The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-08-05

me for being 80 stupid as TO cit and write
instead Of talking with her, Was ever a
man so happy in "Slight Mistake"
-
Judge Rnnney iu isas.
Then in Favor Of Congressional later
veHtion 10 Prohibit Slavery IN iAs Terri
tories, and IN favor Of hs A boiition Of
Slavery IN the District Of Columbia.
WARREN, September 30, l54s. Dear
Sir: Constant engagements in Court gave
me but moments time 70 anawer your
communication Of this date. hope how
ever, TO be as explicit aa am brief, in re-
spending 10 the important question pro-
pounded TO me, fully agree with you as
to the Importance Of understanding the
position and principles of all candidates
for public trusts. This Is the right few
cry clector, indispensibly necessary 10 bo
enforced 20 enable him % act understand
ingly, and the vital principles Of a repre-
sentative Democracy The correspond
ling duty Of the candidate is to take his
positions hoRcSly and 70 maintain the IN
openly. His "errors may be safclytoler-
ated while reason is left free to combat
them" .......
am In favor Of maintaining the free
dom of the territories Of New Mexico and
California in their whole extent, and ut
terly opposed to authorizing slavery or in
voluntary scryitude Of any kind within
them, or to any compromise which shall
doom any part of them to the curse othu-
man bondage. do not stop to state all
the reasons which bring me to this conolu-
Iafn Il 80 III uts,N, ts,tr,
of their freedom is, in my judgment, due
to humanity, republican principles, to our
character aud interests As a people, 20
Mexico, and above all To the poor Of our
na a6 homes 2nes' for 'the@mseivScs @ ilSS and t6eif
families, and who would be degraded and
disgracedby the contact Of slaUe labor
Entertaining these views, IL elected,
should suppose all such measures as were
calculated to maintain them, taking care
at all times not 10 ovorstep the limits Of
the National compact, or to encroach up
on the reserved rights Of the states. Il
/, Is conceded tnat riirso tessitarinsRra nov
free. They must remain 80 until chang
ed by positive law Of the sovereign pow
er. No question is better settled in this
country than that slavery exists in state
by virtue of the local law. at is clear
that II can no more exist in territory
without such law, than a man can breathe
without air" Neither Congress nor O
Territorial Legislature, in my opinion,pos-
sesses the power to establish Il. II can
only be done by the people when admit
ted as a state "under the general princi-
pies Of the Constitution" l have no
doubt Of the power Of Congress to erect
territorial governments, and TO provide foI
the prohibition Of slavery within the ter.
ritories, and | am in favor Of and would
support such prohibition. .
do not think that "the legal principle
against territorial slavery would be made
stronger by the prohibition" but spPub'
1 lie and authoritative by Congress Of the
! fact that those territories are now free
and Of the determination Of the American
people 20 keep them so, II may be import
ant; at all events Il is open and fair deal
ing with all parties, and should be un'
|, willing 10 omit anything calculated TO give
/ security to the principle-our flag shoult
. never AoAt over another foot Of slave ter
: ritory. You ask what measures | am II
favor Of, for maintaining the freedom o
, those torritories-I have already statcS
, those which bear directly upon it-anoth
: er Of great Importance, indirectly woulG
be 20 protect them, as well as our public
4 lands, from the blighting curse OF LAM
r monopoly Without such monopoly sla
very cannot exist. regard the public
4 lands as a trust in the hands of the govern
ment for the benefit Of the people, anC
think they should be freely granted IL
limited quantities, 70 actual settlers only
This, in my opinion, would settle then
/. with hardy and industrious population
of free men. In regard TO slavery In the
? District Of Columbia, answer that more
i than ton years ago had occasion 70 make
public my opiniuu of the duty Of Congress
, to abolish slavery in the District Of Co
/ lumbia. The lapse Of time has only aev
ed to strengthen that opinion. The ques
. ton as to the power Of Congress over The
interstate slave trade has l believe, beer
! settled by the Supreme Court.
You ask, finally, for which Of the Pres
+, lidential candidate intend 10 vote at thI
, coming Presidential election; l had sup
/. posed that my position was too well knowI
to render such question necessary; bu
as desire no eoneealment aud would seorI
: To receive vote oDthlhtN kAAptSh eA1
/, misepprehension, will answcf that / M
tend 10 vote for Lewis Cass,
regard the Presidential contest as ly
, ing between him and General Taylor, anS
r that ID Democratic votes thrown for Mr. Var
Buren Saa serve no other purpose than 4
elect General Taylor. In such an issue
: / cannot hesitate 70 chose the old an'
, tried statesmen, whose opinions arc open
Z ly avoWed, and, believe entirely safe
whose education, habits, Locations and as
: soeiations must all incline him 70 detosl
4 slavery, who Is in no way interested In ol
! cOnueetedwithth the eonsutuhoni asagaipsi
= General Taylor, whose opinions are care
Tfully concealed, who was born, reared
. and educated in the midst Of iti who hai
I now a large fortune invested In slaves
and Of whom his Southern friends assert
with his apparent appreciation, that ppor
this great pufmoint question, he ''is o
them, and with them, and fof them" II
which may be pddeds without derogatihe
/ from his well-earned military fame, hil
want Of familiarity with civil affairs, and
f' .H.II.|.| | Do