The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-18
NEW SERIES. VOL. 6, NO. 81.

protection of the habeas corpus and trial by
juries to be impartially selected ; made the
eucourag cement Of schools and advancing the
means Of education high and binding duty
Of government, on the plain reason, that re.
ligion. morality and knowledge, are neces.
sary to good government, and to the happi,,
ness Of man kind established the inviolabil-
i.y Of contracts, and the security of private
property prevented the lingering remnants
Of feudality from taking root in our soil, and
proclaimed, aud defended the rights of labor
and Of humanity, by forever excluding slaves
ry from the territory.
To these noble principles the people OF
Ohio have ever been true. Our legislation
has never been marred by prescription for
religious opinions, nor any political privilege
denied because Of the birthplace of the citi-
zen. The inviolablity Of the person OF the
inhabitant has been always defended, and the
hubeas corpus and trial by jury, maintained
as the bulwarks Of personal liberty. In the
faithful observance OF her contracts, the State
has furnished an example Of the sacred re-
gard in which oil obligations should be held
by the citizen, while by refusing, under the
most solems sanctions, to appropriate Pri
vote property to her use without making
just compensation in money to the owner,
she illustrates her wise purpose OF protect
ing the proper,y.rights of the cit zen against
whatever invasion to his pecuniary dam &c.
The pledge Of the ordinance on the subject
Of education has been fsithiuIIy redeemed.
1t was made o part OF the Constitution Of
1902, and is repeated in the Constitution Of
1850,
In 1925, the corner stone Of our free school
system was laid. One thirty.sixth part OF
the soil of the State had been conserratfd d
by Congress- forever to its support. Although
this munifcent fund may not have been Al
together judciously managed. 1t has ye, been
nobIy Instrumental in the diffusion oi e"rn'
ing, not merely primary, but comparatively
liberal, among the youth OF the State, and
aided by the pledge il our Constitution, which
: cannot doubt will be faithfully observed
requiring "the General Assemb y to make
such provisions by tax ,iion or otherwise, aS
4 with the income Sri>ing from the scho trus
fund will secure thorough and efficient eys
ten OF common schools throughout the
Statr," the iu'ure history OF our State will
y be adorned by even greater ochirveme"t
u than the past, gr'ti'yng and honorable III
; they have been, for the promotion oI popula
: education, and through it the public welfare
But, however efficient have been thes
y causes in advancing the material, intellect
u ual and moral growth of nur State, we can
u u not and ought not to conceal from ourselve
that, unpided by that other noble provision
& of the ordinance which forever barred th
- territories against slaves, they would hSv
y been impotent for the accomplishment @
y the supendous results to which | have s
imperectly referred.
Ths.was the pre-. eminen'ly dstinguishe
feature of that Incompatible instrument.
was the first solemn dedication of nations
territory to the rights Of universal huma
d freedom. 1t was the first national declare
= tioD, in practical form, condemnatory {
10 slavery us a social institution. 1t was tn
Inauguration Of the policy, logically resultin
= from the principles OF the Declaration Of II
y dependence, and approved by all the State
- of the confederacy, to forever exclude slave
y ry from the national domain, and to Giscou
sge it's existence everywhere within the ju
u risdicton cf tt!he tthe United Suites, not in cor
e. flict Nth the rights of the sluve.holdin
StNes. 1t was, In effect, moral pedg
to the world, that Os it's trainers end compi
~ ,riots, had by long, arduous and heru
'e struggle, emancipated themselves and the
" country from the political slavery prepare
'e for them by on oppressive government. s.
ne under our federal system, such laws and col
'S' s,tutions should be established in our II
" lional territories as would fully recogni'
IL and sucredIy guard the rights Of human II
nc tUre.
no Aud surely il will not be denied, that
10 this original and persistent exclusion
es slavery we are chiefly indebted for our rap
.; growth us a State for our individual and 8
u cial wealth and comforts, our varied aud e
~ tensive agriculture and manufactures, Q
ne proftoble commerce, our achievements in q
10 the useful arts, our humane civilization. al
mt the love of freedom 90 universal among Il
VI people.
eF' Had slavery been established here, o
lis population and resources would not be ol
half what they ore. In that case, we cou
'or not boast OF our almost unrivaIlpd trump
es' in every branch Of material development
CT our extensive system OF internal improv
te' ments or of our colleges and universtit
'es our free common schools, our ssyIums a
ed, other public charities which crown our Sta
he with such distinguished honor, and illustru
Ter in such 6ttraclive torms-the superior
'ur of free over forced labor, Tor all the just pl
ch poses OF social and governmental organic
as ton.
we Upon you, Senators and Representative
tu' and your successors, will devolve, in lar
ct part. the grateful task Of providing by Gu
able legislation for the future growth of t
of State. and TO preserve in their full vigor,