Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-07-05
Men Changc-PrincipIcs. Never

The present religion Of Democracy con-
sists in a sleepless vigileuce in the execu-
ton of the Fugitive Slave Law. Whoever
falters in this heavenly work, is an ire
deemable reprobate, and past all salvation.
To read their papers one would think this
had always been the cardinal doctrine in
the creed of the party. But the present
position of modern Democracy is a fine IL
lustration of the motto at the head of this
article, a: least, 50 for as showing how
men can change.
Rufus p. Ranney, is the candidate Of
that party for Governor of Ohio. He, and
all the leaders, denounce the Republicans
as traitors, disunionists and Abolitionlsts,
because they will not render a volunteer
service in running down the painting
mother who is periling life itself to escape
with her child. rom bondage. They
preach with an evangeIist's zeal, that it is
the political, moral, and religious duty of
all men to seize such fugitive wherever
found, and rol ce them back into the]orrors
from which they had escaped. But how
was it a few years ago? Fortunately this
same r. p. Banney has left his mark upon
the records of our history In characters
which will forever remain. These records
will rise up in Judgement against him and
the party he leads, demonstrating the ut
ter degeneracy ard decentralization into
which they have been forced by the over
bearing dictation of the oligarchy which
controls the party.
At a public meeting held in Garfield
! not long after the passage Of this law
which, be it remembered, was enacted un
der the administration of Fillmore, and no
e then a speciality of the Democracy, tn
following resolutions were passed after
0 most eloquent speech in their favor by thu
same r. p. Rauney:
I "Resolved, That we will not, unde
n any political necessity, whdte0er, vote ic
J. any man, for any office of trust, honor c
profit, who voted for, or aided, directly {
indirectly, in the passage OF the act, orr al
u proves of its infamous provisions, or al
'e IN IT'S execution. .,
$ "ResOIOed, That come life or come in
d prisonment-come fine or come death, W
=, will neither aid nor assist in the return {
=. any fugitive slave, but on the %contrar.
y We will harbor and ~secrete, and by all Ju
n means, protect and defend him, and thu
give him a practical G~od-speed
f. Liberty"
ID The editor of the Noble County Gre
V, %ister," who was present on the occasio
referring to the speech Of Judge Rann'
a says.
~ awe can never forget the burning
di0nation-he aOithering satire that cha
~ acterized Mr.. RS great speech on tn
DIS occasion. His brow, knit with rage, al
IS, his keen eye seemed to spit fire when
u hurled defiance at the law, and pledg
himself before that great assembly.
= stand by the right of habeas corpus as
u palladium Of American Liberty, and ii
TIC no political necessity should ever wi
him into the support OF so
re- enactment"
he Judge Ranney, in these resolutions a
no the speech which carried them by a una
nous vote, no doubt spoke the honesta
act unperyerted sentiments of his hearts
no timents responsive to the principles of ct
ner nal right and true to the unperserted
di- pulses of all honest men! True, they
to- expressed in stronger terms than we sho
an chose to adopt, and go somewhat fult
the than we would sanction, but coming,
md the language doubtless did, from
led warm impulses Of his soul, something n
eat well be excused in view of the honest
lienation stirred within him by the rec
- enactment of the bloody code. Look
cen the language! 1t pledged Judge Ram
NJ, and the Democracy present never a"
h a any political necessity 'Vhote0er, to '
les. for any men. for any Office, "Who Voted