Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-09-30
Ohio Democracy and the Fugi-
tive Slave Lay.

The Cincinnati Gazette has been investi-
eating old records to ascertain the position
of the democratic party of Ohio in regard
to the Fugitive Slave LaN. We give the
result of its researches in the following
extracts from democratic speeches and edi-
torials, and resolutions Of democratic con-
ventions.
The first is from the Ohio Statesman, the
central organ of the democratic party of
that State. Its radical and irreconcilable
hostility to the law is shown in the follow
ing brief and explicit sentence
We would not have voted for the law with or
1eithOut essential modification.
This, as the Gazette remaks "is as far as
any Republican has gone or CAN &C" The
Statesman on another occasion committed
the whole democratic party to a position
of uncompromising hostility to the bill.
1t said
Every member of Congress, elected by the demo-
Gratis in Ohio, 0H rote to repeat this Eagitee SidUe
Lar. We never doubted that the passage of the
Fugitive Slave bill would be an act of mistaken
policy.
The Enquirer published at Cincinnati,
and frequently quoted by Southern demo-
cratic journals as a reliable and faithful
exponent of democratic doctrines, thus ex-
pressed its views on the Both October,
1850.
Our own opinion is that the government Of the
United States has nothing to do with enforcing that
agreement Ii is matter left entirely with the
State. We do not think the general government
has any right TO send its officers into tue States to
carry out what good faith requires the State alone
| to do.
"Other staunch democratic papers, says
! the Gdzette-'and there is no exception
among then, so far as we know-at that
time took similar ground; sometimes using
even stronger and more violent language
SO late as 1852, Gov Wood, whose demo
cracy nobody will call in question, remark
ed Of this law, in his second inaugural
A law that makes &c parts evidence conclusive
of the masters right to re-capture and return hi
save-that denies a jury trial here on elsewhere
that provides for the appointment ui swarms o
petty officers to execute it-that gives double com
pensation to find every claim in favor Of the master
aud pays the expenses from the public treasury,
never receive the voluntary cooperation ol tn
people.
To cap the climax, we give the resolu
tions adopted by democratic convention
Of Mahoning county in the autumn Of 80
at which Hon. Rufus p Raney, the pre-
sent candidate of the democratic party io
Governor Of Ohio, was present counsel
ing, aiding and abetting."
} Resolved, That we will not, under any politica
necessity whatever vote for any man. for any oiic
of trust, honor or profit, who voted for or aided
directly in the passage of the act approves OF it
Infamous provisions, or aids in its execution.
Resolced That come life OF come Imprisonment
come fine or death we will neither aid or assis
in the return of any Fugitive Slave but on the con
, trary we will harbor and secrete and by all jus
means, protect and defend him, and thus give him
practical God speed TO Liberty.
Southern democrats how do you lik
your Ohio brethren? Southern people
, what do you think of "the only party tru
, to the SOUTH Nash. BaRaer.
ftnIl 80 .o.L %