Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-06-11
GOV. CHASE AND THE CLEVELAND CON
NE\TI0N

A mass Convention of the opponents Of the
Fugitive Slave Law met in Cleveland, Ohio, on
the 2ith Of May Hon. Joshua X. Gddings
presidcd the attendance was very large, and
the proceedings enthusiastic. Among the speak
ers was Governor CHASE. His speech was SEN
sible and statesmanlike, and full of good and
timely advice in relation to those exciting ques-
tons which have so lately disturbed Northern
Ohio, and CALLED so terribly the free spirits of
her noble citizens. Gov CHASE did not hesi-
tate to bear his potent testimony to the odious-
ness Of that tyranncal enactment, the Fugitive
Slave Law yet as true national and law
abiding man he would counsel no forcible re-
sistance. He especially recognized it as the
duty Of the people of Ohio, not to break into
unwarrantabe acts of violence, but to get rid
OF their yoke of oppression as soon as possible
by all legal and constitutional means. The
whole tone and character Of the speech is so adj
mirable that We cannot refrain from giving our
readers the most forcible passages. Let the
administration press now rave and howl of the
factious and disorganizing tendencies of the
Black Republicans.
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR CHASE.
Governor CHASE came forward, and was re-
ceived with tremendous applause. Waiting a
few moments for the excitement to subside, he
commenced as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS: A few hours ago vas
sitting in my office at Columbus, not expecting
to meet you here to-day. But having received
summons to attend this meeting, felt that it
was my duty to be here, and have, therefore,
come. | have not come to speak to you words
of excitement, or to urge you to anything that
you may hereafter have occasion to regret. In
every juncture there are two courses open for
adoption-the right and the wrong.
The American people have the power in their
own hands, through the ballot-box, to proceed
in lawful manner to repeal bad law, and if
necessary to reform Lawmakers and law-break-
ers You can do it all, and therefore it is not
necessary to resort TO any course of action that
we cannot Mt all times carry out in proper
manner. What is the state of this case? Men
whom we all know and honor, are incarcerated
in yonder Jail for doing what they believed to
be right, and what one man in ten thousand
can place his hand upon his heart and say it is
not morally right. This is great wrong, but
what is the true method of redress? We must
look at our own government in the proper light.
1t is a sovereign State, one of several States
forming general confederation. 1t exists un-
der Federal Government and under a State
Government. Now the Federal Court may do
wrong, as even a State Government may do
wrong, but it is a Government that we ourselves
have made. II 1t does wrong, we must turn
out the members of that Government and put
in men who will conform to the wishes Of the
people who elected them. So with our State
Government. If State officers fail to do their
duty, let them be dismissed and proper men
put in their places.
The Federal Court, in prosecuting and pun
ishing our incarcerated friends, is acting under
the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Act What
is our redressp In the first place. it is to de-
fend them, as they have been defended ably
and eloquently, before the Court where they
have been indicted Some persons claim that
the law itself is unconstitutional. If improp-
erly made, as is claimed, it is no law, and every
step taken under it is nullity The proper
course under this impression, is, to apply to
our tribunals for relief.
| will not argue the constitutionality of that
law. ] was present at its passage. and believed
then, as ! believe now, that act to be more a
symbol of practical sovereignty of the Slave
States over the Free States than as means of
reclamation of fugitive slaves.
The ease of our incarcerated friends has been
brought before the courts of the State These
Courts have perfect right to carry their de-
crees into action.
! do not wish to say, nor is it proper for you
to say, what the decision of our Court should
be in the case. That is left for the members of
the Court themselves to determine. 1t is mat
ter between them, the people and their God
| will only say, what have frequently said be-
fore, that as long as the State OF Ohio remains
a sovereignty, and as long as am her Chief
Executive, the process of her Courts shall be
executed. The process of the United States
Courts must not be sighted or resisted but so
long as represent the sovereignty of our State,
| will see that the process of our State Courts
shall not be interfered with or resisted but
shall be fully enforced.
If the process of the United States Court is
obnoxious to U.S. let it be remembered that be-
fore long we shall have chance to appoint
some one else to use the power of appointing
United States officials. We can reform the Ju-
dietary, the Presidency, and tho Congress. The
process may possibly be too slow to suit some