The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-10

Tom Corwin is again defining bis positionl
Since his Indianapolis speech, in which he de
clared himself as belonging to no party. some
partial Republicans have spoken of him as
candidate for Speaker of the next House of
Representatives, and with political facifv
which has characterized him OF late years, he
is endeavoring TO creep back into the Repub
lican fold. and in late speech at Xenia he
re assumed quasi position in the Republican
ranks. 5a f'a 81"
81 He said: '
-1 He had met his fellow citizens with a view
to settle his relations with the Republican par
-ty, and to define bis position before bis con
stituehts. aa fg rel esig ~
is TO be presumed that no other member
of the Ohio delegation in Congress needs to
be constantly defining and re defining his po
tion. f..es-s Ta n ~ '- eH.s .ls ,..rIl iaf
Tom Corwin shows that his position is slip
pery-that he is NO where, and wholly unre
liable sl- f. ... gs.-ss.5 4t5-f
Any confidence reposed in. him, as Repub
lican, is sure to be disappointed. He should
never be counted in as Republican. Ifbe
is. and the party made responsible for bis acts
he will be- sure to damage the party, by be
traying it. in its utmost need on vital points
He was member of the Fillmore Admin
istration which gave the Fugitive Slave Law
to the country. and he seems TO feel bound to
vindicae that law. 10 his Xenia speech, he
argues the consttutionality of The Fugitive
Slave law, and saws it must be obey
He took the high moral ground that
slavery is very mischevous,' but said that The
siave has suffered less than the master. =
Aud yet, either idiotically or impudeD'ly he
declared that, upon the subject of slavery be
agreed entirely with the Republican party!
Mr.. Corwin sneered at the higher law men,
in the use of the following illustration:
Suppose Brigham Young should come here
with his forty-two women and be arraigned
how would you regard ii if he should set nI
the plea, My conscience and the Wo o.
God. as read in I be book f Mormon, tells
me I am rightY He (Air. Corain) would
have men obey the law, Fthe Fugitive Slave
their heads to the block, if the law required
itp 9 II tt-o sc HT5e.r saGr s
One of Mr. Corwins hearers at Xens
handed him the following notice: ISL
Hon. THOMAS CoRwIN:-Inyou speech here
last fall, you denounced as'bad citizans those
who would not and could not cousrientmusly
aid in executing this fugitive slave law. Now
sir, wish 10 know how anv man who believes
slaveholdirg TO be immoral can aid in the ex
ecution of said law, unless he undertakes to
fight both against God and his own con
science Swearing to support the Constitu
ten lays ro one under any obligation TO sup
port or. aidiin executing said law, for yor
know, and every unprejudiced maj, knows tha
it is nnconsti utional in several of lis features
(Signed) A CITIZEN.
The above note furnished Mr.. Corwin
text, and he launched forth into lahored win
dica'ion of the Constitutionality of the Fugi
tive Slave law.
But enough of Thomas Corwin We will
only add, that if he, and men like him, are to
be leaders in the Republican party. and expo
nents of its principles, then, in our opinion, is
its future dark one.
1t is because we are attached to the princi
Piles of the Republican organization, and be
cause we want to see its legitimate mission
fully wrought ont. that we feel constrained tt
denounce such false lights Thomas Corwin
and to warn The people against them, in time
to avoid the BETRAYAL of their interests, for i
they trust to such guides they are sure to bt
betrayed.