Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-09-24
EETIN AT CANTON.

our particular Yanltlcs," but ike the cnllu VINO
wished to visit q theater in order to sec the folly
of it, SO we went to q political gathering on Sat-
urdag last. 1t was not, however, a meeting of
one party. hut of both--a meeting where Judge
Ranney and Nj. Dennison were to present their
political views to the people of Canton and yicin-
ity.
Democrats and Republicans turned out in their
strength, and though we saw fewer hard looking
cases among the latter than the former, there was
no scarcity of the material with either. And
these, thought we, are the men whose political in
1uence is expected to shape the destiny Of the Re-
public, to frame laws for the protection of mans
rights, for the development of his powers, and
the elevation of his condition. Face after face
passed in review before us, and in vain did we
look upon them for the outward token of a true
appreciation of mans rights, for an evidence of
that moral heroism ready to dare and to do battle
for the True, and to spurn and to crush the
Wrong. Democrats were there, plenty as black
birds in summer, and Republicans as numerous us
their opponents; but they were politicians only,
and interested-not in the establishment Of Coos
sovernment-but in the success of the party.
The meeting was held on the Fair grounds,
where gathered the immense crowd. 1t was an
nounced at tho commencement that the respective
party committees had agreed to request that there
should be no demonstration of applause, no noisy
marks of disapprobation. The audience complied
with the request, and was as orderly as a Quaker
meeting-indeed, far more orderly than some Qua
ker meetings where we have known Of considera-|
BILE pushing having been done. Each of the re-
AZ: -z.l. De- - n.--:.-. -.
pied two hours, the former opening and closing
the debate with an hours speech. Their bearing
toward each other vas entirely courteous, and the
debate was so conducted that each party must
have felt well satisfied with its Representative.
There was no impassioned eloquence in their
speeches, no touches of pathos to smite the rocky
heart, and cause the waters of humanity to gush
forth; such exhibition would have been out Of
place in such a meeting.
We wero we'll pleased with both the men as poll
%ticians, and they certainly manifested no ordinary
skill as cebaters, though we think Judge Ranney
showed a little disposition to bubble, which was
perhaps more to be attributed to the position of
his party, and as a matter of necessity, than to be
regarded as q thing OF choice. 1t was q ~satisfac-
ton to us to hear the men, although we heard but
little except what we had read in the newspaper
reports of their previous debates, the sum and sub
stance of which-so far as the slavery question is
concerned--will be found in another column.
Upon the question How can the State monies be
most securely kept 2 considerable time was spent;
and we presume that both Democratic and Republi-
can listners have a much more definite plan for the
safe keeping of the dollars and cents of Ohio, and
a more vivid impression of their individual re-
sponsibilitfes in relation to that matter, than they
have of a plan for preserving the rights of the peo-
pie of this State, and their responsibilities in that
direction. So far as slavery, or it's fruits were
discussed, the arguments came not from the stand
point of the plantation slave, or from the auction
block of the human chattel, but from the platform
of 'the phite mans party" If slavery is an evil
it is an evil to the white man. If its extension i:
to be deprecated, it is because the white man de-
sires that the Territories should be held sacred tC
free white labor. There was no humanity, nc
soul about it. 1t was all white selishness, and
who cares Cor the niger. Although Judge Ran
ney talked very prettily of Popular Sovereignty
and the right of every man, to a voice in the laws
he is required to obey. and said that he claimed
for himself no right which he was not willing to
acknowledge in another, no one understood him to
include the colored man in his claim for Popular
Sovereignty, inasmuch as neither Democrats nor
Republicans regard his rights as anything they
are bound to respect. The Judge, however, is
probably more consistent than is Mr.. Dennison,
for be declared that if he excluded a race from
the polls, he would exclude all grades of it, while
Mr.. D. is opposed to the Democratic law Of last
winter, not, however, because the rights of any
one was violated, not that it establishes more firm
ly the doctrine of taxation without representation,
but because-to use his own language-"I am OF
posed to any Interpretation of the word white,
except ii be a Judicial Interpretation" He is in
favor Of the Constitution as it is. with its ~restric-
tive phrase "lohite male citizen" and is opposed
to any amendment on this question Truly q
worthy representative of the White Mans party
An incident occurred pri,r to the converting Of
the meeting which was illustrative of the remarka-
bic appreciation by Republicans of the national
motto borne by the party in the Presidential cam
paign-"Free speech, Free soil, Fremont
Judge Ranney and Mr.. Dennison stopped at diff,
erent hotels. Each was called out by his friends
Mr.. Dennison made o brief address, but Judge
Ranney declining to speak, he introduced Senator
Pugh as his substitute. As the Senator was tt
address his Democratic friends, he probably
thought he might indulge liz remarks, which were
not only a violation of good taste. but positively
insulting TO Republicans. Soon after he common
ced speaking, the Republicans-Mr. Dennisor
hauing brought his remarks to q close-ceme t.
the Democratic gathering, and by their vociferous
ness mobbed Pugh down. Their excuse was, .hey
did not wish to hear him. They came unlimited
and if his talk to his own party didn't suit his OPP
ponents, they had a perfect right to stay away, oil
to 90 away, but they had no right to gag the
speaker. To silence a man under such circum
stances was an outrage and q disgrace, and thu
worst of it was, but few Republicans were found
just enough to condemn the deed.