The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-07-29
Prom the Ciucinnau COMMERCIAL.
Republican Meeting at Ncnia.
Speech Of Hon. lhOs. COrwin
HE DEFINES HIS POSITION.

AeNiat July TO- Aus0u T. Mt
The Republicans Of Nenia held quite a
large meeting to-nigh, in the Court house
yard, and Hon. Thomas Corvin addressed
a portion Of his constituents, defining his
position upon political Issues In a states
man-like speech, occupying an hour and
half in delivery.
The invitation was extended 10 him
and accepted, for the express purpose Of
afording an opportunity TO his constltu-
ents 70 clearly understand his position. -
In that light i may be regarded import.
ant. Itwas unusually devoid ofhumor al
though nature occasionally asserted her
authority
He hoped the Reporters would announce
that he met with a warm reception, ,Nvip-
ing perspiraton from his brow.) tf he
could have anticipated the weather he
would not have tired the people nor him
self to assemble themselves under such
exasperating circumstances.
He had met his fcllow-citizens with a
view to settle his relations with the Re-
publican party, and to define his position
before his constituents. He had been the
subject Of misrepresentation, and il was
his purpose 60 correct them.
Il had been said Of him, nay some Of
his audience had heard him say, that In
respect Of party operations, he did not
know whether or not he belonged to any
oil the great political parties OF the coun-
| try. He wes not even now sure that his
principles, except in one respect, were
those Of any party now in existence; but
upon the subject Of slavery he agreed en-
tirely with the Republican party. Upon
that subject he was confident he concurrod
in sentiment with nineteen-twentietbs Of
those men in the State Of Ohio who vote
the Republican ticket. But there were
other important principles before the coun-
I try. upon which the Republican party had
never clearly defined itself, and Il might
be that he did not concur upon these ques-
tions with that party.
In relation to slavery, he had during for
~ years maintained the position occupied
by the Republicans. The record ofhis
whole life would prove il, and the record
Of his future life would show that he was
with them earnestly upon anti-slavery prin-
ciples.
Upon the subject oftho power orCon-
gress in relation TO legislation for terrific
ries, il was his fixed opinion that Congress
had the right, and is its duty, to prohib-
il slavery in them. But with those who
contend that Congress has not power to
pass laws for the re-capture Of fugitive
slaves, he could not and did not agree
He agreed with the Republicans that sla-
very is very mischieyous-more Injurious
to the white than TO the black man, and
he could establish by historical proof that
wherever slavery has found a place, the
slave has suffered less than the master.
He had said, and would repeat the re-
mark, that the Republican party was or
ganized upon the single question Of sla-
yeryj and when he had said that he be-
longed 70 no party, il was with the quail
geatlon expressed or implied that there
the people of the United stutes, upon
which the Republican party had not been
explicit, and II was to these questions he
had addressed himself. II was his delib-
crate opinion that Congress has the power
TO make proper and suitable law to re-
cantura G1lritiva alata@ --sssvif - t,sgitis.aa
from Justice, and he could not agree with
those persons ofextrcmo views who main
tanned it to be the duty Of citizens consci-
entiously opposed TO a law to resist its
enforcement, and he b loved that nine
teen-twcntieths of the Republican party
Of Ohio agree with him. Just before COM
ing upon the stand, note had been slip
ped into his hand by some person un-
known to him which he would read, viz.
Hon. THos. CoRwIN:--In your speech
here, last fall, you denounced as bad citi-
zens those who would not and could not
conscientiously aid in executing this fugi-
tive slave law. Now sir, wish b know
how any man who believes slave-holding
to be immoral, can aid in the execution
of said law, unless he undertakes to fsilt
both against God and his own conscience.
Swearing to support the Constitution lays
no one under any obligation TO support or
aid in executing said law, for You know,
Ghd every unprejudiced man knows that
II is unconstitutional in several Of It's fea-
lures.
(Signed) A CITIZEN.
Mr.. Corwin remarked upon the note at
length, the substance Of his sentiments
being that he did not mean 10 denounce
any man as a bad man who refused 10 o.
bey the law, but that he regarded il the