The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-18
For the Nationsl Era.
A VOICE FROM OHIO.

A VOICE FROM OHIO.
Mr.. EDITOR: In your issue of July 2lst, the
announcement of a disposition, in State Con
ventions, to withhold portsen of the Republi
can creed, was not altogether unlocked for
From the efforts which hsge been made in
certain quarters, we anticil,ted no good re
suits; but how it is possible t.at any considera
bic portion of the Republics party could SO
far mistake its true position the material Of
which it is composed, and tie object sought, as
to suggest even the idea of : compromise, is a
problem not easily explained Because, as a
party, it has gained the admration of its friends
and the respect of its enen3ies by an honest
course, an open avowal of its doctrines, a bold,
well defined front, and free from deception or
ambuscade, so that neither friend nor foe could
ever be at a loss where to fad it. Within its
ranks may be found large saare of the intelli-
gence of the free States, whis men of tried in
tegrity and answering dev2ion to principle,
with deep and abiding convictions of right and
wrong, are among its 6rmestIsdpporters. Is it
the part Of wisdom to suppose that such men
will deviate from an upright course for the sake
of imaginary gain? Will thes. exchange life
of toll, of sacrifice, and of anxious solicitude
for mere experiment, sly eAdeavor TO draw
into their ranks men whose doctrines they de-
test, and whose practices they abhor? Are
they the men 20 rehnquish a. stronghold, TO
bandon a favorite measure, > leave out or
discard a cherished principle, " thout sufficient
~ause for so doing Republicans hold as
fundcT entail the doctrine tha sCongress has
the power to prohibit Slavery iIsfhe Territories,
and that /, is the duty of the representative to
exercise it is often as may be n ressary to pre-.
vent the spread of the peculie institution. 1t
is not reasonable, therefore, IL Xpect them to
abandon an essential elemen, If their creed,
one which has been proclaimeSby the organs
Of the party, and adopted in G-SSentions, both
State and National, ever sinee the advent of
Republicanism as a distinct Organization, with
out due consideration, and ;Se most potent
reasons for adopting such ccss-se.
But if this measure be lost, frat is gained
The answer is plain. If Republicans denounce
the Congressional slave code anArenounce the
Congressional free code for the crritories, they
will have left, simple squatter ssovereignty-a
miserable dog ma, dangerous asa political ele-
ment, and mischievous in its a4-sication to the
Territories. For it is a highs 9i:nding phrase,
processes to have the ring of tFexrue metal of
Freedom, and to clothe the reInCfest tenant of
our Western wilds in the garb of genuine Liber-
ty. But it is in its practical app cation that its
hideous proportions and naked. deformity ap.
pear. No sooner does the brain of the enthu.
siast conceive the idea of reform in the Gov
ernment, than he becomes impatient of the re-
straint imposed by State laws, gathers about
him band Of followers, rushes into the Terri
tories, and there, unmeested and unobserved,
to realize the creations of his fancy
by bringing to maturity his favorte plans of gov
Numerous accessions from abroad, |
coupled with a rapid local increase of popu- |
lation, soon swell the pioneer settlement to the |
dimensions OF colony, and, in brief space of
time, to the dignity of an embryo State
Now, 1t matters not what may be the char |
acter of its institutions, social, religious or DO
litical. The inhabitants are independent and |
sovereign both ia their Individual and corporate |
capacity, with no more legal responsibility to |
the Government than to the Powers of Europe.
They may concoct a Constitution republican |
in form, cover up their denominations with the |
garb of religion, and ask to be admitted as a |
State upon equal terms with the other members !
of the Contederacy, and who shall interfere or !
prevent? Or they may remain independent |
and practice the grossest tyranny, become cor
rupt with the foulest corruption, and there is
no governmental hand that can be stretched
out to save. But what is to be the effect of
such action upon immigration and the rights of
the States? Every citizen has a common in. |
terest there, and privileges of settlement are /
guaranteed to all. What right, then, has a |
band Il ta9aiIG ih JEeaHepu s Snee 6 tie be6be
of the States, large numbers of whom would in
the natural order of things, become its future
citizens? But the Territories are controlled bv
Congress previous to and during the period of |
early settlement, Of necessity. That the same
watchful care of the people through their repre-.
should be continued until they are
prepared to enter the Union, is in accordance
with the entire practice Of the Government.
has the sanction of reason, of experience, and
Of the Constitution. In whatever light we
view this question, insuperable objections meet
us, while every effort at investigation only rem.
ders It's impracticability and absurdity more
apparent.
And Is this the reward which the advocates of
a compromise offer us? Are we tosurrender a
power, that may be OF incs .ulable service to US
in the future disposal u me Territories. for a
measure that promises blessing, but entails a
curse? Besides, experience proves that n
position once yielded is not easily retaken. but
the enemy pushes on after another victory, and
clamors for greater sacrifices until the spirit of
gives up the entire field.
Again: Such course is utterly at war with
the professions and general declarations of the |
Republican party. No more entangIinp al
liances with Slavery, no fellowship with slave.
holders, have been the watch words. On the
folds Of its banner may yet be seen emblazoned
the familiar inscription, No more Slave Terri.
tory and the shout Of the multitude has
scarcely ceased to echo the ever-to-be.remem.
bered words, "No more compromise with Sla.
very" Can it be that the day for such things
has not yet passed? Must the hateful word
cease not to ring yet longer in our ears Rv
those provisions Of the Constitution which 10 a
limited extent recognise the institution we
ahiGe; but to those imperious demands of the
o2pre' sor for expansion and for protection from
tie Fed ri Government, the answer has ever
been. tbaS far shalt thou go, and no farther.
and the Il I'll your defiant waves be STAYED.
Away, then, with such Jolly. Let us not be
betrayed b a policy which has rent asunder
one of the great political parties of the country
and consigned it to its sepulchral abode but
push forward in the old well-beaten, familiar
paths which have led us on to substantial vic.
tories, and give promise of ultimate triumph.
Z. G. II.
Rochester, Ohio, august 4, 1859.
The FREE CoLoRED PEOPLE OF I.or-1sr,x,
Our free colored population form a distinc,
class from those elsewhere in the United States
e.