharous as that law
ever insnlted her people. From phiosophic
Germany you have listened to the voice of her
greatest philosopher, her purest patriot, and
most exalted philanthropist, Humboit. decar-
ing that he hated Mr.. Webster on account Of
h,s completely Nth that law And he spoke
he voice of the christendom. Pardon me
when | say you cannot roll back the tide Of
reproach which is so rapidly oblterating the
memory of New England's most talented
statesman. | had hoped that yon would seize
upon the first opportunitv, declare your con
viction of the infamy of that measure and
place Yourself on The side Of freedom.
In your late speech at Xenia you say it is
the sacred duty Of epery good citizen to obey
the tat0 t1hea the Legislature and judiciary
haUe decided IL such, This doctrioe of sub
mission is unsnited to our age. It. condemns
Jefferson. Franklin, Washington, Adams, and
their associates who, refused to obey the
stamp act" although the Legislature and
Judiciary had decided it to be constitutional
So also of the act levying duties on tea. They
slew the minions Of Government who attempt
I'd to enforce those unconstitutionallaws Re
Jnblicans hold it the sacred duty Of every good
citizen to resist despotism in every shape, al
though approved by the legislature and by the
j idiciary. They, look upon that man as al
ready euslaved who fears to speak. and act his
own enlighted convictions. Submission to
despotic power has become the disgrace of our
alton. The doctrine has become offensive
to every friend of liberty. e'e s7-
You further say if men disobey the law you
ioo,,ld bring their heads to the Jlock-provided
the law should require it. This declaration
of hostility to Republicans generally. was un.
necessary and unkind. Had t come from a
stakeholder, or serviie democrat itswopId. have
excited no attention. The Republicans of Lo
rain county trampled upon that law. rescued
a fellow being from slavery aud set him at
liberty. They indicted the men who re lp
iured him. ard wonld have sent them to the
Penitentiary, had not th,. administration re.
ceeded from its attempts to punish the rescu
FRS and permitted the fugitive TO enjoy his
freedom. You ,could bring their heads TO the
block. If you speak Republican sentiments
we are not united party You would hang
the men who now import slaves from Africa
but when the same slaves escape TO O',io, you
would clothe the slavehunter with all the DOW
er OF an army or navy to capture him. and
take him back to bondage. Republicans
would hang the slave hunter.
do not object to your giving utterance to
your sentiments only object to yonr repre-
senting them as the sentiments of the Repuhli
can party. am one OF that party; detest
the fugitive law; would slay any slaye catch
er who should polute my residence to re cap
ture fugitive. But should feel somewhat
disgraced by having my head brought to the
block for doing that service to mankind
At the late Republican Convention of our
State, you were one of the Committee who re
ported that this law was Destructive to the
rights Of The States. the liberties of the peo
Pile AND ABHoRREaT TO THE FEEL1N Gs OF THE
Civilized WORLD These are your own declar
ations as they stand recorded: Yet you would
have our people SUI uder their rights as a
State, permit their oV rites to be subvert
ed, in order to show thl respect for this fn
gitive act This is not Republican sentiment
repeat. blame you not for your honest
opinions but you have no right to say tha,
such opinions are entertained by Republicans
AS one of the Republican party, one who aid
ed in its formation and has ever supported il
and with due respect declare them anti
Republican, anti tichristian, opposed to th,
honor of our State, the liberties of our neon,
and the rights Of mankind.
-.9e.s J. r. Clippings
Ninnesota.
CHICAGO, July rs