Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-07-20
WARREN. Sept 80. 1858.

WARREN, Sept 80. 1858.
DEAR SIR:-Censtant engagements in
Court give NE but 4 moment S time TO an
swer Your communication of this date.
hope. however. 10 be as explicit as [ am
brief, in responding to the important ques-
ton propounded to me. fully agree with
YOU as to the importance Of understanding
the position and principles of all candi-
dates for pabiic trusts. This is the right
of every ~cicctor, irdispcnsibly necessary to
be enforced TO enable him to act understand
ingly. and the vital principle of a represcn-
tative Democracy. The corresponding duty
of the candidate is to take his positions hon-
esay, and to maintain them openly. His
.'errors may be safely tolerated while rea-
son is left free to combat them"
am in favor of maintaining the freedom
Of the Territories of New Mexico and Cal
ifornia in their whole extent, and utterly
opposed to authorizing slavery or involun-
tary seryitude of any kind within them, or
to any compromise which shall doom any
part Of them to the curse of human bondage.
l do not stop to state al the reasons which
bring me to this conclusion. Suffice it to
say the maintaining Of their freedom is, in
my judgement, due t. humGtitg, to repm5-
Acan principles, to our character and inter
rests as a people, to Mexico, and above all
to the poor of our own and other lands,
who shall 90 there to find homes for them
selves and their families, and who would be
Jeqgared and di$graced by the contact of
sLqce labor. Entertaining these views. if
elected, / should support all such measures
as were calculated to maintain them, TAX
Ing care at all times not to overStep the
limits Of the National compact, or to en-
croach upon the reserved rights of the
States. 1t is conceded that these Terrific
ries are nov free. They must remain SO
until changed by positive law Of the SOW
ereisn power. No question is better set
tied in this country than that slavery exists
in a State by virtue Of local law. 1T is
clear that it can no more exist in 4 Terri
tory without such law than a man can
breathe without air" NEITHER CON
GRESS NOR i TERRITORIAL LEG
iSLATURE, IN Ny OPINION POS
SESS THE POWER TO ESTABLISH
IT. 1t can only be done by the people
when admitted as a State under the gen.
eral principles Of the Constitution" Ihave
no doubt Of the power Of Congress- to erect
Territorial Governments, and to PROVIDE
FOR THE PROHIBITION OF SLA-
VERY WITHIN THE TERRITORIES.
AND l AN IN FAVOR OF AND
WOULD SUPPORT SUCH PROHIDI-
TON.
1 do not think that the legal principle
against Territorial Slavery would be made
stronger by . Prohibition" but as a put
lie aud authoritative declaration by Con-
gress of the fact that these Territories are
now free and of the determination of the
American people to keep them 50, it may
be important; at all events it is open and
fair dealing with all parties. and 1 should
be unwilling to omit anything calculated
to give security to the principlc-our flag
should never float over another foot of slave
Territory. You ask what measures l am
in favor Of, for maintaining tie freedom Of
those Territories-I have already stated
those which b2&r directly upon it-another
of great importance, indirectly, would he TO
protect them, as well as all our public lands
from the blighting curse of dand monopoly.
Without such monopoly slavery cannot cx-
ist- regard the public lands as a trust
in the hands of the government for the
benefit of the people, and think they should
be freely granted, in limited quantities. to
actual settlers only. This in my opinion,
would settle them with a hardy AID indus
trious population of freemen. In regard
to slavery in the District of Columbia, 1
answer that more than ten years ago l had
occasion to make public my opinion of THE
DUTY OF CONGRESS TO ABOLISH
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA. The lapse of time has only
served to strengthen that opinion. The
question as to the power of Congress over
the Interstate slave trade, has | believe
been settled by the Supreme Court
You ask, finally, for which of the Pres
idential candidates | intend to vote at the
coming Presidential election. l had sup
posed that my position was too well known
to render such a question necessary; but
as | desire no concealment and would scorn
TO receive a vote obtained through any mis-
apprehension, l will answer that | intend
to vote for Lewis Cass.
| regard the Presidential contest as "
ing between him and Gen. Tavlor, and that
Democratic votes thrown for Mr.. Van Bu-
rem can serve No odler purpose than to elect
Gen. Taylor. III such an issue, / cannot
hesitate to chose The old and tried States
man, whose opinions are openly avowed.
and, | believe entirely safe; whose educa-
ton. habits. location. and associations must
al incline him to detest slavery. who is in
no wav interested in, or connected with the
institution: as against Gen. Taylor. whose
opinions are carefully concealed. who was
b9-n. reared and educated in the midst Of
i, vino has now 4 large fortune invested in
s5yes. and of whom his friends assert with
his apparent appreciation. that upon this
great paramount question he is of them,
and with them, and for them" To which
may be added. without deroeating from his
well earned military fame, his want of ia
miliarity with civil Affairs. aad the thick
darkness which rests upon his political
principles.
These are my views, HONESTLY EN-
RETAINED. and whether they agree
wish the Buffalo platform can be seen by
comparison.
Very Respectfully.
Your Oh { seryeDt
R. P. RASNEY.
To B. +. HOFrNAy, Est,